2026 Skoda Kushaq Facelift Vs Honda Elevate: German Power Vs Japanese Reliability

Interested in buying the Skoda Kushaq facelift? Here’s our Ultimate Buying Guide!

The newly launched Skoda Kushaq facelift comes with a tweaked exterior, an enhanced interior with new features, and minor tweaks in the powertrain section. The European SUV sticks to its strengths of excellent driving dynamics, solid build quality, and a timeless design. On the other hand, we have the Honda Elevate, which has been in the market for some time now and is one of the reliable, no-nonsense choices in the segment. 

In this report, we compare the Skoda Kushaq facelift with the Honda Elevate, taking you through their specifications, features, dimensions, and powertrains.

Price

• The entry-level variant of the Kushaq is more affordable than the Elevate by nearly Rs 90,000, which is quite significant.

• On the other hand, the Honda SUV’s top variant is priced at Rs 16.57 lakh, which is more than Rs 2 lakh cheaper than the top-spec Kushaq. 

• It is important to note that Elevate is also likely to carry heavy discounts given its low sales volumes and the fact that it is a slightly older SUV now. You can check with your local dealership for the offers.

Here’s a closer look at the specifications of both these SUVs:

Dimensions

• The Elevate is quite clearly the longer SUV, and the extra length also leads to a better road presence. 

• In terms of width and height, the Elevate is slightly wider and taller.

• The wheelbase is where there is a tie between both these SUVs, with the Kushaq offering just 1 mm extra. 

• The Elevate offers a much larger boot space, making it more practical for airport runs and road trips. 

Colour Options

*Also available with a black roof in select variants

• Both SUVs come with most of the colour options that you would expect or were looking for. However, the Kushaq gets one extra hue. 

• The Shimla Green, Cherry Red and Steel Grey are the newer shades offered with the Kushaq, which you can take a closer look at here.

• The green, grey, silver, and white shades of the Kushaq come with a dual-tone option on select variants. 

• The Elevate also gets a dual-tone option with the red, white, grey and silver options. 

Powertrain

DCT- dual clutch transmission, AT- torque converter automatic transmission, CVT- Continuously variable transmission (automatic)

• Both Kushaq and Elevate come with petrol engine options, with the former taking the turbocharged route and the latter offering a naturally aspirated unit. 

• In terms of output, the Elevate’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is comparable to the Kushaq’s 1-litre turbo-petrol engine. The Kushaq’s 1.5-litre turbo engine is in a league of its own and provides significantly more output.

• You get a 6-speed manual with the Kushaq’s 1-litre engine and the Elevate’s 1.5-litre NA petrol.

• While the Kushaq 1-litre’s automatic is an 8-speed AT, the Elevate gets a 7-step CVT transmission option.

• The Kushaq’s 1.5-litre engine only gets an automatic option. 

Features

• As seen above, the Kushaq gets a lot more features than the Elevate. It gets an illuminated logo, powered and ventilated seats, a rear seat massager, front parking sensors and even a panoramic sunroof over the Elevate.

• On the other hand, the Elevate gets a suite of ADAS features over the Kushaq. 

CarDekho Says

Both the Skoda Kushaq Facelift and the Honda Elevate are strong contenders in the compact SUV space, mainly due to their excellent engineering. However, they cater to slightly different buyers. The Kushaq facelift is the clear winner in terms of features and driving excitement. Its extra features and punchy 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine make it feel like a premium package, and justify the higher price you pay over the Elevate. If you love a feature-loaded cabin and spirited performance, the Kushaq is hard to beat.

The Elevate, however, makes its case with a more spacious cabin, Level-2 ADAS, a larger boot, Honda's reliability, and a more accessible top-variant price. It's the sensible, no-fuss choice for buyers who prioritise space and long-term peace of mind.

At the end of the day, if features and performance are your priority, go with the Skoda Kushaq Facelift. But if peace of mind and long-term ownership matters more to you, the Honda Elevate won't disappoint. Either way, you're getting a well-rounded SUV. Just make sure to take both for a test drive before you make your final call.

Here are some other options you can consider apart from the Kushaq and Elevate:

Hyundai Creta: The most popular SUV in the segment. One of the most feature-loaded cabins, comfortable ride quality, and plenty of engine and variant options to suit different buyers.

Tata Sierra: Best for those looking for a strong road presence, a spacious cabin, and all the premium features that you can ask for under Rs 25 lakh. It also provides top-notch safety. 

Tata Curvv: Offers a feature-rich cabin, unique coupe-SUV bodystyle and a wide range of powertrain choices.

Maruti Grand Vitara/Toyota Hyryder: A sensible option with fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain choices. It gets a comfortable suspension setup and a decent set of features. 

Maruti Suzuki Victoris: A more modern and slightly more premium version of the Grand Vitara. Follows a similar recipe with a strong emphasis on fuel efficiency. It comes with many modern features.  

Renault Duster: A rugged and modern SUV that offers strong performance, a comfortable suspension, and balanced ride and handling.

Kia Seltos: One of the largest, newest, and most premium offerings in the segment, with a modern design, feature-rich interior, and multiple powertrain choices.

Volkswagen Taigun: Similar to the Kushaq in nature, but differentiated by its styling and the availability of the sporty GT variants with the 1.5-litre turbo engine.

MG Astor: Great interior experience and decent features list at a lower price point. 

You can also check out how the Kushaq facelift compares with the outgoing model in this report.

Which SUV are you picking? Let us know in the comments section below.