June 2023 - Skoda Kushaq Petrol Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

Updated (June 1, 2023): This update of the Skoda Kushaq petrol variants explained article includes the June 2023 prices. We’ve also included the details of the Onyx and the new Monte Carlo variants in the buying recommendation. This update of the article also includes the updated mileage figures of the Kushaq after the BS6 phase 2 compliance.

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Skoda Kushaq Petrol?

Know the Pros and Cons of Skoda Kushaq car variants in detail.

The pros or advantages of Kushaq petrol are:

• Simple, design, which probably won’t look dated even a decade from now
• A fairly long list of features, such as 6 airbags, front diff lock, sunroof, ventilated seats, cruise control, subwoofer, LED headlamps, auto AC, keyless entry, and tire pressure monitoring
• Both engines are turbocharged, so even the base engine offers fantastic drivability with its higher torque output available for a wider torque band
• Cylinder deactivation tech gives the larger engine higher performance and class-leading mileage figures (although not both at the same time)
• Option of manual and automatic transmission with both engines; the smaller 1.0L turbo petrol engine gets the reliable torque converter technology while the bigger 1.5L turbo petrol gets the fast shifting and efficient dual-clutch automatic

The Skoda Kushaq petrol has the following shortcomings or problems:

• The smaller size doesn’t give it an imposing road presence like its peers like Creta, Seltos, and Astor
• The automatic transmission carries a steep premium over manual transmission variants (except for the top 3 1.5L DCT variants, which cost Rs. 1.20 lakh more than manual)
• The larger 1.5L turbo petrol engine carries a steep premium over the smaller 1.0L turbo petrol engine
• Missing features like a power driver seat, panoramic sunroof, front parking sensors, 360-degree camera, and ADAS
• The smaller engine gets the old-school torque converter automatic transmission, which saps a lot of efficiencies, especially in crawling 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

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. Both engines are available with a 6-speed manual. The smaller engine also gets a 6-speed torque converter automatic while the bigger engine also gets a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

With the manual transmission, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0L is available in 4 main variants. Its prices start at Rs. 11.59 lakh for the Active manual variant and go up to Rs. 16.49 lakh for the Monte Carlo variant. The 1.0L turbo petrol engine is available with the automatic transmission in Ambition, Style sunroof, and Monte Carlo variants. In the Ambition variant, the Kushaq automatic costs Rs. 15.14 lakh, which is Rs. 1.80 lakh pricier than the Ambition manual. Meanwhile, in the Style Sunroof and Monte Carlo, the base engine with the automatic costs Rs. 1.60 lakh over the comparable manual variant.

The 1.5L turbo petrol engine is available in the Ambition, Style Sunroof, and 2 special edition variants — Lava Blue and Monte Carlo. The Kushaq 1.5L turbo petrol variants get manual as well as automatic transmission in all 4 variants. With the manual transmission, it costs between Rs. 14.99 lakh and Rs. 18.49 lakh. With the automatic transmission, the Kushaq 1.5L’s prices start at Rs. 16.79 lakh and top out at Rs. 19.69 lakh. The automatic transmission with the 1.5L turbo petrol engine costs a more reasonable Rs. 1.20 lakh than the comparable manual variant. However, with the most affordable Ambition variant of the Kushaq with the 1.5L turbo petrol, the premium for the automatic transmission carries a hefty premium of Rs. 1.80 lakh.

If you’re interested in making the jump to the more powerful 1.5L engine, then it’ll cost you Rs. 1.65 lakh in the Ambition manual variant. With the manual transmission, the cost of the upgrade to the larger engine is Rs. 2.0 lakh for the other 2 variants.

With the automatic transmission, the price gap between the two engine options is fairly consistent at around Rs. 1.60 - 1.65 lakh. Although, it’s worth noting that even at this lower price gap, the 1.5L turbo petrol engine is fairly expensive considering the power and torque advantages.

Skoda Kushaq Petrol Active - Base Model Features & Review

The base Active variant of the Skoda Kushaq is only available with the 1.0L turbo petrol engine and a manual transmission for an ex-showroom price of Rs. 11.59 lakh.

The Kushaq’s base model gets a good number of useful features such as:

• Electronic differential lock (30kmph+)
• Traction control
• ESC
• Front armrest
• Remote central locking
• Tilt and telescopic steering
• Rear AC vents
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Padded door armrests
• TPMS
• Power mirrors
• Touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple Carplay
• Steering-mounted controls
• Wheel covers
• Chrome grille
• DRLs

16-inch wheels with wheel covers this variant also misses out on some key features like:

• Rear washer wiper
• Rear defogger
• Rear camera
• Detailed MID
• Auto AC
• Rear parcel tray

If you’re on a tight budget, then the base Active variant seems to pack most of the must-have features.

