Skoda Kushaq, Slavia get six airbags as standard

Skoda has updated both the Slavia and the Kushaq with six airbags as standard across the range. This, expectedly, is accompanied by a slight increase in prices, with the Kushaq now ranging between Rs 11.99 lakh-19.79 lakh, while the Slavia is priced from Rs 11.63 lakh-18.83 lakh, all prices, ex-showroom, India.

1. Slavia and Kushaq both get six airbags from base trim
2. No other features added to either model
3. Remain mechanically unchanged as well

Skoda Slavia, Kushaq: what’s new?

Until now, both the Slavia and the Kushaq only got six airbags on the top-spec Style trim; lower Ambition, Onyx and Active variants were only available with two airbags. Now six airbags are standard across the range for both models, for which prices have gone up by Rs 10,000 for the entry-level variants. Special edition variants such as the Monte Carlo, Style Edition and Elegance Edition of both models already get six airbags as standard.

Both the Kushaq and Slavia are 5-star rated cars by Global NCAP, having secured that rating in just their dual airbag-spec. Other safety features on both models include ESC as standard, multi collision braking system, a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), brake assist and traction control.

Among Kushaq’s rivals, models such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Honda Elevate are equipped with six airbags as standard, but the Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder and MG Astor don’t. Among the Slavia’s rivals, both the Hyundai Verna and Honda City have six airbags standard. Do note that the Volkswagen counterpart of both Kushaq and Slavia, namely the Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan, are yet to be updated with six airbags as standard.

Skoda Slavia, Kushaq: mechanically unchanged

Under the hood, the Kushaq and Slavia continue with the 115hp, 150Nm, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter automatic, or the 150hp, 250Nm, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paited with a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG gearbox.

Skoda has consistently been updating the Kushaq and Slavia with new features in a phased manner, and in the future, an ADAS suite with 360-degree camera is also expected to be introduced on both models, perhaps with their first mid-lifecycle update.