Skoda Kushaq specifications

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Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. With 90% city use, its smooth, automatic and light controls make it easy to drive, and the NA 1.5 petrol delivers better city mileage than the Kushaq turbo and the Elevate. It also rides well over bad patches, and the high seating gives great visibility for traffic and speed breakers. It also has a 5-star safety rating and a lot of standard safety features.The Skoda Kushaq automatic is the fun one, and crash safety is top tier, but its turbo automatic tends to drink more in stop-and-go, and the cabin is a bit tighter.One thing to watch: these automatics can creep over Rs. 15 lakh on-road, depending on your city, so check local pricing.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

Honda Elevate

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With your mix of city and highway use, a Rs. 20 lakh cap, and a tall family, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT in a mid variant fits best. It will be the easiest to live with, and it suits both slow traffic and weekend drives.Kia and Hyundai’s service is the simplest here: costs are usually lower, parts are easy to find, and the dealer network is wide. In traffic the Seltos feels light to steer, the automatic moves off smoothly, and visibility is good, so parking and tight gaps are easy. For tall passengers, the back seat in the Seltos has the most knee room and cabin width among these three, and the seat is comfortable on long trips.A trade-off to note: the 1.5 petrol is smooth but not as quick as the 1.5 turbo options in the Skoda or Kia if you push hard on the highway.If you want stronger highway pull and a more connected drive, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 petrol automatic is the driver’s choice, but service costs can be higher, and the cabin is bit tighter. Overall, the Seltos lines up best with your brief.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

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With short daily city runs and a few very long expressway trips each year, a safe, smooth petrol automatic that holds steady at speed is the priority, and within your Rs. 16 lakh budget, the Skoda Kushaq Classic+ 1.0 TSI AT fits your brief best. It keeps things simple: a proven torque converter automatic for stress‑free traffic driving, light controls, and clear visibility for city use, plus cruise control for those 850 km Haryana-UP hauls that cut fatigue. It has a 5‑star crash safety rating and comes with the key safety tech you would want. The boot is wide and deep enough for two big suitcases plus soft bags, and the rear backrest folds if you need extra room.Know these trade‑offs: the ride is a bit firm on broken roads at low speeds, the rear seat isn't as spacious as some larger rivals, and Skoda’s service reach beyond big cities isn’t as wide as some rivals.

Skoda Kushaq

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From your shortlist, there isn’t one SUV that perfectly ticks every box. If driving enjoyment is a priority, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI stands out. Its quick-shifting DSG, strong mid-range performance and sharp, agile handling make it the most engaging and driver-focused of the three. It also offers one of the best audio setups in the segment, with an 8-speaker system, subwoofer and amplifier delivering rich and punchy sound.On the reliability front, the 7-speed DSG has improved over time, but it’s still not as inherently robust or smooth in stop-and-go city use as Honda’s CVT. The Elevate, in contrast, is the easiest-going and fuss-free option here. It offers significantly better rear-seat space and comfort, along with Honda’s strong reputation for long-term reliability. However, it’s not particularly exciting to drive.The Renault Duster 1.3 DCT sits somewhere in between. Its turbo-petrol engine is strong and refined, but the car itself isn’t as sharp or driver-oriented as the Kushaq. Rear-seat space is also not its strong suit, and overall, it doesn’t quite stand out in any one area.So broadly, Kushaq for driving fun and audio, Elevate for space and peace of mind, and Duster as a middle-ground option.

Skoda Kushaq

Honda Elevate

Renault Duster

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Given your requirements, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI seems like the best bet. It has the strongest real-world performance with an automatic in this price range, the 1.5 turbo engine feels quick the moment you press the accelerator, and the DSG is engaging and quick to shift. The Kushaq rides over broken roads without fuss, has good ground clearance, and stays stable at higher speeds, so both your city runs and long trips feel easy. Build quality is solid, and it has a 5-star crash test rating, which should add some peace of mind. However, Skoda only offers the 1.5 TSI powertrain in the top Prestige and Monte Carlo variants, which fall outside of your budget.You might want to consider the Renault Duster, as the brand offers the more powerful 160hp 1.3-litre turbo-petrol engine from the lower variants upwards. It's every bit a match for the Kushaq in most areas, and in fact, the ride quality is a bit better, and the boot space is massive, which should come in handy on your long drives. Its performance (and its DCT gearbox) err more on the smooth side, and aren't quite as engaging as Skoda's 1.5 TSI and DSG. If you can't stretch your budget for the Skoda, the Duster is a good bet.

