Skoda Kushaq: Competition check

Skoda’s first product under the India 2.0 project has made its debut. The prices for the Kushaq start from Rs 10.50 lakh. At that price point, the Indian market also sees a few mid-sized sedan and sub-4-metre SUVs.

Skoda Kushaq has been launched and the mid-sized SUV is priced between Rs 10.50 lakh and Rs 17.60 lakh. The Kushaq essentially rivals the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Renault Duster, and the Nissan Kicks.

With seven variants to choose from, the Skoda Kushaq also overlays on cars positioned in different segments, namely the C-segment mid-sized sedans and sub-4-metre crossover SUVs.

Sub-4-metre SUVs

The higher variants of the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, and the Mahindra XUV300 range between Rs 11.5-13.5 lakh. While the aforementioned cars offer a compact body style, one advantage they all pack is a diesel drivetrain with automatic transmission. This very specific combination could be a choice of many buyers looking for an everyday and light-on-pocket proposition. The Kushaq misses out on a diesel drivetrain and the automatic variants start at Rs 14.20 lakh.

C-Segment sedans

If SUV proportions are intimidating for some buyers, the Skoda Kushaq's price range also eats into the mid-size sedan space. Sedans such as Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Skoda Rapid and the Volkswagen Vento offer a three-box design. The Hyundai Verna is the only sedan on the list that is available with a diesel automatic powertrain. The prices for the diesel-auto start at Rs 13.36 lakh. The European cars in the list, the Vento and the Rapid get the same 1.0-litre unit as the Skoda Kushaq. The highest spec automatic variant of the Vento and Rapid undercut the pricing of the entry-level automatic variant of the Kushaq – Rs 14.20 lakh.

Segment rivalry

The Style 1.5-litre automatic variant Skoda Kushaq is priced at Rs 17.60 lakh. The Hyundai Creta SX(O) 1.4-litre turbo-petrol automatic variant is priced only 11,000 more at Rs 17.71 lakh. The equivalent Kia Seltos GTX Plus 1.4-litre turbo-petrol automatic demands a premium of Rs 25,000 over the pricing of the Skoda Kushaq 1.5-litre automatic. The Skoda Kushaq also rivals the Renault Duster and the Nissan Kicks which are priced between Rs 9.84-14.25 lakh and Rs 9.50-14.64 lakh respectively.

All prices mentioned in the story are ex-showroom.

Also Read:

Skoda Kushaq Review: First Drive

Skoda Kushaq launched at Rs 10.50 lakh

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