Skoda Kushaq facelift

The Skoda Kylaq is enjoyable to drive, and performance is strong too. Moreover, it's compact, solidly built, and its suspension strikes a good balance between ride comfort and handling. 

The Skoda Kushaq is relatively more spacious, particularly at the rear, so if you travel with four passengers regularly, the Kushaq is the better pick. We are yet to get behind the wheel of the Skoda Kushaq with the new 8-speed automatic transmission, so we recommend you wait for our review if you are keen on the Kushaq. 

Alternatively, you could avail some mouth-watering discounts on the pre-facelift Kushaq, because of which you could get a higher variant in your budget. If resale value isn't something you're concerned with, this is an option you could explore for the considerable savings upfront.

The definition and scope of an upgrade vary from person to person, and also on the need of the hour, the budget and various other factors. Generally speaking, the greater the scope of the upgrade in size, segment, power and even price, the greater the satisfaction it brings to the owner. 

In your case, you've had a Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI for almost five years, and have been happy with its performance over 60,000km, and now your budget extends all the way up to Rs 30 lakh. The facelifted Skoda Kushaq will be on sale soon, and while the 1.5 TSI will certainly feel like an upgrade from the 1.0 TSI. We feel the rest of the car will feel all too similar to a car you've had for so long. 

Moving up to a larger car with a larger engine - and more importantly, a different look and feel inside and out. It will not just feel like an upgrade, but also a refreshing change after 4.5 years. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is an excellent choice in that regard, and even if you don't use the third row of seats, the extra space will no doubt be welcome. 

The Mahindra also mirrors that tough, robust feel that the Skoda also gave you, and with your increased budget, you could even get a fully loaded version with all the bells and whistles.

You have a wide choice of cars, but based on your requirements, we would suggest going for the new Kia Seltos.

Within the Seltos range, the 1.5 litre IVT automatic in the HTX variant fits within your budget and offers a very good mix of premium and essential features. It meets almost all your requirements. The 1.5 litre naturally aspirated engine is refined, and the IVT gearbox is silky smooth, especially at low speeds, which makes it extremely easy to drive in stop go city traffic. It also has enough performance for weekend highway use and, while fuel efficiency is not phenomenal, it should consistently return better figures than the turbo petrol options you have shortlisted. The newer generation Seltos has also grown in size, interior space and overall cabin quality, which is now among the best in the segment. Ride quality has improved significantly too, and it feels comfortable both in the city and on the highway.

The Tata Nexon and the new Hyundai Venue are good options, but their turbo petrol engines paired with DCT gearboxes are not as smooth as the Seltos’ IVT. The Seltos is also a size larger, more comfortable and feels more premium overall. The same applies to the turbo petrol powered Skoda Kushaq, which again will not feel as smooth as the Seltos in daily use. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is another size up and, while its 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine is powerful and smooth, the larger size makes it less easy to drive in the city and fuel efficiency will be much lower. Within your budget, the AX3 variant just about fits, but it misses out on several features that the Seltos offers.

The Hyundai Creta is also a good option and uses the same engine and gearbox as the Seltos. However, it is expected to be replaced early next year and, compared to the Seltos, it is smaller, less spacious, offers fewer features and is similarly priced. Because it is nearing replacement, the current model will also age quicker. That said, if you are getting a strong deal on the Creta, it is still worth considering.

Another car you should look at is the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Strong Hybrid. It meets most of your requirements and will be even smoother to drive at low speeds, as it runs on electric power for a large part of city driving. Being a Maruti Suzuki, reliability and after sales support are strong points. It has also scored a 5 star BNCAP rating, and as a hybrid, fuel efficiency is exceptional. In fact, you can expect close to double the mileage of most of the cars you have shortlisted.

A few things to note, however: the Victoris is not as spacious as the Seltos, especially in the rear seat, and boot space is compromised due to the hybrid battery pack under the boot floor.

The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are indeed good options, and the fact that they have a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP is a big plus. The absence of a 360-degree camera and ADAS is not a deal-breaker, and they're still worth considering for their strong engines, smooth gearboxes and excellent driving dynamics. 

Do note, however, that both cars are still a few months away, with the Kushaq facelift expected to launch in March, and the Taigun facelift a few months after that. If not those, you could also consider the new Kia Seltos. It hasn't been given an NCAP rating yet, but its smaller sibling the Syros has received a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, and as the Seltos is built on a new-gen platform, we expect it to get one too. The Seltos impresses with its features list, which includes a 360-degree camera as well as ADAS with Level 2 Autonomous driving.

According to Autocar India's exclusive, Volkswagen's sub-4-meter SUV is expected only in 2027. This year, VW will launch the facelifted Taigun. Skoda has already unveiled the updated Kushaq, and VW will follow soon. 

And if you don't want to wait longer, you can consider the Skoda Kylaq. It comes with a fresh look, an updated cabin, improved AC performance and an 8-speed AT paired with the 1 litre Turbo, for a smoother drive and better efficiency. 

All three are very capable cars in their own way, but we would suggest waiting till March before making a final decision, as the Kushaq facelift and the new generation Duster will be launched then.

If you don’t want to wait, the new Kia Seltos is easy to recommend as it is practical, spacious, comfortable, and loaded with features. The Seltos is also very well appointed and finished with high-quality materials.

Our first impressions of the new Duster are very positive, and from what we understand, its pricing will be in line with the competition. The 1.3 litre turbo petrol paired with the 6-speed DCT gearbox should deliver strong and smooth performance along with an enjoyable driving experience.

If you want a sporty car, then the new 1.5-litre Kushaq is the one for you. It is quick, agile, feels rock solid at high speeds, and comes with improved braking performance thanks to the inclusion of rear disc brakes.