The Skoda Kushaq has finally shed its cover. What you see here is the production-ready version. Although it isn’t as outlandish as the Vision IN concept car we saw last year or the sketches which were released earlier this year, you have to agree that the finished product does look good. Skoda claims a 95 per cent localisation of parts. That should help keep the prices down. Without further ado, let’s start the unravelling process.

Design

The Kushaq will turn heads. The front- and rear-end look aggressive, especially with those dual-tone bumpers which incorporate skid plates. Even the grille has a bold chrome surround. Flanking are two headlamp enclosures on each side, which pack LED-powered units, including DRLs. The side profile reveals the sporty wheels, nicely contoured wheel arches and the Skoda branding on the fenders. Shooting out of those fenders are two character lines that get closer towards the rear door’s end. They look unusual. At the back, the busy-looking boot lid features a silver strip running between the reflector units, boomerang-shaped brake lights and a spoiler sprouting out from the top of the windshield.

Dimensions

The Kushaq benefits from a wheelbase stretching 2,651mm, which is amongst the longest in the compact SUV space. The length, width, and height measure 4,221mm, 1,760mm and 1,612mm, respectively. Ground clearance? How can Skoda forget to do that properly! The Kushaq’s underbelly rides 188mm off the ground. As standard, the Kushaq will come with 16-inch wheels. However, those opting for high-end variants will get 17-inch dual-tone alloys. Space for stuff? With all the seats erect, there’s a 385-litre boot. Fold the rear seats down, and the volume increases to a whopping 1,405 litres.

Powertrains

As revealed earlier, Skoda will offer the Kushaq with two TSI engines – a 1.0-litre and a 1.5-litre. The former, which also does duty in the Rapid sedan, has been tuned to deliver 113bhp (5bhp more) and 175Nm of torque. The three-cylinder turbocharged unit will come coupled to a 6-speed manual as standard but will also be available with a 6-speed automatic (torque converter). The larger engine will make the Kushaq the second most powerful SUV in its segment. That’ll offer 148bhp/250Nm and will be available with a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG. As for the mileage figures, they are still awaited.

Features

Skoda didn’t want to leave any stone unturned. And that’s why it’ll offer the Kushaq a long list of creature comforts. Depending on the trim level, the SUV will pack stuff like a 10.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-speaker sound system, USB Type-C ports, ventilated front seats, cooled glovebox and rain-sensing wipers. Other features like auto-dimming IRVM, electric sunroof, wireless mobile charger, connected-car technology, six airbags, electronic stability control (standard), rear AC vents and hill start assist will also be offered.

Colours

Skoda has devised five of them – Candy White, Reflex Silver, Carbon Steel, Honey Orange and Tornado Red. The last two are exclusively for the Indian market.

Rivals

The Kushaq will compete against a list of potent SUVs. It covers the Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier, MG Hector, Nissan Kicks and the Hyundai Creta. Soon, Volkswagen will borrow the essentials from the Kushaq and enter the same segment with the Taigun.

Launch

Skoda hasn’t revealed a date yet. But, expect it to launch the Kushaq within the first half of this year. If it wants to take a big slice of the pie, competitive pricing will be the key. Expect the Czech SUV to start at Rs 10 lakh. SAVWIPL (Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd.) aims to have a 5 per cent market share by 2025. If Skoda plays the Kushaq right, it could very well be the first step towards that goal.