The Skoda Kushaq is the first product in the brand’s India 2.0 strategy. It gets the latest Skoda design language and one glance is enough to know it is a Skoda product. Up front is the signature butterfly grille with sleek LED headlamps on both sides of the grille. The fog lamps have been placed higher in the bumper rather than low down, which give the Skoda Kishaq a unique design up front. The dual-tone alloy wheels grab one’s attention when the Kushaq is viewed from the side profile. Even the door handles feature a dual-tone finish. On the quarter panels, the Kushaq gets classy Skoda badging finished in Piano Black. At the rear, the Skoda Kushaq comes with a modern design complete with split LED tail lamps. It gets ‘Skoda’ lettering on the tailgate instead of the Skoda badge. It even gets a chrome strip running across the tailgate that increases the premium feel. The Skoda Kushaq comes with a classy dual-tone Black & Grey interior. The Grey bit on all the seats is perforated which allows for better breathability and the front seats are ventilated. The dashboard primarily uses grey plastics with brushed aluminium finishes on certain panels.  Taking centre-stage on the dashboard is a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with features like smartphone connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and even gets the wireless SMARTLINK connectivity suite. Sound is reproduced through the six ‘Skoda Sound’ speakers and a subwoofer. Moving to the rear seat, the comfort quotient is further enhanced. The Kushaq comes with rear AC vents and two USB ports underneath it for mobile phone charging. It also gets a fold-down armrest with cupholders. The front seats are quite sporty and get good lumbar support, lateral support, and even thigh support. They even get two settings for ventilation. The comfort is further elevated at the rear. The Skoda Kushaq has great head room, knee room and leg room. The Skoda Kushaq comes with an electric sunroof, and this certainly adds to the airy feel inside the cabin.

The Skoda Kushaq is available with two turbo-petrol engine options. The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol unit has a maximum power output of 114bhp at 5,500rpm and a peak torque output of 175Nm at 1,750rpm. It is available with a 6-Speed Manual or a 6-Speed automatic gearbox. The 1.5-litre engine puts out 147.5bhp at 6,000rpm and a 250Nm at 3,500rpm. Buyers can choose between a 6-Speed manual gearbox and a 7-Speed DSG for transmission duties. Power delivery is smooth initially and the Skoda Kushaq turns into a fun-to-drive SUV when the boost kicks in.  The steering feels light at lower speeds and slightly heavier at high speeds. Suspension is on the softer side, but feels slightly harder than the other cars in its segment. This results in good handling prowess. The SUV can cut through corners at speed, but it will start to lose grip because of the body roll at very high speeds.

In terms of fuel efficiency, the Skoda Kushaq returned around 8.5 to 11.6km/l in the urban jungle. We couldn’t really test it out on the highway but it should be in the range of around 14-16km/h at cruising speeds.

The Skoda Kushaq is one of the safest cars in its segment. Like all other modern Skoda cars, the Czech company has loaded the Kushaq with top-notch safety features. It also gets a fairly long list of key features that increase convenience. It gets safety features like ABS with EBD, Electronic Stability Control, 6 Airbags, Rear Parking Camera, Multi-Collision Braking, etc. Other features include an electric sunroof, 6-speaker Skoda Sound audio system, 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, steering-mounted controls, etc.

The Skoda Kushaq is one of the best products in the mid-size SUV segment. It might look  a bit overpriced for now, but it brings European styling and elegance to the segment. The Skoda Kushaq rivals the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta, and both of them have been among the best-selling SUVs in India. The Kushaq does have what it takes, to bother the competition.