Skoda Kushaq becomes safer with added features; Price increased

Skoda launched the first product under the India 2.0 strategy in the form of Kushaq. The all-new mid-size SUV that utilises the India-specific MQB-A0-IN has gained huge popularity in the Indian market. Skoda has already announced that it has received more than 10,000 official bookings on the Kushaq. Skoda has also launched updated top-end trim with added features. The deliveries of the newly updated variant will start at the end of October.

The Skoda Kushaq Style variant gets the updates. While many criticized Skoda for not offering six airbags on the top-end spec when the manufacturer launched the car, Skoda has now added that feature. The top-end variant now gets the six airbags and the tyre pressure monitoring system as standard. The features are now available with the Style powered by both engine options – the 1.0-litre TSI and the 1.5-litre TSI. Only the automatic variants get the additional features in the revision.

Also read: India”s first Maruti Baleno with “air suspension” looks gorgeous (Video)

With the new features, Skoda has also announced a price hike on both these variants. The Style 1.0 TSI AT retailed at a price of Rs 15.8 lakh, which has now increased to Rs 16.2 lakh. The Style 1.5-litre TSI DSG earlier retailed at Rs 17.6 lakh and now it costs Rs 18 lakh.

Manual variants already offer these features

The manual version of the Style variant already offers additional features. Only the automatic variants did not come with factory-fitted curtain airbags and a tyre pressure monitoring system. While Skoda omitted the features to keep the price competitive, it did face a lot of backlash from the customers.

Skoda started the delivery of the Kushaq a few weeks ago but several customers are facing EPC problems that are leading to stalling of the vehicle. Skoda has already started replacing the fuel pump with new, more robust pumps that will survive in the harsh Indian conditions where the quality of the fuel can differ greatly.

After several customers complained about the same, Skoda started replacing the fuel pump with new more robust fuel pumps. Skoda’s Director – Sales and Marketing, India Zac Hollis said on Twitter that Skoda is now offering a more robust fuel pump to be fitted on the Kushaq. Zac also said that the Skoda workshop will start calling the customers to replace the fuel pumps as soon as there is adequate stock available. However, Skoda has not publicly shared any information on the replacement.

There is a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a cylinder deactivation feature. Till now, only the Kushaq owners with the 1.0-litre engine have faced the EPC problem.

Also read: Tata Nexon goes off roading in the Himalayas (Video)