Skoda Kushaq

Renault Duster

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Choose the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 AT Classic Plus. For Chennai’s 80% city use and your budget, it delivers five-star safety and a smoother-shifting automatic. With your usage involving mostly stop-and-go driving, the Kushaq’s 8-speed torque-converter avoids the occasional hesitation of Kia’s DCT and potential clutch-pack wear. It’s easy to drive and park, and its five-star Global NCAP (adult and child) rating adds to the sense of safety. In city traffic, the smaller 1.0 TSI will also be more fuel efficient than the turbo-DCT Seltos.The one thing you give up is outright performance. The Kia Seltos 1.5-turbo DCT makes about 160hp and feels quicker, especially above 60kph and on highways. If you value stronger performance and can stretch your budget, then consider the Kia Seltos 1.5-turbo DCT.On the test drive, do a 15-minute crawl in traffic-like loops. Check low-speed creep smoothness and city ride comfort over speed breakers and rough patches.

Skoda Kushaq

Kia Seltos

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If you are not constrained by budget, the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo is the one to buy. It offers the most performance and has the power to excite. The DSG gearbox is also quick when you drive enthusiastically. Like the other Skodas, handling is fun, and high-speed stability is confident. Ride comfort is on the firmer side, though, and of the three options, it is actually the Kylaq that has the most comfortable ride quality.

Skoda Kushaq

Skoda Kylaq

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We'd trim the shortlist to the Skoda Kushaq and Renault Duster. The Skoda Kushaq remains fun to drive as before, but 2026's updates have enhanced the package. The 8-speed Aisin automatic transmission delivers power in a smoother manner without losing the sporty nature of the old 6-speed unit. Skoda has also upgraded the AC, and the cooling performance is significantly better than before. It's no longer a deal breaker. A rear seat massage function has been introduced on higher-spec versions, but aside from this, there haven't been any changes to seating at the back. Legroom and headroom are decent, but the cabin isn't the widest, so the rear seat continues to be best for two passengers. The new Renault Duster drives fantastically. Handling is neat, there's a great feel at the steering and body control is really good. We have yet to experience the 1.0-litre engine, but the 160hp, 1.3-litre unit is very enjoyable. It's punchy and great fun when paired with the manual gearbox. On our first drive experience, we were satisfied with the cooling performance, too. Rear seat comfort is decent but not class best.

Renault Duster

Skoda Kushaq

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Out of all the options you've listed, only the Skoda Kushaq and the Maruti Suzuki Victoris meet your requirements.Out of the two, you should take a closer look at the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. The SUV comes with 6 airbags as standard, it has a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP as well as Bharat NCAP, and it comes with all the latest features.The 1.5-litre petrol engine is also proven to be reliable, and being a Maruti car, you'll also appreciate the low maintenance and peace of mind it comes with.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Skoda Kushaq

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The Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI Automatic would be the top recommendations here.Since your usage is predominantly on highways, the strengths of these two SUVs align very well with your requirements. Both feel stable and confidence-inspiring at higher speeds, offer comfortable ride quality and have strong safety credentials. Their turbo-petrol engines deliver a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency, while the new 8-speed automatic transmission should further improve efficiency and drivability. They also represent a substantial upgrade over the Wagon R in terms of refinement, comfort and long-distance cruising ability.Another strong option is the Honda Elevate CVT. It may not feel as sporty or engaging to drive as the Skoda and Volkswagen twins, but it excels in comfort, reliability and ease of ownership. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and proven, while maintenance costs are likely to be among the lowest in the segment.

Volkswagen Taigun

Skoda Kushaq

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R