2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift first drive review

A facelift to the Skoda Kushaq was long overdue. The SUV that kicked off the India 2.0 innings for Skoda in India has been around since 2021. The competition has evolved massively since, be it with design (like the Tata Sierra), size (the new Seltos is massive!), or equipment levels. The Kushaq, despite its dynamic brilliance, was being left behind. The Kylaq also arrived in to Skoda’s stables and offered a very similar package for less money which didn’t help its case. The new Kushaq is an attempt to address all of those concerns — to keep it fresh, to bolster the equipment list and to create space between the Kylaq and itself. We spent some time with it on the highways around Jaipur to check out what this new Kushaq was all about.

2026 Skoda Kushaq Styling

Of course, the new Kushaq has a light bar. That’s what is in vogue nowadays, and that’s what Skoda has put on the nose of the new Kushaq. That said, it is a rather tasteful approach — a thin bar that runs through the grille and connects the headlamps. The headlamps get an update as well, as do the bumpers. From the sides, not too much has changed, but the rear has more improvements.

The tail lamps are connected and feature illuminated Skoda lettering — something not seen even on Skoda’s international models yet. You get sequential indicators at the rear, as standard. It is very well executed and does exactly what a facelift is supposed to do: keep the styling fresh. We are driving the Monte Carlo edition which gets some additional differences like the red stripes on the blacked-out grille, gloss black trim on the bumpers, blacked out badges and different wheels.

2026 Skoda Kushaq interior

There are subtle, but important improvements on the inside of the Kushaq. The first is the swapping out of the older digital cluster for a newer one. The new one is similar to the one used on the previous generation of the Kodiaq and Octavia and it finally has the ability to throw up twin dials for the speedo and tacho! It is much nicer to look at and navigate through.

The second big change is the addition of equipment that was missing on the Kushaq: a panoramic sunroof being the most important one, along with front parking sensors (still no 360-degree camera) and ambient lighting. Equipment that it already had like the electrically adjustable seats with ventilation and a wireless phone charger remain. The dash layout stays pretty much the same, though the colours of the trim and upholstery have been updated. The beige upholstery on the standard car does look nice and makes the cabin feel a lot more airy. The 10.25-inch infotainment screen remains the same, but now gets an updated interface with the ability to host apps like YouTube and Spotify, and also features a Google Assistant. Again, subtle but this is something you interact with on the daily and does uplift the cabin. The big update is the massaging rear seats: a segment first and I have to report that they work well. A clear indicator that Skoda is trying to make the Kushaq appeal to more than just driving enthusiasts.

The Monte Carlo has its own tweaks: dark grey upholstery with red stitching, red trim on the dash and blacked out plastic trim on the dash and door cards. The agenda here is obviously to lend it a sportier look. In my opinion, the beige works really well and would be preferred for how it looks, but will also be a pain to maintain.

2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift engines and performance

The Kushaq continues with the two engines it had before: the 1-litre TSI and 1.5-litre TSI. There are no changes to peak power and torque outputs. The only real mechanical change on the drivetrain front is the new 8-speed automatic transmission replacing the 6-speed AT on the 1-litre TSI. The 1.5 TSI remains mated exclusively to the same DSG transmission, a lack of demand killed off the 1.5 manual some time ago.

The 1-litre remains a strong performer: putting out a solid 114bhp and 178Nm. More impressive than the numbers are the way it delivers its power. It feels energetic and has strong grunt for a small engine, and hustles the Kushaq along willingly. There is a fair bit of NVH though — a little bit more than I remember — when you work the drivetrain hard, but that’s just the nature of the three-pot engine. The sound is quite sporty though, and it enjoys being revved out. It may be loud, but it is never complaining.

The new gearbox does a couple of things — gears are more closely spaced and shorter initially. First gear maxes out at an indicated 35kmph, second at 65kmph and third at 104kmph. The addition of two more gears means it cruises at 2000rpm at 100kmph in eighth gear. The reason for the new transmission is better efficiency, it is marginally better than before and will help Skoda with future emission norms. On the go and in the real world, there’s little between the older and new transmission. It shifts smoothly, quickly and keeps you in the right gear — as a driver, that’s all that matters.

The 1.5 TSI’s drivetrain remains unchanged: power and torque sit at 148bhp and 250Nm. It remains an incredibly refined experience — more apparent when you drive it back to back with the 1.0 — the four cylinders working to its advantage. Performance is a lot stronger, it revs freer and the DSG’s shifts are snappier compared to the AT’s. As a keen driver, this is the engine to have and if you can stretch your budget, it is the one I would recommend.

2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift ride and handling

There are no changes to the suspension set up from the pre-facelift car to now, so I expected the cars to drive exactly as before, with the only mechanical change being the addition of disc brakes to the 1.5. However, I noted a fairly stark difference between the 1.0 and 1.5 Kushaq, something I hadn’t noticed before.

The Kushaq 1.0 rode with a slight firmness over the road, you could feel the edges of bumps a little more. Meanwhile the 1.5 felt more pliant and more comfortable. It rounded off bumps a lot better and just felt a lot more balanced. I’m putting it down to tyres. When we’ve driven the Kushaq in the past, they have always been on Apollos. This time around, the 1.0 was on MRF Wanderer Ecotred and the 1.5 was on Ceat Securadrives. I’m guessing both these tyres have a role to play in how the Kushaq felt.

The Kushaq still feels dynamically very sorted, the fundamentals haven’t changed. There’s that European poise with which it rides over the road. At speed, it remains unruffled and at lower speeds there’s a sense of comfort. More so on the 1.5. Handling remains impressive too. I didn’t push the 1.5 as hard as I did the 1.0 — I just didn’t find the right corners when I was in the 1.5 but the 1.0 remains very fun to drive. The steering is light but the chassis feels alive. I did note that understeer comes in a little earlier than I expected, but I’m again putting this down to the tyres and the dusty Rajasthani roads. The Kushaq still remains one of the most enthusiastic cars in the segment, there’s no doubt about that.

2026 Skoda Kushaq verdict

This facelift does a good job of keeping the Kushaq relevant for a few more years till its generational change arrives. It is still nowhere close to the top of the segment when it comes to equipment — ADAS being a notable miss — but Skoda says they’re ready to deliver it if customers want it. The updates to the styling and interior keep things fresh, while the drivetrain and chassis remain highlights.

Skoda is creating space between the Kylaq and Kushaq by loading the base variant of the Kushaq as well. A (smaller) sunroof, alloy wheels, rain sensing wipers, a rear wiper and defogger and auto-dimming IRVM — all important features, right at the base. This should take the entry price slightly higher up and create that gap. Its a good strategy as well, to draw in customers at the entry level as top variants can’t compete with the equipment that the likes of the Sierra and Victoris offer. Overall, the Kushaq remains a driver’s delight, but with fresher styling and more equipment, including something to make the back seat a consideration. We still recommend it highly if you’re chasing the Thrill of Driving!