In Q4 2023, Skoda introduced electrically adjustable front seats and illuminated footwells on the Kushaq and Slavia.

Skoda has made some changes to the standard safety kit offered in the Kushaq and Slavia. The 2024 edition of both cars now comes equipped with 6 airbags as standard across all variants.

The Skoda Kushaq is available in Active, Ambition, Style, Monte Carlo and Elegance Edition trims. All variants now get six airbags in addition to other safety features like Hill Hold Control and over 10 active and passive features.

The Slavia is also available in Active, Ambition and Style trims along with Style Edition and Elegance variants. With the latest update, all aforementioned variants get 6 airbags, Hill Hold Control and other active and passive safety features.

In Q4 2023, Skoda introduced several new features to the Kushaq and Slavia. The top-spec variants of both cars received electrically adjustable front seats and an illuminated footwell area. Both cars continue to be offered with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

The Kushaq and Slavia will also gain a 360-degree camera along with other premium features.

Skoda plans to introduce Level 2 Autonomous Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in the Slavia and Kushaq models in the future. It will be one of the feature updates coming to the cars alongside a facelift.

Petr Janeba, Brand Director of Skoda said, “Regarding ADAS 2.0, we will bring [this tech] step-by-step with the facelifts on the whole [MQB A0-IN] platform.”

Janeba admitted that the brand has some catching up to do, as rivals like Hyundai and Kia already offer safety features like ADAS even in their compact SUVs. He added that as part of the company’s India 2.5 project, the Kushaq and Slavia will also gain a 360-degree camera along with other premium features.

Janeba also said that driving dynamics will set Skoda’s products apart. “There will not be so many features in the car from the beginning, but we carefully listen to the market and we know what our competitors are doing and we will be package-wise competitive, and price-wise competitive to our main target competitors in the segment,” he added.

Source: Autocar India

The Kushaq Explorer is based on the Style variant.

Skoda has showcased a new concept of the Kushaq featuring a rugged look. Dubbed the Kushaq Explorer, the SUV was recently unveiled and is being evaluated for the Indian market.

Based on the Kushaq Style, the new concept gets a range of cosmetic changes. These include a matte green exterior colour with orange highlights, black body cladding and silver skid plates. The SUV also gets a blacked-out front grille, black alloy wheels, and ORVMs as well as functional roof rails fitted with an LED light bar.

Inside, the Kushaq Explorer features body-coloured dashboard inserts and is equipped with a head-up display, a 360-degree camera and an upgraded reverse camera with guidelines.

The Kushaq Explorer will be offered with the same set of engines as the standard model. These include the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 114 BHP and 178 Nm and the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit that makes 148 BHP and 250 Nm. Transmission options will include a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG.

The new subcompact SUV will be based on the MQB A0 IN platform, which also underpins the Kushaq and Slavia.

Skoda has announced its plans to enter the highly-contested sub-4 metre SUV segment in India. The brand’s first subcompact SUV will be launched in 2025.

The upcoming Skoda sub-4 metre SUV will be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, which also underpins the Kushaq and Slavia. A design teaser shared by the company reveals a typical Skoda grille with LED daytime running lights, a sporty front bumper and roof rails.

According to Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Skoda, the new sub-compact SUV will have features not seen before in the segment. It will also target a 5-star NCAP rating.

Skoda plans to set up a new production line for the upcoming model at its manufacturing facility near Pune. The carmaker believes that it will help them achieve cumulative sales of 1 lakh units within the first year of its launch. Skoda also hopes to double its market share in the same year.

Skoda has shortlisted five names for its upcoming subcompact SUV – Kylaq, Kariq, Kymaq, Kyroq and Kwiq. People can also send suggestions but the name has to begin with K and with Q. The winning entry stands a chance to win the new subcompact SUV.

Skoda Auto India sold 48,755 units in CY2023.

Skoda Auto India has achieved a new sales milestone. The carmaker sold over 1 lakh units over the past 2 years.

