Skoda Kushaq Anniversary Edition gets back 10-inch screen

Celebrating one year of its arrival in the Indian car market, Skoda has launched the first-ever limited-run Anniversary Edition version of the Kushaq midsize SUV. Based on the existing top-spec Style variant of the lineup, the new Skoda Kushaq Anniversary Edition is available with four different powertrain combinations, the prices for which are as follows:

• Style 1.0 MT Anniversary Edition – Rs 15.59 lakh
• Style 1.0 AT Anniversary Edition – Rs 17.29 lakh
• Style 1.5 MT Anniversary Edition – Rs 17.49 lakh
• Style 1.5 DSG Anniversary Edition – Rs 19.09 lakh

Compared to the current top-spec Style variant, the Anniversary Edition of the new Skoda Kushaq commands a premium of Rs 30,000 for all four versions in which it is available. As with all the previous limited-run models from Skoda, the Kushaq Anniversary Edition comes with a host of cosmetic add-ons and a crucial feature upgrade over the currently-available Style variant.

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On the outside, the new Skoda Kushaq Anniversary Edition comes with ‘Anniversary Edition’ badges on the C-pillars and chrome garnish at the bottom of the door panels. It retains the 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear skid plates and a single-pane sunroof from the Style variant. The Kushaq Anniversary Edition will be available with all the colour options which are already there for the Kushaq’s range.

Gets back 10-inch screen

Step into the inside, and the changes in the Skoda Kushaq Anniversary Edition compared to the Style variant include new contrast stitching, door edge protectors and an ‘Anniversary Edition’ badge on the steering wheel.

However, the most noteworthy change here is the comeback of the 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was replaced with a new 8-inch display unit a few months ago. This larger infotainment system spied by Zigwheels lacks physical buttons, but gets more connectivity options and wireless connectivity for Apple Carplay and Android Auto, compared to the 8-inch unit available in the current lineup of Skoda Kushaq. Skoda cited the global shortage of semiconductor chips as a reason for the replacement of this larger 10-inch screen with the new 8-inch screen. However, this same system is still offered in its distant cousins, the Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus, with different Volkswagen brandings.

Like the other versions of the Skoda Kushaq, the Anniversary Edition is available with both a 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI engine and the 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI engine. The 1.0-litre TSI is available with both a 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic and produces 115 PS of power and 175 Nm of torque. On the other hand, the 1.5-litre TSI, which is available with both a 6-speed manual and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG), produces 150 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque.

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