Skoda Kushaq Petrol Active vs Onyx Variant

The Onyx variant of the Skoda Kushaq is also available with only the 1.0L turbo petrol engine and 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission. It costs Rs. 12.39 lakh and is Rs. 80,000 pricier than the base model.

For the Rs. 80,000 price difference, the Onyx variant adds features like:

• Rear defogger
• Rear washer wiper
• LED projector headlamps
• Auto AC
• Leather upholstery

In this variant, you may miss features like:

• Rear camera
• Rear armrest
• Detailed MID
• Rear parcel tray

The Onyx variant adds some crucial features but doesn’t come close to justifying the price gap with the additional features. So, you could skip this variant. If you have a bigger budget, then it’s better to instead go for the Ambition variant, which is our top recommendation.

Skoda Kushaq Petrol Onyx vs Ambition Variant

The Ambition variant of the Kushaq is available with both engine options — 1.0L turbo petrol and 1.5L turbo petrol. Moreover, both of these engines get the option of an automatic transmission in this variant.

The Kushaq Ambition costs Rs. 95,000 more than the Onyx 1.0L petrol manual and carries an ex-showroom price of Rs. 13.34 lakh. If you want this powertrain with the automatic, then you will have to spend another Rs. 1.80 lakh as the Ambition 1.0L turbo petrol-automatic costs Rs. 15.14 lakh. The price premium for the automatic transmission is too high and not reasonable at all.

The Ambition variant of the Kushaq with the bigger 1.5L turbo petrol engine costs Rs. 14.99 lakh with the manual and Rs. 16.79 lakh with the automatic transmission. These prices are exactly Rs. 1.65 lakh more than the Ambition 1.0L turbo petrol. This cost for the more powerful engine is also very high for the additional performance advantage.

For the Rs. 95,000 higher prices, the Ambition variant adds features like:

• Cooled storage
• Detailed MID
• Sunglass holder
• Rear parcel tray
• Split-folding rear seatbacks
• Rear armrest
• Cruise control
• Power-folding mirrors
• HSA
• Rear camera
• Larger touchscreen
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Ambient lighting
• Fabric upholstery

In this variant, you may miss features like:

• Wireless phone charging
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay

With the Ambition variant, you get almost all must-have features. Moreover, it mostly justifies the incremental price over the base variant with the additional features. Since this variant is available with all powertrain options, once you have figured out which engine-transmission combination you should buy, the Ambition variant seems like a balanced choice.

Skoda Kushaq Petrol Ambition vs Style Non-Sunroof Variant

The Style non-sunroof variant of the Skoda Kushaq only gets the 1.0L turbo petrol engine with the manual transmission and it costs Rs. 15.59 lakh. This price is Rs. 2.25 lakh higher than the lower variant with the comparable powertrain.

The Style NSR variant adds features like:

• Anti-theft alarm
• Side and curtain airbags
• Ventilated seats
• Black leather upholstery
• Larger 17-inch alloy wheels
• Wireless phone charger
• Keyless entry with push-button start/stop

The Style variant offers very poor value for money and is a very expensive upgrade over the Ambition trim.

Skoda Kushaq Petrol Style Non-Sunroof vs Style Sunroof Variant

The higher Style Sunroof variant of the Kushaq once again gets all 4 powertrain options. It costs Rs. 15.79 lakh with the 1.0L turbo petrol manual and Rs. 17.39 lakh with the 1.0L petrol automatic. This variant costs only Rs. 20,000 more than the Style NSR. The automatic transmission in this case also carries a slightly less absurd price premium of Rs. 1.60 lakh over the Style Sunroof 1.0L petrol manual.

If you’re interested in the 1.5L turbo petrol engine, then you’ll have to pay Rs. 2.0 lakh more for the manual transmission over the 1.0L engine. It costs Rs. 17.79 lakh with the 1.5L petrol-manual powertrain and Rs. 18.99 lakh with the automatic. In this case, the cost for the automatic transmission is not fair but reasonable at only Rs. 1.20 lakh.

The Style Sunroof variant adds the following features over the Style NSR:

• Auto wiper
• Rear fog lamps
• Auto-dimming inside mirror
• Sunroof
• 8-inch full-color LCD instrument cluster

However, it loses out on the sunglass holder to make room for the sunroof controls.

While the Style Sunroof variant only costs Rs. 20,000 more than the Style NSR, it doesn't justify the value gap the lower variant created. Thus, this trim too comes across as an expensive upgrade according to our value algorithm.

