Skoda Kushaq facelift: Changes, upgrades compared to the old model explained

Skoda Auto India has recently revealed the much-awaited Skoda Kushaq facelift SUV in the Indian market. Prices are expected to be announced in February and deliveries are scheduled to begin in March 2026. Pre-booking is already going on. Interested customers can book the new Kushaq online or by visiting the nearest dealership. This is the first facelift of the Kushaq since its launch in 2021 and it includes cosmetic changes to the exterior, a revised interior with additional features and more. In this article, let’s take a look at the changes and upgrades the new Kushaq brings compared to the outgoing model.

Skoda Kushaq facelift: New attractive designThe earlier Kushaq looked quite similar to the smaller Kiliq, with little to differentiate the two beyond their overall size. However, the updated model now looks far more premium and upmarket with design inspiration from the larger Kodiaq. At the front, it now gets a redesigned grille with chrome accents, slimmer headlamps and a new LED DRL signature that extends across the grille. The lower section gets a refreshed skid plate, while the bumper adopts a honeycomb-style design.

Changes on the sides are subtle, limited to newly designed 17-inch alloy wheels and thick black wrap that enhances the road presence of the SUV. At the rear, it gets new connecting LED taillights and a redesigned tailgate with bright ‘SKODA’ lettering. Other highlights include shark fin antenna, silver skid plate, rear wiper with washer, roof rails, integrated spoiler and more.Skoda Kushaq facelift: A panoramic sunroof Earlier, the Kushaq was limited to a single-pane sunroof, while many rivals offered larger panoramic units. Skoda has now addressed this gap with the facelift. The updated model gets a panoramic sunroof on the higher-spec Prestige and Monte Carlo variants. It is worth noting that the base variant is also equipped with a single-pane electric sunroof, ensuring that this feature is not limited to higher trims.

Skoda Kushaq facelift: rear massage seats Massage seats are usually seen in premium luxury cars, not in this category. With the Kushaq facelift, Skoda has introduced a massage function for the rear seats, making it the only mid-size SUV in India to offer this feature. This feature is expected to be available in the top-spec Prestige and Monte Carlo variants.

Skoda Kushaq facelift: Fully digital driver cockpit The Skoda Kushaq facelift now features a fully digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster. The earlier model had a smaller 8.0-inch unit with thicker bezels. The updated digital instrument cluster also adds turn-by-turn navigation along with several customizable features. Additionally, this feature has been introduced starting with the Signature variant, positioned just above the base trim.

Skoda Kushaq facelift: AI-integrated infotainment screen The Skoda Kushaq facelift features a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with connected car technology like wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. This infotainment system gets an AI companion app built on technologies powered by Google, which introduces advanced digital capabilities to the vehicle, including intuitive voice-based control of key functions enabled by Gemini AI.

Skoda Kushaq facelift: New 8-speed auto gearbox As part of the update, Skoda has introduced a new 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission for the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, replacing the earlier 6-speed unit. The new gearbox is expected to improve fuel efficiency, as well as provide smoother shifts compared to the outgoing transmission and reduce fuel loss during acceleration and deceleration.The 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, turbo petrol produces 115 hp and 175 Nm of torque. The second engine is a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo diesel with 150 hp and 250 Nm. Gearbox options for the 1.5 include only a 7-speed DSG.