Launched in June this year, the Kushaq is a significant product for Skoda. In about three months, the Czech brand has received over 10,000 bookings for the compact SUV. That’s a promising start, to say the least. That said, Skoda received a vital feedback – the car should have had a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and six airbags in Style AT variants as well. Well, the carmaker has gone ahead and done it. So yes, both those safety features are now part of 1.0 Style AT and 1.5 Style AT derivatives. As a result, they now cost Rs 16.20 lakh and Rs 18 lakh, respectively. That’s Rs 40,000 more than before.

Before this change, the Kushaq did have curtain airbags, front side airbags and TPMS but only in the Style MT variant. It’s great to see Skoda listening to customers. Not that it didn’t earlier! But, the sheer quickness of implementation is commendable.

It is available with two petrol engine options – a 1.0 TSI and a 1.5 TSI. The former pumps out 113bhp/178Nm, whereas the latter produces 148bhp/250Nm. As standard, both powerplants come coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission. For a two-pedal setup, the smaller motor is available with a 6-speed torque converter and the larger one with a 7-speed DSG.

Some of the main features that the Skoda Kushaq offers include an electric sunroof, ventilated front seats, wireless mobile charger and 17-inch alloy wheels. Other features like LED-powered headlamps with DRLs, auto-dimming IRVM, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available.

The Skoda Kushaq competes with the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and the Nissan Kicks. Soon, two more contenders will join the party – the Volkswagen Taigun (Kushaq’s step-cousin) and the MG Astor. The latter, like the Skoda, Nissan and VW, will be a petrol-only model. Out of the lot, which one do you fancy the most?