Skoda sold a record 53,721 cars in 2022. The year also witnessed the launch of the Kushaq and Slavia. Although the momentum was slightly hampered by supply issues in 2023, the carmaker sold 48,755 units in CY2023. Compared to the previous year, the number of Kodiaq SUVs sold doubled in 2023.

Skoda has also been expanding its retail network in the country. Customer touchpoints have increased from 120 at the beginning of 2021 to 260 at the end of 2023.

Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, said, “It was extremely important for us to maintain our momentum through 2023 after the record-high of 2022.”

“Despite the supply challenges in the first half of the year, we have ensured that we ended the last quarter of 2023 on a positive note. For 2024, we have a mix of exciting product action on the existing range, new product announcements, furthering our growth through exports and expanding our network,” Janeba added.

Replaced 2 Ford cars (EcoSport & Figo) with the 2 Skoda cars.

BHPian jc.on.wheels recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Owning both of the Skoda India 2.0 vehicles – my thoughts

Hello BHPians!

This is my second post on the forum, and I wanted to take the time and post something valuable for you all. Just like I was, many are currently debating as to whether they should make the jump to the Kushaq/Slavia. And I think I can be of some help here. We have both the Kushaq and Slavia – the former was purchased in November 2022, while the latter in February 2023. We also have a Honda Jazz in the house, but that blog is for another day.

I’ve had some people come up and ask why we take the almost same cars from the same OEM. They are even more dumbfounded when they hear that they are in the same trim: Style (top model) with the 1.0 engine. The only difference is that while the Kushaq is manual, the Slavia is automatic.

Please note that I am not from an engineering background so this blog will not be very technical, it is from a simple consumer standpoint. With that out of the way, below is my detailed selection process for both cars, along with some background and thoughts/observations:

The Why

We had two Ford cars before this – the EcoSport 1.0 L EcoBoost engine (Titanium trim), and the Ford Figo 1.2 L (Ambiente trim) – both manuals. For buying the Kushaq, we sold the Figo, mainly because:

• The car was Karnataka registered, and since I shifted to Kolkata at the beginning of the year, the 1-year NOC period was coming to an end. And after paying heavily for its shifting, I was not willing to shell out more. I must admit though, it was an amazing car and even after five years, the engine was smooth and peppy, and showed the prowess of Ford and their tough, no-nonsense and built-to-last cars.
• A very common issue that Ford owners faced have since September 2021 – is their exit. Ever since that announcement, we have been quite worried about service and resale. While they had assured of 10 years of uninterrupted service and I believed them, I was pretty sure the resale value was going to sink faster than the Titanic. As of now, I’ve read that service from Ford is still decent, which I wholeheartedly believe. But I also know they have shut down several service stations, including the one which I went to when I was in Bangalore (Elite Ford).

For buying the Slavia, we sold the EcoSport, and here are the two key reasons:

1. Unlike the Figo, the EcoSport was showing its age, particularly the engine. The EcoSport was purchased in June 2015, while the Figo in July 2017. Seven years in, I realized that turbo engines at the time were not as advanced as they are today. The engine was a little noisy from the start, but it was on another level now. Add to that the random problems which were coming up – oil leakages, gear lever suddenly becoming loose in the middle of the road (twice) – and we realized it was time to say goodbye. My dad loved the car, as it was a very tall and comfortable car (he has back problems so he can't sit in a sedan comfortably and only prefers SUVs).
2. The second reason is similar to the one for Figo – the exit of Ford and so, reliability.

The OG "compact SUV" of India. This shot was taken on its farewell day..

