Skoda Kushaq, Slavia Facelift Launch Soon; Brand Director Confirms

Speaking at a recent media interaction, Skoda Auto India’s new Brand Director, Ashish Gupta, confirmed that the company is all set to launch the facelifted versions of Kushaq and Slavia in India. When questioned about when it will launch in India, Gupta only said “soon”. 

However, Gupta also confirmed that it will be a major facelift for the compact SUV and sedan. The Kushaq has been on sale in India since 2021, while the Slavia first came to the market in 2022. Both cars are due for an update, and Skoda agrees that both require a significant refresh. 

Ever since its launch, Skoda has sold almost 89,000 units of the Kushaq. Similarly, nearly 64,000 units of the Slavia have been sold ever since it went on sale. Up until the launch of the Kylaq earlier this year, Skoda was consistently selling around 2,000 units a month on average, but since its younger sibling came, Skoda barely managed to cross the four-digit sales mark. Even Slavia’s sales have taken a marginal hit ever since the Kylaq was launched. 

The facelifts will help Skoda add new life to its ageing models, the ones that put it back on the map with the MQB A0 IN platform. While the Kushaq was never close in terms of monthly sales to the segment leaders, the facelift should help improve the sales of the compact SUV. 

Skoda also exports the Kushaq and the Slavia to various countries. While the Slavia is only available in Vietnam, the Kushaq is also exported to Vietnam and the Middle East. Acko Drive has reached out to Skoda Auto India regarding the export numbers, and we will update this story once we get back. Export numbers will help understand whether the demand has decreased, whether in the domestic market or also internationally. 

Test mules of the Kushaq have been spotted more on the roads than the Slavia, indicating that the SUV’s refreshed version will come first. Also, the fact that the Kushaq has been on sale longer than the Slavia indicates this, too. 

Both models will get a significant design refresh with a new grille, headlamps, taillamps, and a new tailgate. Also, expect the facelift to come with a new design for the alloy wheels as well. Furthermore, a major upgrade to the Kushaq and probably the Slavia will be the addition of ADAS, which company sources have indicated is highly likely on the cards. The Kushaq will be the first car in the brand’s line-up to get ADAS. 

Expect the Kushaq and Slavia’s engine options – 1.0-litre turbo-petrol and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol – to remain unchanged. However, there have been reports that Skoda is planning to introduce a new automatic gearbox in the line-up. Whether it will come on the Kushaq first or on the Slavia remains to be seen.