Skoda Kushaq Facelift (2026): the Upgrades Buyers Actually Asked For

If you’ve been waiting for a smarter city-highway SUV, the Skoda Kushaq facelift is finally lining up with the right bits. The mid-cycle refresh, due in early 2026, adds the much-requested 360-degree camera and introduces advanced driver assistance features, while retaining the familiar 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI powertrains that owners trust.

For many of you comparing Creta, Seltos, or Taigun, this is the first Kushaq update that speaks directly to everyday usability and safety.

 By J.S. BIBHAB KUMAR

What’s New in the Kushaq Refresh?

The headline change is the 360-degree camera. It’s standard fare across rivals but missing on today’s car, so the Skoda Kushaq facelift closes that gap. Expect a broader tech sweep too, aimed at keeping pace with feature-rich compact SUVs and making tight parking or narrow lanes much less stressful.

Cabin Tech and Comfort:

Inside, the facelifted Kushaq is expected to get an updated touchscreen, a panoramic sunroof, a revised digital driver’s display, and a stronger audio system. Those upgrades help position it above Skoda’s smaller Kylaq on equipment, which is exactly what buyers of the bigger model expect.

If you spend long hours in traffic, this tech mix is the difference between “nice to have” and “I actually use this every day.”

Safety and ADAS:

The Skoda Kushaq facelift is likely to introduce a Level 2 ADAS suite with adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, AEB, blind-spot monitoring, and forward collision warning.

That would make it the first mass-market Skoda in India to offer advanced driver assistance, layering active safety on top of the model’s proven Global NCAP five-star record and standard six airbags, ESC, hill hold, and TPMS. If safety sits at the top of your checklist, this is the update worth waiting for.

Engines and gearbox choices:

No mechanical shake-up at launch. The 1.0-liter TSI (115 hp, 178 Nm) continues with 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque-converter automatic, while the 1.5-liter TSI (150 hp, 250 Nm) pairs with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Skoda also plans to introduce an 8-speed Aisin automatic for the 1.0 TSI later in 2026, aiming to improve efficiency and meet future CAFE III compliance, but it won’t be available on day one of the facelift.

For most buyers, that means the familiar punchy TSI feel carries over, with better tech wrapped around it. 

Design refresh and rivals:

Expect the usual facelift cues: reworked grille closer to Skoda’s Modern Solid direction, updated headlamps and tail lamps, a tidier tailgate and new five-spoke alloys. Indicative prices are expected to start around ₹11 lakh and go up to ~₹19 lakh when it reaches showrooms in early 2026. That puts the skoda kushaq facelift straight against Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, VW Taigun, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and MG Astor. If you’re cross-shopping, the new camera + ADAS combo should be your comparison anchor. 

Should you wait or buy something else?

If you want ADAS and a surround-view camera on your next compact SUV, waiting for the Skoda Kushaq facelift makes sense. If you’re price-sensitive or need delivery before the new year, current deals on rival models could be tempting, but remember that Kushaq’s refresh is designed to tick the exact boxes Indian buyers have flagged since launch.

Skoda Kushaq Facelift FAQs:

The Skoda Kushaq facelift focuses on the right upgrades—360° camera, Level 2 ADAS, richer infotainment, and a cleaner design—without messing with the engines people like. If you’re planning a compact SUV purchase in 2026, this is the one to shortlist and test back-to-back with Creta and Seltos.