The Kushaq belongs to my dad, while the Slavia was purchased by me. Before going for the Kushaq, here are the alternatives we looked at:

KIA Seltos

• The most common one. Everyone was after the Seltos in 21-22. Naturally, we too wanted to have a look. We did not take a TD of the car though. Even though I liked the car, my dad was not convinced, primarily because:
• The brand – as an auto enthusiast, I knew the brand very well and its amazing lineup abroad. But it was a name which he was not familiar with and made me think there may be a section of people who are yet to be familiar with and gain that level of trust with newcomers like KIA, MG, Citroen, etc.
• All features and no substance – while this is debatable, I do agree that the Koreans focus more on features and cosmetics to woo their customers. It's not wrong at all – it's just something my dad wasn’t convinced with. To each their own.
• Safety – with a not-too-impressive NCAP rating of 3 stars, and with the same reputation for other Korean cars, Dad was not convinced with safety either, and so, even though I was upset about the decision at the time, we dropped the Seltos from the list.
• We had also seen the Sonet at the showroom and while we kind of liked it, the above factors apply, as well as the small size.

Hyundai Creta

• We had checked out the Creta before the Seltos, and I had even test-driven it, but it was out of the race upon reaching home. While the brand wasn’t a problem obviously, points b and c apply here as well. Add to that the radical design which the Creta came with. While I eventually came to terms with it, it has still not grown on me. The interiors are nice and premium though, and what had bowled me was the panoramic sunroof – the first time I saw the feature on a car. It seems like magic the first time you see it.

Other cars in the category were not considered because:

1. Jeep Compass – beyond budget, great brand but unsure about service and maintenance costs.
2. Mahindra and Tata – the Indian duo is doing great right now, and kudos to them! It's just the belief that we have about the quality of Indian OEMs, with both Tata and Mahindra having infamous QC issues in their cars, and fit and finish not being at par with foreign counterparts. I just hope that there comes a time when I can overcome this fear and visit any of their showrooms to consider buying one (the way they are going, I’m sure it’ll be soon).
3. MG Hector – have one in our complex, and looks like a dinosaur. No offence to any Hector owners here – this is just my personal opinion. To me, it looks too large for a five-seater, have heard horrifying fuel-efficiency figures, and I was not looking for an “Internet-Inside” car, I need a vehicle on wheels, not a computer.
4. Nissan Kicks and Renault Duster – simply, no. They don’t even come into consideration.

With all that out of the way:

Why Kushaq?

1. Size – yes, believe it or not, this was a major factor. The Kushaq was the perfect choice because it was just the right size. Dad wanted something larger than the Sonet, i.e., beyond 4 metres in length, but also shorter than the Seltos and Creta, which were too big according to him, thereby causing parking hassles in a city like Kolkata, plus we honestly didn’t need that much space, as it would mostly be him and mom. The Kushaq and we were like hand in glove.
2. Brand – Skoda has always been a fascination for both of us. Ever since we saw the Octavia for the first time on the road, both of us became fanboys of the car and brand. The name meant quality and standard to us, and the thought that a car with that tag was now within our budget and perfectly fit our needs was bliss. We even confirmed with friends and other owners of Skoda vehicles and got to know that the infamous high maintenance costs are a thing of the past, and with the four-year service package, you’re all set. And with the service centre being quite close to our home, 6.5 km, that was set.
3. Design – Creta? Too radical and in-your-face. Seltos? Good looks but the interiors seemed too busy. Kushaq – just right. Not too blingy – just a simple, clean and elegant design, both inside and outside, that will age well. The Kushaq has clean body lines, well chiselled, and the exteriors are easy on the eyes. The interiors are not too busy, just the right amount of features and tech. The plastics are good to the touch, and all the key touch points for the driver are soft touch.
4. Engine – we were OK with the 1.0L engine, as it’ll mostly be used in the city. It has gone on highways and no issues at all – the engines are exactly what we asked for.
5. Price – nothing to say much here, except that it fits our budget well. We were not willing to go beyond 18L, and this one came around 17.8, so it was the perfect fit.

Why Slavia?

