Let’s not sugarcoat it. The mid-size SUV segment in India is a warzone. If you stand still for even a minute, cars like the Creta and Seltos will completely eat your sales. Skoda knew they couldn’t just sit around, so they’ve finally brought us the Kushaq Facelift.
I’ve gone through all the updates, and it is a massive mixed bag. They’ve fixed some annoying issues, added a big mechanical update, but also made a few decisions that will literally break an enthusiast’s heart. Let’s get straight to it.
Finally, It Looks The Part
The old Kushaq was a great car, but it always looked a bit too understated. This facelift changes that. Skoda hasn’t gone completely crazy with the sheet metal, but the new connected LED DRLs at the front and back make a world of difference. It looks sharper, cleaner, and finally has that aggressive, wide stance you want from an SUV. Hands down, this is the best-looking Kushaq they’ve ever built.
The Cabin: A Cool Party Trick, But A Massive Miss
Jump inside, and honestly, not much has changed. The space is still great, and the layout is practically identical.
But then you notice the new rear-seat massage function. Sounds insanely premium, right? Well, don’t get too excited. For some weird reason, it only massages your backrest, leaving the seat base completely flat. In the real world, it feels less like a luxury feature and more like a novelty trick you’ll use once to show off to your friends and then completely forget about.
But what really hurts is what’s missing. Guys, it is 2026. How do you launch a premium facelifted SUV and still not offer ADAS? In a market where buyers are walking away from cars that don’t have safety tech, skipping ADAS feels like a massive, unforgivable missed opportunity.
The Drive: A New 8-Speed Auto and An Enthusiast’s Nightmare
Under the hood is where the real drama unfolds.
If you are buying the 1.0-litre TSI engine, you are in for a treat. Skoda has dumped the old gearbox and brought in a brand-new 8-speed automatic. This changes everything for daily driving. It is noticeably smoother in heavy traffic, the engine feels way more relaxed, and it’s clearly tuned to make your city commutes completely effortless.
But if you want the bigger, badder 1.5-litre TSI engine, brace yourself. The good news? Skoda finally listened and gave it all four disc brakes. The stopping power is exactly what this car always needed.
The bad news? They killed the manual gearbox. You read that right. The 1.5L is now only available with the automatic transmission. For driving purists who bought the Kushaq purely for the thrill of shifting gears with that 150hp engine, this is an absolute gut punch.
Does It Actually Matter?
The updated Skoda Kushaq is definitely a more mature, easier-to-live-with SUV. The 8-speed auto on the 1.0L makes it a brilliant urban daily driver, and it still handles corners exactly the way a Skoda should, perfectly balanced and predictable.
But is it the new segment king? No. The lack of ADAS and the heartbreaking loss of the 1.5L manual stop it from being the absolute benchmark. Right now, it all comes down to the price tag. If Skoda gets the pricing spot on, the Kushaq will still find its way into the garages of people who care more about driving dynamics than fancy electronics.
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