Skoda Auto India has been present in the mid-size SUV segment for the last few years with the Kushaq. As part of its India 2.0 strategy, Kushaq has played a key role in establishing the brand in India. Now, the SUV has received its first major update in the form of a facelift.
Apart from the cosmetic updates, there are a few other changes in equipment and Skoda has also brought in a new 8-speed gearbox. We drove the new 2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and this is what we think about the updates in equipment and the new 8-speed torque converter gearbox.
Skoda Kushaq Facelift First Drive Review
To start with, the Skoda Kushaq facelift is one of those media drive events where we experienced the vehicle without knowing its prices, making it difficult for us to draw conclusions. It was unveiled in Kochi in January 2026 and all the updates and additions were announced then. At the national media drive in Jaipur, we experienced both the 1.0 TSI 8AT and the 1.5 TSI 7DSG.
The trim hierarchy starts with Classic+, Signature, Sportline, Prestige and Monte Carlo. With the 2026 Kushaq facelift, Skoda Auto is betting big on the lower trims. Especially the base Classic+ where Skoda is offering a number of features and comfort features that may logically prove to be enough for many. The move could now attract more buyers to Skoda than customers visiting showrooms.
Where design is concerned, the Skoda Kushaq facelift comes with a new fascia, which is an iterative upgrade compared to its predecessor. New LED projector headlights, new LED DRLs in the headlights, new bumper and a new connected LED rib effect on the grille. Talking about the grille, there are vertical chrome slats on the standard Kushaq, which are blacked-out on the Monte Carlo trim.
There is a new design for the 17-inch alloy wheels, finished in dual tone effect for both the Standard and Monte Carlo versions. Skoda has introduced rear disc brakes for the first time, but only with the 1.5L engine variant. The primary design differences can be seen at the rear where we now see the new LED tail light signature and a new bumper.
The Skoda lettering at the rear is now illuminated and is part of the tail lights, giving it a connected appeal. Roof rails and shark fin antenna are also present and Skoda is now offering a panoramic sunroof and sequential turn indicators for the first time with the Kushaq. With the Kushaq facelift, Skoda has increased the claimed boot capacity to 491L, which can be expanded to 1,405L.
New features and creature comforts
On the inside, the Kushaq is more or less similar to its predecessor in terms of design. The 2-spoke steering wheel continues with nice and tactile steering mounted buttons. Behind this cluster is the new TFT digital cluster that also shows navigation when your smartphone is connected to the system wirelessly via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
On the top-spec trims, there are Skoda branded speakers coupled with a subwoofer for a true audio experience with rich lows, good mids and highs. The new panoramic sunroof lets in more light than the single-pane sunroof introduced earlier. The new panoramic sunroof allows more natural light into the cabin, increasing the feeling of space.
Both the front seats remain electrically adjustable, which is quite rare in this segment. Besides, both the front seats are also ventilated. The same capacitive touch sliders continue on the single-zone climate control system (still not intuitive to operate). It also has an auto-dimming IRVM, wireless charging pad, and a dual-color ambient lighting system (white, red).
As with the standard Kushaq, there is a black and beige interior theme, while the Monte Carlo gets an all-black theme with contrasting Nasik red accents. There are center armrests for both front and rear occupants and all five headrests are adjustable. For the rear occupants, there are rear AC vents along with two Type-C ports.
massage seats
Just below the rear AC vents, there are two inconspicuous buttons that activate the massage seat feature for the rear occupants. This is a nice comfort that is often seen only in high-end premium cars and luxury cars, but is unheard of in the C segment 4.2 meter to 4.5 meter SUV space. That too in a market like India.
The massage seat feature works quite well and isn’t just a gimmick. One can see the working of the massaging seats and feel the pulsating motion on one’s back. We couldn’t experience this feature extensively enough to comment on its effectiveness because we had too little time with this vehicle. But it doesn’t fall into the gimmick category, at least from our first impression.
That said, we would have liked if these massage seats were offered for front seat occupants instead of the rear. We say this because the Kushaq is primarily designed for the front seat occupants and drivers and most of its features like powered seats, ventilated seats, infotainment screen and other elements are for the front occupants.
New 8-speed torque converter
Apart from the feature of massaging seats, another key figure with the 2026 Skoda Kushaq facelift is the new Aisin-sourced 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The 8-speed unit is an industry first for this price segment and size class and this new gearbox is only mated to the smaller 1.0L TSI engine.
This engine is rated at 114 bhp of maximum power and 178 Nm of maximum torque, mated to either a 6-speed MT or the new 8-speed TC. What’s commendable is that Skoda is offering this 8-speed TC as an option right from the base Classic+ trim. Sourced from Aisin, this 8-speed gearbox is expected to arrive in other vehicles in the Indian market soon.
It is a smooth unit with responsive gear shifts. It works like a normal torque converter and doesn’t give us any surprises or ‘huh’ moments. If you were expecting a lot of excitement with this gearbox because it has 8 gear ratios, then you should know that this gearbox keeps the engine at around 2,000 rpm when moving at a speed of 100 km/h in 8th gear. Which isn’t too deep into overdrive territory.
The 8 ratios in this powerband allow for close short gearing with progressive power delivery. Shifts are smooth and reasonably quick. The gearbox takes a while to downshift a few cogs due to sudden throttle inputs during overtaking and other scenarios, but it almost always seems to find the right cog. Engine noise in the cabin is well controlled and well damped too.
rear disc brake
After driving the 1.0L 8-TC variant, we also drove the 1.5 7-DSG variant. Although in performance it is similar to the pre-facelift model, there is an upgrade in braking as the facelift gets all four disc brakes for the first time. There is a noticeable increase in overall braking feel and bite. Also, the disc brakes look better. Much better.
As far as ride and handling are concerned, the Kushaq still drives the same. This is a high-riding SUV and we did not face any issues with ground clearance. Bump absorption is good and high-speed dynamics are one of the best in the segment. Since we drove both the 1.0 and 1.5 engine variants back to back, we can see that the ride quality of the 1.5 engine variant is a little stiffer, perhaps to counter the extra weight of this larger engine.
Should you buy one?
Without pricing, the final decision is difficult. However, the Kushaq facelift improves on an already strong package with better features and a new gearbox option. The 8-speed torque converter adds convenience, while the ride and handling is one of the best in the segment. There are still some flaws – no ADAS, average camera quality and some fit-and-finish concerns. But overall, this update makes the Kushaq a much better product than before.
