Skoda Kushaq vs Rivals: What Do The Prices Say?

Skoda has finally entered the compact SUV space in India with the launch of the Kushaq. A petrol-only offering, the Kushaq has a distinct road presence and imparts a premium experience with its 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, touch controls for the climate controls, and ventilated front seats.

Let’s see how the Kushaq’s prices compare to the petrol variants of its rivals:

Petrol Manual

• The Kushaq has the priciest base variant of all compact SUVs but offers more equipment as standard such as ESC, a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and front centre armrest with storage .

• The Maruti S-Cross has the most affordable entry point at Rs 8.39 lakh, and the one-below-top Zeta variant is still more affordable than the base-spec Kushaq.

• Kushaq’s engine choices are 1-litre turbo-petrol (115PS/172Nm) and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (150PS/250Nm), both mated to a 6-speed manual.The more powerful engine also introduces Active Cylinder Technology (ACT) that can shut off two of the four cylinders to increase fuel efficiency depending on the load.

• The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos offer the same 1.5-litre petrol engine (115PS/144Nm) with a 6-speed manual. The Kia SUV also offers this engine with a clutchless manual (iMT), the only one in the segment to do so.

• Seltos also offers a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol unit (140PS/242Nm) with a 6-speed manual. Its top-spec GTX+ variant is the priciest petrol-manual in the segment, Rs 46,000 more expensive than the top-spec Kushaq petrol-manual. But it offers more tech for the price such as a 360-degree camera, blind view monitor, 8-inch head-up display and 7-inch colour display in the instrument cluster.

• The Creta’s top-spec petrol-manual option featuring the 1.5-litre engine is Rs 63,000 more affordable than the Kushaq Style with the 1-litre TSI manual. The Creta SX is not as well-equipped but it does get the panoramic sunroof, the only one to offer it in the segment.

• Renault’s Duster gets the choice of a 1.5-litre petrol engine (106PS/142Nm) with a 5-speed manual and a 1.3-litre turbo-petrol (156PS/254Nm) with a 6-speed manual. Its top-spec petrol-manual is more affordable than the Kushaq’s one-above-base Ambition variant.

• The Nissan Kicks has the same engine options as the Duster but offers more features than the Renault. Its top-spec variant costs Rs 60,000 less than the top-spec Kushaq (with the 115PS 1-litre turbo-petrol engine).

• MG’s aggressive pricing brings the Hector mid-size SUV within contention of premium compact SUVs like the Kushaq. It’s the only to offer a 48V mild-hybrid system with its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine (143PS/250Nm) that is paired to a 6-speed manual. The mid-spec Hector petrol-hybrid manual is slightly more affordable than the top-spec Kushaq petrol-manual.

Petrol Automatic

• The Skoda Kushaq’s entry-level petrol-automatic option is more affordable than those of the Creta and Seltos by Rs 1.25 lakh and Rs 46,000.

• Skoda offers a 6-speed torque converter for the 1-litre TSI and 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch) for the 1.5-litre TSI.

• The top-spec Maruti S-Cross petrol-automatic is more affordable than the Kushaq Active petrol-automatic by Rs 1.8 lakh. Its 1.5-litre 105PS/138Nm petrol engine, mated to an archaic 4-speed torque converter automatic, is the least powerful option in the segment.

• The automatic option for the Renault Duster and Nissan Kicks is limited to the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine which is mated to a CVT auto. Their top-spec variants are more affordable than the entry-level petrol-automatic variants of the Creta and Seltos.

• Hyundai and Kia’s 1.5-litre petrol engine gets the choice of a CVT automatic while the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol comes mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

• The top-spec Creta SX(O) with the 1.5-litre petrol-CVT automatic is pricier than the top-spec Kushaq Style with the 1-litre turbo-petrol automatic by Rs 86,000. It is worth noting that the top-spec Kushaq automatic variants do miss out on side and curtain airbags and tyre pressure monitors compared to the top-spec Korean SUVs here.

• The Kushaq, Creta, Seltos and Hector all offer the choice of dual-clutch automatic. Skoda and Kia limit it to the top-spec variants while Hyundai and MG offer it from one-below-top variant. Thus, the Creta SX Turbo is the most affordable DCT option here.

• Kia’s Seltos GTX+ DCT packs more tech than the Kushaq Style 1.5 TSI DSG while being more affordable by Rs 15,000.

• MG offers the Hector’s 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with both CVT and DCT options at the same price.

Final Thoughts

• The Skoda Kushaq with the 1-litre turbo-petrol engine is competitively priced against its premium rivals. The pricier 1.5-litre turbo-petrol option is more for those who seek an exciting driving experience in the compact SUV body style.

• The lack of a diesel engine option unlike the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos could limit market interest in the Skoda Kushaq.

• Hyundai and Kia also offer remote. functions as part of its connected car suite, which is not offered on the Skoda SUV.

• While the Hector is not as well-equipped as similarly priced variants of the Kushaq, it does offer a lot more space. This makes the MG a viable alternative if cabin and boot space are your top priority over creature comforts.

• The diesel-only Tata Harrier is another alternative from the larger, mid-size SUV segment with prices starting from Rs 14.29 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Its variants within the price range of the Kushaq will not be as well equipped but it will offer a punchy 2-litre diesel-manual with 170PS and 350Nm of performance.

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