1. Design – let's face it, one thing sedans have going for is their sleek and aerodynamic looks. They seem to be moving even while standing still (at least the well-designed ones). Slavia fit into this bracket fair and square, and I have been in love with its looks since the day it launched.
2. Boot space – Class-leading boot space, at least until the Verna came along. 521L is aplenty, and we had the 5th gen City before (bought in 2009), so I know how big and practical the boot space of a sedan is.
3. Prior to the Skoda experience – the Kushaq had left me impressed, and the sales and service experience for that one was positive so far, so that motivated me even further.
4. The above points for Engine and Price apply here as well.

With all that out of the way, let's get to the meat of the story – what’s it like?

The How is it:

I have a lot to say here, so bear with me.

Skoda Kushaq

The good:

• Ride and handling: The suspension, ride & handling are rock solid. You can immediately tell that this is a sturdy car which, with the right maintenance, can last for years. You are not shaken around too much, it handles bumps like a pro, and you feel glued to the road, which is good for the city, and great for highways.
• The infotainment system: As mentioned before, the Kushaq got the new 10-inch infotainment system as it was delivered before the semiconductor shortage. This system is beautiful. It’s got good screen resolution, smooth and easy to use. Wireless Apple CarPlay works like a charm, and overall, a thumbs up from me. Indian manufacturers and MS could learn from this one.
• Alloy wheels: I truly believe they look better than the ones on my Slavia. Sleek, elegant and classy.

The not-so-good:

• Boot space: It looks decent from the outside, but doesn’t meet expectations from the inside. Packing for 5 is not possible here, particularly for a long trip. Short trips should be fine though. This was an upgrade from the EcoSport, so maybe our expectations were a little more.
• Ingress and egress: A little more difficult than I expected. Once you’re inside, its super comfortable. But getting in and out can be tricky, especially for seniors, as the floor is high and the roof not so much. For my dad this is a problem – I insisted on the sunroof model – had we not taken the sunroof, he probably would have been happier with the head space.
• Build quality: As mentioned in multiple reviews and forums, the build quality could have been better. While I’ve not come across any creaks yet, the plastic quality on the dash is not entirely worth the price, and the headliner fabric is just horrible, it’s very rough – this is something they addressed in the Slavia.

Skoda Slavia

The good:

• Again, the ride and handling. What’s more, as this is a sedan form factor, the body roll is almost nil. It’s built beautifully for highways.
• Interior space and practicality: While not Honda City level huge, the space inside is more than what I need. It’s got good head and leg space.
• Boot space: HUGE POSITIVE. We could easily go on a 5-member trip in the Slavia thanks to the massive boot. It could easily accommodate all our luggage.
• The transmission: While the engine is the same 1.0 litre as the Kushaq, what makes the difference is the AT transmission. This is my first AT, and I am not purchasing an MT car again for my use – it's too convenient now. While the car is a little jumpy in stop-go traffic in S mode, it's about right in the regular D mode. Wish it had auto-hold though.
• The design: I may sound biased here, but the design of the Slavia turns heads on the road. Especially in the Carbon Steel colour, it does leave an impact, and the car looks quite long while standing in traffic.

The not-so-good:

• Build quality: After 9 months of ownership: I finally came across a small creaking sound coming from the right side of the dashboard. It’s not disturbing, but I can feel it nonetheless, and look forward to getting it fixed in the car’s first service.
• The infotainment system: As I got shortchanged thanks to the semiconductor shortage, I do miss the larger touchscreen on the Kushaq here. This screen is good, but that one’s more vivid and crisp. Most importantly, I miss out on wireless Apple CarPlay, which is a must-have for me (it is wired though). I’ve bought an Ottocast U2-Air dongle for this purpose, and while it does the job, it has its flaws and is nowhere near the factory-fitted CarPlay experience.
• Brakes: While good, could be better.

To summarize, I’m glad Skoda launched these cars in India. They are well-built on the outside, beautifully designed both inside and out, have potent engines which make them city + highway ready, and are comfortable enough for both long and short journeys.

