Skoda Kushaq 2026 Variants Explained — Which One To Buy?

Updated (May 13, 2026): This update of the Skoda Kushaq variants explained article includes the May 2026 prices along with the features applicable for the new Kushaq 2026 facelift.

Updated (October 25, 2024): This update of the Skoda Kushaq variants explained article includes the latest October 2024 prices and our buying recommendations.

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Skoda Kushaq Petrol?

The pros or advantages of Kushaq petrol are:

• Simple, design, which probably won’t look dated even a decade from now
• Fairly long list of standard features, such as 6 airbags, sunroof, cruise control (auto only), auto AC, touchscreen, alloy wheels, tilt & telescopic steering and UV-cut windows
• Segment-first massaging rear seats makes the new Kushaq an easy purchase for some buyers
• Both engines are turbocharged, so even the base engine will offer fantastic drivability compared to the non-turbo engines because of its higher torque output available for a wider torque band
• Cylinder deactivation tech gives the larger engine fantastic performance and excellent mileage figures (although not both at the same time)
• Base variant offers a decent list of features considering the segment standards and Kushaq base model’s attractive asking price
• Option of automatic transmission even in the base model
• With 2 extra ratios, 8-speed torque converter greatly takes care of the efficiency losses from the fluid coupling, at least while the vehicle is on the move

The Skoda Kushaq petrol has the following shortcomings or problems:

• Smaller size doesn’t give it an imposing road presence like its peers Creta, Seltos, Vitara, Hyryder, Elevate, or the new Sierra
• The larger 1.5L turbo petrol engine carries a steep premium over the smaller 1.0L turbo petrol engine — largely addressed by Skoda with March 2026 Kushaq facelift launch
• Missing features — panoramic sunroof and front parking sensors — addressed by Skoda with Maruti 2026 Kushaq facelift launch
• Missing features — 360-degree camera and ADAS
• The smaller engine gets the old-school torque converter automatic transmission, which saps a lot of efficiency, especially in stop-and-go traffic because of fluid coupling
• The larger engine gets a dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is yet to establish a reputation for long-term reliability in the harsh Indian climatic and driving conditions (Also Read: 10 DCT Automatic Cars Discontinued in India)
• 1.5L turbo petrol doesn’t get a manual transmission — Applicable since September 2024 update
• Top variant costs well over Rs. 20.0 lakh despite being considerably small and lacking several features available in this segment — Addressed by Skoda in June 2024 update
• The automatic transmission carries a steep premium over manual transmission variants — Addressed by Skoda with June 2024 update
• Missing features like power driver seat — Addressed by Skoda with October 2023 update

What Is The Price Of Skoda Kushaq?

The Skoda Kushaq has 2 engine options — a 1.0L turbo petrol and a 1.5L turbo petrol. The base petrol engine gets a 6-speed manual and 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission options. The more powerful 1.5L turbo petrol engine only gets the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The 1.0L turbo petrol-manual powertrain is available in all 4 of the 5 variants with prices ranging from Rs. 10.69 lakh to Rs. 16.79 lakh (ex-showroom). The 1.0L turbo petrol-automatic powertrain is available in all 5 variants with prices starting from Rs. 12.69 lakh and going up to Rs. 17.89 lakh. Depending on the variant, the automatic transmission costs Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 2.0 lakh more than the same engine with a manual transmission.

Lastly, the 1.5L turbo petrol-automatic is available in the top 2 variants only with prices closer to Rs. 19.0 lakh (ex-showroom). In this case, the superior performance of the larger engine comes at an additional cost of Rs. 1.10 - 1.20 lakh over the comparable 1.0L turbo petrol-automatic variant.

