Skoda Auto India, which has had a stellar CY2025 with highest-ever passenger and utility vehicle wholesales, is to officially launch the facelifted Kushaq SUV today. The new Kushaq comes four-and-a-half years after the Kushaq was launched in June 2021, marking the entry of the Skoda brand into India’s midsize SUV market which encompasses SUVs with length ranging between 4000mm and 4500mm.
The Kushaq, which was the first model to come from Skoda’s ‘India 2.0’ programme of heavily localised and cost-competitive products, was developed exclusively for India. It is the Czech carmaker’s first production model based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, an MQB variant adapted by Skoda for India and used on other Volkswagen Group models in India which includes Skoda’s latest model, the gamer-changing Kylaq compact SUV which has sold 46,872 units in CY2025.
The Kushaq has, as per SIAM wholesales data, sold a total of 94,927 units in the domestic market till end-December 2025. Another 4,681 units have been exported.
The Kushaq’s arrival in the midsize SUV market had an immediate impact. In its first fiscal (FY2022), it sold 21,427 units and accounted for an overwhelming 98.05% of Skoda SUV sales, with the next best being the Kodiaq (381 units). FY2023 with 25,300 units is till date the Kushaq’s best fiscal – the 25,300 units were a 18% YoY increase and contributed 94% to Skoda Auto India’s UV sales of 27,005 units.
Since then, however, demand for the Kushaq has fallen. In FY2024 (23,396 units), sales were down 7.53% YoY but fell sharply by 26% in FY2025 to 17,363 units. As a result, its contribution to company UV sales also dropped from 92.53% to 59% in FY2025 albeit it still was part of the Top 15 midsize SUVs listing at 15th position.
FY2023 with 25,300 units sold has been the best fiscal to date for the Kushaq. Skoda India will be looking to up the ante in with the facelifted Kushaq launched on January 20, 2026.
Admittedly, the competition to the Kushaq has steadily increased over the past few years and currently it battles rivals such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Grand Vitara, Maruti Victoris and the recently launched Tata Sierra. Now, with the facelifted Kushaq, Skoda India expects to take on its midsize rivals with new vigour.
The facelifted Kushaq is expected to continue with the current engine options: the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol (115hp, 178Nm) and the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (150hp, 250Nm). The existing gearbox options are also likely to remain at launch: 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic for the 1.0-litre unit and 7-speed DSG for the larger mill.
However, Skoda is also expected to introduce a new localised 8-speed torque converter automatic for the 1.0-litre engine at a later stage, which could eventually replace the current 6-speed unit. The 8-speed transmission should boost fuel efficiency by providing closer-ratio steps between gears, resulting in smoother transitions and less fuel wastage during both acceleration and deceleration. It will also help Skoda meet the stricter upcoming CAFE 3 norms.
(With inputs from Autocar India)
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