
Skoda Auto India is set to launch the 2026 Kushaq facelift later today, marking the first major refresh for the mid-size SUV since its India debut in 2021. However, the vehicle's exterior has been revealed by the company on its website ahead of its official unveiling.
The Kushaq has been a key product for the Czech carmaker under its India 2.0 strategy. While full details will be revealed at the launch, the 2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift has received visible exterior changes in line with the carmaker's evolving global design language. Updates are also expected inside the cabin, with a stronger focus on comfort, technology and perceived premiumness.
The front fascia of the Kushaq facelift has been redesigned with a new grille and LED headlights. The bumper has also been redesigned. Additionally, the SUV gets a new set of alloy wheels. While the rear is not visible in the image shared on the company's official website, we expect a new set of LED taillights. The rear bumper is expected to be new as well.
Inside the cabin, we expect the Kushaq facelift to get new upholstery along with a redesigned dashboard housing a new touchscreen infotainment system. We also expect an all-new digital instrument cluster. The two-spoke steering wheel, Climatronic automatic climate control and front ventilated seats are expected to continue from the pre-facelift version. A new panoramic sunroof is also expected to be introduced.
Built on the India-specific MQB-A0-IN platform, safety is expected to remain a core pillar for the Kushaq. The outgoing model has already set benchmarks in this area, with a five-star safety rating at Global NCAP. It boasts safety equipment such as six airbags, electronic stability control, hill-hold control, traction control, rollover protection, brake disc wiping, ISOFIX child-seat mounts and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The facelift is likely to build on that positioning.
On the mechanical front, the 2026 Kushaq facelift is expected to retain its existing turbo-petrol engine options, which have been among its key strengths in the segment. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI engine (115PS and 178Nm) will continue to be offered with manual and automatic torque converter transmissions. The larger 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI engine (150PS and 250Nm), currently paired only with a DSG automatic, might get a manual option.
The 2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift will rival the likes of the Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Tata Curvv, Honda Elevate, Volkswagen Taigun and MG Astor.
While the outgoing model is priced between Rs 10.66 lakh and Rs 18.69 lakh (ex-showroom), we expect the 2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift price in India to start around Rs 10.70 lakh and go up to nearly Rs 19 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top-spec variant.
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