2026 Skoda Kushaq Classic Plus — Base Model Standard Features

The base Classic Plus variant of the Skoda Kushaq gets the 1.0L turbo petrol engine with a 6-speed manual and 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission. It costs Rs. 10.69 lakh with the manual and Rs. 12.69 lakh with the automatic. The Classic Plus automatic costs Rs. 2.0 lakh more than the 1.0L petrol-manual powertrain. With the manual transmission, it appears to be well priced but the premium for automatic is absurdly steep.

The base model of the Skoda Kushaq 2026 gets the following safety and infotainment features:

In terms of functional and style features, the 2026 Skoda Kushaq base model offers the following equipment:

This variant misses out on some key features like:

• Rear parcel tray
• Split-folding rear seat backs
• Rear camera
• TPMS
• USB C port
• Hill start assist (only available with automatic transmission)
• Cruise control (only available with automatic transmission)

The base variant of the 2026 Kushaq appears surprisingly well loaded for the asking price. Here, you’re getting most of the must-have features along with a few good-to-have features as well. On the value front, this is the most value for money option — with manual as well as automatic transmission.

Even the 2026 Kushaq base model with the automatic transmission and a Rs. 2.0 lakh rupee premium for the automatic transmission has a modest VFM score of 68%. This number is superior to all other Kushaq automatic variants. Hence, Kushaq base model is our top recommendation for all Kushaq buyers who give enough importance to value for money.

Using the Kushaq Classic Plus as our baseline, the price jump to all other variants come across as too high. If we go with our usual VFM-based buying recommendation algorithm, all other variants are not recommended.

Skoda Kushaq 2026 Classic Plus vs Signature Variant — Price, Feature Comparison

The Kushaq 2026 Signature variant also gets the same 2 powertrain options — 1.0L turbo petrol-manual and 1.0L turbo petrol-automatic. It costs Rs. 14.59 lakh with the manual and Rs. 15.59 lakh with the automatic. The Kushaq Signature petrol-manual is Rs. 3.90 lakh pricier than the lower Classic Plus while the automatic is Rs. 2.90 lakh more expensive than the Kushaq base model.

For almost Rs. 3.0 - 4.0 lakh higher ex-showroom price, the Kushaq Signature offers the following additional features over the Classic Plus:

In this variant, you may miss features like:

• Larger, panoramic sunroof
• Burglar alarm
• Leather upholstery
• Ventilated seats

The Signature trim of the new Kushaq does add a few extra useful and desirable features to the mix. However, keeping in mind the steep price jump of almost Rs. 4.0 lakh, we find it extremely difficult to recommend it to a Kushaq buyer. This variant of the new Kushaq 2026 is not recommended with either powertrain option.

2026 Skoda Kushaq Signature vs Sportline Variant — Price, Feature Comparison

The Kushaq Sportline variant costs only Rs. 15,000 more than the lower Signature trim. It carries an ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 14.74 lakh with the manual and Rs. 15.74 lakh with the automatic. The price premium for the automatic transmission here is exactly Rs. 1.0 lakh over the Sportline manual.

For the higher asking price, the Sportline variant offers the following extra features:

In the Kushaq Sportline variant, you may miss features like:

• Larger, panoramic sunroof
• Burglar alarm
• Leather upholstery
• Ventilated seats

Since the Sportline variant is a cosmetic upgrade over the Signature variant and doesn’t add any useful functional features, this trim too remains not recommended.

Skoda Kushaq 2026 Sportline vs Prestige Variant — Price, Feature Comparison

With the Skoda Kushaq Prestige variant, you also get the option of 1.5L turbo petrol-automatic powertrain. The Kushaq Prestige petrol-manual costs Rs. 16.79 lakh with the manual while the base petrol-automatic costs Rs. 17.59 lakh, which is only Rs. 80,000 pricier. This variant is Rs. 1.85 - 2.05 lakh more expensive than the lower Sportline trim.

With the Prestige variant, you also get the option of the more powerful 1.5L turbo petrol-automatic powertrain. It costs Rs. 18.79 lakh (ex-sh), which is Rs. 1.20 lakh pricier than the Prestige 1.0L petrol-automatic.

