TL; DR
- The facelift will be available in Classic+ (the new base variant), Signature, Sportline, Prestige, and Monte Carlo (available from the launch) trims.
- Kushaq features a wider, larger “butterfly” grille with a connected LED DRL bar (runs behind the grille, giving it a subtle appearance). Its LED headlamps are slimmer and feature new eyebrow-style DRLs. Even otherwise, the bumper features massive air intakes at the bottom and LED fog lamps on the sides.
- The cabin still offers a two-spoke steering wheel with controls on both sides, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen (with Google Gemini AI assistant integrated, smaller on lower trims), touch-based climate controls on the inside (manual on lower trims), and ambient lighting.
- All the 1.5L TSI variants now come with four disk brakes as standard. What’s interesting, however, is the transmission options available with the 1.0L TSI engine.
Skoda Auto India has officially unveiled the 2026 Kushaq facelift today. The mid-lifecycle update marks the first major refresh for the mis-sized SUV since its 2021 arrival. With the facelift, the Kushaq has gained a slightly more premium design, a couple of interior additions, and a major transmission upgrade for the 1.0L TSI engine variants.
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2026 Skoda Kushaq Variants And Pricing
Although Skoda hasn’t revealed the official pricing for the new Kushaq, it has confirmed the names of the variants. The facelift will be available in Classic+ (the new base variant), Signature, Sportline, Prestige, and Monte Carlo (available from the launch) trims.
Bookings for the new car begin today; interested buyers can book a version of the new Kushaq for a token amount of Rs. 15,000 (via the company’s official website or dealerships). Deliveries should begin by the end of March, shortly after the company announces the official pricing at the beginning of the month.
The expected pricing of the Skoda Kushaq facelift could start from around Rs. 10.75 lakhs (ex-showroom) and go up to Rs. 16 lakhs (ex-showroom) for the 1.0L TSI engine manual variants. In comparison, the top-end 1.5L TSI engine with DSG gearbox could cost around Rs. 18.75 lakhs (ex-showroom).
- Expected base trim price increase: Rs. 10,000
- Expected top-trim price increase: Rs. 25,000
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2026 Skoda Kushaq Exterior & Interior Changes
Exterior
The new Kushaq features a wider, larger “butterfly” grille with a connected LED DRL bar (runs behind the grille, giving it a subtle appearance). Its LED headlamps are slimmer and feature new eyebrow-style DRLs. Even otherwise, the bumper features massive air intakes at the bottom and LED fog lamps on the sides.
Right from the base variant, Skoda will offer 16-inch alloy wheels, which is a welcome addition. The size increases to 17 inches on the higher trims. Other key profile features include blacked-out ORVMs with integrated turn indicators, body-colored door handles, a sloping roofline with roof rails on the top, and an integrated spoiler.
On the back, the Kushaq gets a new connected LED tail lamp setup with an illuminated logo, sequential turn indicators, three rear parking sensors, and a redesigned lower cladding. What’s interesting is that the company is now offering a rear defogger and wiper as standard on the Kushaq, right from the base variant.
Moreover, the exteriors of the new Kushaq are modern, sleek, and more in line with the company’s global portfolio.
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Interior
The update, however, is more focused on how the Kushaq looks from the outside than on how it feels from the inside. The cabin still offers a two-spoke steering wheel with controls on both sides, a 10.1-inch infotainment screen (with Google Gemini AI assistant integrated, smaller on lower trims), touch-based climate controls on the inside (manual on lower trims), and ambient lighting.
Two significant changes, however, are the 10.25-inch digital driver’s information display and a panoramic sunroof on the higher trims. And yes, even the lower trims get a single-pane electric sunroof as standard. Different variants feature different cabin themes. For instance, the Prestige trim comes in a black-and-beige finish, while the Monte Carlo variant gets crimson accents on the dashboard.
Another significant change is the addition of massage functionality to the rear seat, a first-in-segment feature (I’m wondering why Kia didn’t come up with this in the new Seltos). Additional features include six-way power-adjustable, ventilated front seats, a six-speaker audio system, and a wireless charging pad.
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2026 Skoda Kushaq Powertrain Options
The new Kushaq carries forward the two engines from the outgoing model.
| Peak Power | Peak Torque | Transmission Options | |
| 1.0L TSI | 115 PS | 178 Nm | 6-speed manual, 8-speed TC |
| 1.5L TSI | 150 PS | 250 NM | 6-speed DSG |
All the 1.5L TSI variants now come with four disk brakes as standard. What’s interesting, however, is the transmission options available with the 1.0L TSI engine.
While the company has retained the 6-speed manual gearbox on the baseline variants, the higher trim will be offered with an 8-speed AT transmission, which, per our understanding, is also the first in the segment.
The additional gear ratios (eight instead of six) mean smaller steps between each gear, allowing the engine to run more efficiently across its entire rev range. This should also boost the fuel efficiency, especially at higher speeds, where the vehicle can utilize the additional gears to keep the engine in a relaxed rpm range.
I’m most curious to see the rpm(s) the engine maintains at 100 or 120 kmph.
Skoda is also offering the “Super Care” ownership program with the car. It offers a standard 4-year warranty, 4-year roadside assistance, and 4 labor-free services (up to 30,000 km or 2 years).
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2026 Skoda Kushaq Safety Features
The Skoda Kushaq is the first vehicle in the segment to offer a rear defogger and wiper as standard on the base variant, something other automakers reserve for higher trims, as if it were a fancy feature.
Standard safety features on the car include six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, rain-sensing wipers (standard on the base variant), traction control modes, an electronic differential lock (uncommon in the segment), hill-hold assist, and auto-dimming IRVMs on the top trim.
While the lower variants offer more than 25 active and passive safety features, the top trim increases the count to over 40. And of course, the Kushaq carries forward the five-star crash test rating in the Global NCAP test.
What’s missing on the vehicle, however, are 360-degree cameras and Level 2 ADAS functionality, which are available on almost all of its direct rivals.
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2026 Skoda Kushaq Rivals
The new Skoda Kushaq rivals the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Tata Sierra.
While it offers segment-first features like massage functionality for the rear seats and an 8-speed TC transmission with the 1.0L TSI engine, it also impresses with alloys, rear wiper/defogger, and rain-sensing front wipers from the base variant.
However, the Kushaq is still smaller than most of its competitors, particularly the Kia Seltos and the Tata Sierra (both of which are slightly bigger than the Creta). Further, it lacks the engine options offered by the other cars (which include NA and diesel engines).
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