This Budget Skoda Suv Now Comes With Rear Massaging Seats

Skoda has taken the wraps off the facelifted Kushaq in India, giving its compact SUV a meaningful refresh nearly five years after the original first hit the roads. In a segment where mid-cycle updates usually mean minor design tweaks and the occasional new paint option, this one adds something you don’t usually see at this price point in the form of rear massaging seats.

That’s a feature typically reserved for high-end, chauffeur-friendly sedans like the Mercedes S-Class, not something you’d expect to find in a mainstream compact SUV. While it will almost certainly be limited to the top-spec trims, it taps into a growing appetite among Indian buyers for premium touches, even in budget-conscious segments.

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The Kushaq now also gets a larger panoramic sunroof, a key draw for many Indian customers. The cabin layout remains largely familiar, though higher-end versions now feature a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, up from the previous 8 inches. This works in tandem with a 10.1-inch infotainment system, now integrated with Google’s Gemini AI.

What’s Changed on the Outside?

Beyond the feature list, the Kushaq’s appearance has been subtly modernized. Up front, the headlights get updated graphics and slimmer lower units, now joined by sleeker side blades in the bumper. The grille has been reshaped with an illuminated trim piece, and the central air intake has grown larger, bordered by a skid plate that looks similar to the one on the Jeep Avenger.

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The profile is unchanged, apart from the new alloy wheels. At the rear, full-width LED taillights now carry illuminated Skoda lettering, giving the back end a more upscale look. The bumper has been tweaked with slimmer reflectors and beefed-up cladding. There’s also a sportier Monte Carlo version in the lineup, mirroring what Skoda did with the European Kamiq.

Familiar Engines, Newer Gearbox

Underneath, the Kushaq continues to ride on the India-developed MQB-A0-IN platform, which it shares with the low-cost Slavia sedan. The powertrain lineup remains unchanged, with two non-hybrid turbo petrol options: a 1.0 TSI making 113 hp (85 kW / 115 PS) and a 1.5 TSI producing 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS).

As before, the Kushaq is front-wheel-drive only. One key change is the switch from the old six-speed automatic to a smoother eight-speed torque converter for the 1.0 TSI, joining the existing six-speed manual. The 1.5 TSI continues with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, now backed up by disc brakes at all four corners.

Pricing and Competition

Pricing for the updated Kushaq hasn’t been announced yet. Indian media expect a slight premium over the outgoing version, which currently ranges from ₹10.66 to ₹18.49 Lakh (approximately $11,700 to $20,300).

The Kushaq competes with several other compact SUVs in the Indian market, including the VW Taigun, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Honda Elevate, Tata Curvv, and the upcoming Renault Duster.

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It’s not Skoda’s most affordable SUV in India either. That distinction belongs to the smaller Kylaq, which starts at ₹7.59 Lakh ($9,000). The entry-level model now offers new trims and added features such as an electric sunroof, powered seats, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

While models like the Kushaq and Kylaq won’t be showing up in European, let alone in American showrooms, they point to a shift in emerging markets, where budget cars are beginning to offer features still missing from far more expensive models elsewhere.

Skoda