Skoda Kushaq Petrol Style Sunroof vs Lava Blue Variant

The Lava Blue is a special edition variant of the Skoda Kushaq. It’s only available with the more powerful 1.5L turbo petrol engine. The Kushaq Lava Blue costs Rs. 17.99 lakh with the manual transmission and Rs. 19.19 lakh with the automatic. The automatic costs Rs. 1.20 lakh more than the manual. These prices are Rs. 20,000 more than the Style sunroof variant with the same powertrain.

The Lava Blue variant gets style-related features and the most notable among them is the dark-ish blue exterior color, which we normally see with far more expensive Skoda cars.

The Lava Blue is another expensive variant and has mostly cosmetic features. So, we’ll leave it up to you to decide if you should buy this variant.

Skoda Kushaq Petrol Style Sunroof vs Monte Carlo Variant

The Monte Carlo variant of the Kushaq once again gets all 4 powertrain options. The Kushaq Monte Carlo 1.0L costs Rs. 16.49 lakh with the manual and Rs. 18.49 lakh with the automatic transmission. The manual costs Rs. 1.60 lakh less than the Monte Carlo 1.0L automatic.

 If you opt for the larger engine, then it’ll cost you Rs. 18.49 lakh with the manual transmission and Rs. 19.69 lakh with the automatic. Regardless of the powertrain you choose, you’re paying Rs. 70,000 more over the Style Sunroof variant of the Kushaq.

The Monte Carlo variant also gets style features like red accents and metal pedals.

In terms of value alone, the Monte Carlo is the one variant, which comes close to offering a respectable value. So, it’s worth considering although this one too is quite expensive.

Which Variant Of The Skoda Kushaq Petrol Should You Buy?

With the manual transmission, the Kushaq’s base Active variant is worth buying if you’re on a tight budget. The higher Onyx neither offers a satisfactory value for money nor does it offer compelling features. If you want more features, then you should instead jump straight to the Ambition, which offers a nice balance of features and value for money. Although, it doesn’t completely justify the price gap over the base Active variant with the additional features. It still remains our top recommendation as higher variants don’t offer the combination of value and compelling features to warrant an upgrade. Only Monte Carlo’s value score comes somewhat close to that of Ambition’s.

With the 1.5L turbo petrol engine, all variants come across as expensive as the price gap for the engine is too high to justify the incremental improvement in performance and drivability.

With the automatic transmission, the Kushaq’s most affordable Ambition variant earns our top recommendation for its balanced feature set and a good value for money score than other petrol-automatic variants. Just like the Kushaq petrol manual, the Monte Carlo is worth considering as it offers decent value for money. The rest of the variants of the Kushaq automatic, especially the ones with the 1.5L engine are expensive for what they offer. So, you should buy them only if you’re comfortable with paying a higher price.

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The Skoda Kushaq Petrol?

Unlike most C1-segment SUVs, the Kushaq has a turbo petrol engine. So, despite a small displacement, it has more torque available at lower RPMs. Thus, it should offer better drivability than the other cars with 1.5L normal or mild-hybrid petrol engines. With the BS6-2 update, its mileage has also improved considerably.

The larger 1.5L turbo petrol engine of the Kushaq also offers fantastic power and torque output while offering fantastic mileage figures (for a 150PS car). This is because of the cylinder deactivation technology which cuts the fuel supply to 2 of the 4 cylinder engines when the car doesn’t need all of its torque.

Even with the automatic transmission, the 1.5L engine of the Kushaq promises a similar mileage figure. This is because it has a more efficient 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This type of automatic transmission has so far had a rough patch in terms of long-term reliability but it has proven itself with fast gear changes and high fuel efficiency.

What Are The Dimensions Of The Skoda Kushaq?

In terms of dimensions, there’s no denying that the Skoda Kushaq is a smaller car for a C1-segment SUV. When you see it parked next to a sub-4m SUV, you’ll notice that it’s only slightly larger. The Kushaq and its cousin, the Volkswagen Taigun, are the smallest cars among their peers in all 3 dimensions.

If you want a strong road presence from your SUV, the Kushaq is not a suitable choice. However, what it does offer is a clean European styling with simple, straight lines that age better and don’t look old even decades later. The VW Polo and Skoda Rapid are proof of this as they still don’t look like they are almost one-and-a-half-decade-old designs.

*Estimated

What Are The Colour Options Of The Skoda Kushaq?

The Kushaq is available in the following 6 color options:

• Silver
• White
• Red
• Orange
• Grey
• Blue (Available in Lava Blue variant only)

The Monte Carlo variant is available in 2 dual-tone color options — red with black roof and white with black roof.

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we are classifying cars based on their size.

Also Read: Car Segments Explained - With Body Styles And Examples

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