In addition to better performance, this powertrain also brings a quick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and cylinder deactivation technology.

With this new tech, the ECU cuts fuel injection to 2 of its 4 cylinders making it work like a 750cc, 2-cylinder engine at times when you’re driving it in a relaxed manner. However, if you or the situation demand more performance, then this engine can instantly come back into its performance mode. In the 2-cylinder mode, such as while cruising along a highway or expressway, this engine can give some phenomenal mileage figures while keeping tremendous performance in reserve should you need it for a quick overtake. Thus, you get the best of both worlds.

In the Prestige variant, you will get the following additional features:

The Prestige variant, you get almost all must-have features but, you may miss the following features:

• ADAS features
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Forward collision warning
  • Forward collision avoidance assist
  • Lane departure warning
  • Lane keep assist
  • Lane follow assist
  • Lane watch camera
  • Blind spot collision warning
  • Blind spot collision avoidance assist
  • Rear cross traffic alert
  • Rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist
  • Safe exit assist
  • Auto high beam
• Powered tail gate
• 360-degree camera
• Dash cam

The Prestige variant really takes the desirability game to a new level with the rear massaging seats. However, once again, considering the price premium you’re paying for the Prestige variant over the base model, the features aren’t enough to justify the upgrade with either of the 3 powertrains.

Here too, the VFM score is quite poor. With the manual transmission, it‘s 47% while the automatics’ value score hovers in the 55 - 60% range. If you are interested in buying this variant for the massaging rear seats feature, beware that you are paying a large premium for this comfort feature.

Skoda Kushaq 2026 Prestige vs Monte Carlo Variant — Price, Feature Comparison

The Kushaq top model, Monte Carlo only offers the 1.0L turbo petrol-automatic and 1.5L turbo petrol-automatic powertrain options with an ex-showroom price of Rs. 17.89 lakh and Rs. 18.99 lakh, respectively. The Kushaq Monte Carlo variant costs Rs. 20,000 - 30,000 more than the lower Prestige variant. The Monte Carlo variant of the Kushaq with the more powerful turbo petrol engine costs Rs. 1.10 lakh more than the 1.0L turbo petrol-automatic powertrain.

The Monte Carlo variant adds the following style-related features to the mix:

In the Skoda Kushaq top model, you may miss the following features:

• ADAS features
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Forward collision warning
  • Forward collision avoidance assist
  • Lane departure warning
  • Lane keep assist
  • Lane follow assist
  • Lane watch camera
  • Blind spot collision warning
  • Blind spot collision avoidance assist
  • Rear cross traffic alert
  • Rear cross traffic collision avoidance assist
  • Safe exit assist
  • Auto high beam
• Powered tail gate
• 360-degree camera
• Dash cam

Being a cosmetic upgrade over the Kushaq Prestige, Monte Carlo also comes across as an expensive upgrade. According to our VFM algorithm, it doesn’t justify an upgrade from the base model.

Which Variant Of The 2026 Skoda Kushaq Petrol Should You Buy?

The Skoda Kushaq base model is suitably loaded for a car costing well under Rs. 11.0 lakh (ex-showroom). Since all of the higher variants offer embarrassingly low VFM scores of 30 - 47%, we can’t recommend any of those. Hence, for the Kushaq petrol-manual buyers, the base variant remains our top pic.

Among the 1.0L turbo petrol-automatic variants as well, the Classic Plus is our top recommendation. Despite a steep Rs. 2.0 lakh price premium for the automatic transmission, it offers a VFM score of 68%, which is low but a shade above our threshold to earn a buying recommendation. All of the higher variants offer much lower VFM scores and are therefore not recommended.

The two Kushaq 1.5L petrol-automatic variants also offer a lowly 55% VFM score with extra features and performance for the entire incremental price over the Kushaq base model. So, we can’t recommend the Kushaq variants with the larger petrol engine either.