The Skoda brand has been an aspiration for us for many years. Many people have commented that by pricing them higher and fixing the few niggles that they have, these could have been better overall packages. And while that is one way of thinking about it, I feel this price is just right. For many people like us, this price is the optimum price that we are willing to pay currently for the Skoda badge and experience (maybe more in the future?!). This makes the product quite accessible and sensible for us. Sure, it does have its flaws, but I think many Kushaq and Slavia owners would agree that the pros far outweigh the cons.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Customers can also avail of a complementary 4-year / 60,000 km service package on all models.

Skoda is offering benefits worth Rs 2.66 lakh on the Slavia, Kushaq and Kodiaq this month.

Skoda is offering discounts of up to Rs 1.5 lakh on the Slavia and benefits worth Rs 1.25 lakh on the Kushaq. Customers can also avail of a complementary 4-year / 60,000 km service package.

The highest discount though is available on the brand's flagship SUV. The top-spec Kodiaq L&K gets a discount of Rs 1.96 lakh. Besides this, all three variants - Style, Sportline and L&K, are offered with exchange benefits of up to Rs 40,000 and corporate benefits of up to Rs 30,000. 

Kodiaq customers can also avail of Skoda's complementary 4-year / 60,000 km service package.

The Elegance Editions are positioned above the top-spec Style trims of both cars.

Skoda has launched the Elegance Edition of the Kushaq and Slavia priced at Rs 18.31 lakh and Rs 17.52 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively.

The Elegance Editions are positioned above the top-spec Style trims of both cars. Both models come in a new Deep Black exterior colour with a chrome grille, dual-tone alloy wheels and ‘Elegance’ badges on the B-pillars.

Inside, the Elegance Editions get puddle lamps, rear seat cushions, seat belt cushions, neck rests, ‘Elegance’ badge on the steering wheel, textile mats and aluminium pedals. The Slavia gets scuff plates with ‘Slavia’ inscription, while the Kushaq gets chrome body side moulding.

The Kushaq and Slavia Elegance Edition are available with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that puts out 148 BHP and 250 Nm. The engine is mated with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Kushaq Elegance Edition ex-showroom prices:

• MT – Rs 18.31 lakh
• DSG – Rs 19.51 lakh

Slavia Elegance Edition ex-showroom prices:

• MT – Rs 17.52 lakh
• DSG – Rs 18.92 lakh

Skoda will continue to offer the 17-inch dual-tone alloys on the Monte Carlo variant.

Skoda has silently updated the alloy wheels offered on the Kushaq Style trim.

The Style variant now gets 17-inch single-tone alloy wheels. The new Vega-style wheels replace the Atlas design offered earlier. The tyre size though, remains the same. Skoda will continue to offer the 17-inch dual-tone alloys on the Monte Carlo variant.

Earlier this month, Skoda updated the Kushaq with new features. The SUV now comes with powered front seats, an illuminated footwell, a digital instrument cluster and TPMS. The 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system has made a comeback with this iteration.

The Kushaq is available with a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 114 BHP and 178 Nm and a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that puts out 148 BHP and 250 Nm. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed automatic and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The Kushaq Monte Carlo now comes with powered front seats and an illuminated footwell area.

The Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo was launched in May last year as the top-of-the-line variant of the midsize SUV. The carmaker has added two new features to the car.

The Kushaq Monte Carlo now comes with powered front seats and an illuminated footwell area. Other features include a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a digital instrument cluster, a sunroof and ventilated front seats. The Monte Carlo variant also gets red interior trim and dual-tone seat upholstery.

On the outside, the Kushaq Monte Carlo gets a blacked-out front grille, black roof rails and window trim, black ORVMs and dual-tone alloy wheels.

Customers get a choice of a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 114 BHP and 178 Nm and a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that puts out 148 BHP and 250 Nm. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed automatic and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.