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Skoda Kushaq Facelift vs Old: Here’s Everything That’s Changed
The Skoda Kushaq has undergone a significant facelift for 2026, enhancing its exterior, interior, and mechanical features while maintaining its original structure. Notable changes include a wider grille, new LED headlamps with updated DRLs, and an LED light bar at the rear. Interior improvements feature a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, updated upholstery options, and increased boot capacity. Mechanically, the 1.0 TSI engine now offers an 8-speed automatic gearbox, improving fuel efficiency. The facelift is available in eight colors, including three new options.
Keshav Rajput
Updated Jan 29, 2026, 01:01 PM IST
Skoda Kushaq Facelift vs Old: Here’s Everything That’s Changed
Nearly five years after its original launch, the Skoda Kushaq has received a comprehensive facelift for 2026. The update brings revisions across exterior styling, interior features, and mechanicals, while retaining the core underpinnings. Here’s a detailed, fact-based look at how the facelifted Kushaq differs from the pre-facelift model.
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Exterior design: Updates focused on the front and rear
The 2026 Kushaq facelift now gets a wider grille with chrome-lined slats, slimmer surrounds and an LED light strip connecting the headlamps, similar to the design seen on the Kodiaq. The LED headlamps feature new eyebrow-style DRLs, replacing the L-shaped DRL signature of the earlier model.
The front bumper has been redesigned with a larger air dam and a more prominent, ridged skid plate. The fog lamps are now smaller and positioned slightly lower than before.
In profile, the facelifted Kushaq looks largely identical to the outgoing version, aside from new alloy wheel designs. At the rear, however, the changes are more noticeable. The conventional tail-lamps of the older model have been replaced by a full-width LED light bar with illuminated ‘SKODA’ lettering and sequential indicators. The reflectors have been repositioned into the rear bumper, which now features additional cladding and a redesigned skid plate.
The 2026 Kushaq facelift is offered in eight exterior colours. Three new shades have been introduced: Shimla Green, Cherry Red and Steel Grey. The existing colours: Candy White, Carbon Steel, Brilliant Silver, Lava Blue and Deep Black continue to be available.
Interior and features: Same layout, new tech and trim finishes
On the inside, the overall dashboard layout remains unchanged compared to the pre-facelift Kushaq. However, Skoda has revised the interior colour schemes across variants. Prestige trims now feature beige upholstery, while Monte Carlo variants get a black and crimson theme. Some gloss-black trim elements have also been replaced, though the touch-capacitive HVAC controls continue, with no switch to physical knobs or buttons.
Skoda claims an increased boot capacity of 491 litres for the facelifted Kushaq, which is 106 litres more than before. The shape of the luggage compartment remains largely the same, suggesting a revised measurement method.
One of the key updates on the inside is the introduction of a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, replacing the earlier 8-inch unit. The infotainment display has been updated to a 10.1-inch touchscreen setup. Additionally, the Kushaq facelift also offers a panoramic sunroof, whereas the older model was equipped with a single-pane sunroof.
Feature additions over the pre-facelift model include rear seat massage functionality, front parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, dual-colour ambient lighting, and Google Gemini integration within the infotainment system.
Powertrains: New automatic gearbox for the 1.0 TSI
The engine lineup remains unchanged. The Kushaq facelift continues with the 1.0L three-cylinder turbo-petrol TSI engine producing 114bhp and the 1.5L four-cylinder turbo-petrol TSI engine delivering 147.5bhp.
The key mechanical update is the replacement of the 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox on the 1.0 TSI with a new 8-speed automatic unit. The 1.0L engine continues to be available with a 6-speed manual transmission as well.
The 1.5 TSI engine remains paired exclusively with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, as before. Rear disc brakes are now offered on the 1.5 TSI variants of the Kushaq facelift.
According to Skoda, the new 8-speed automatic gearbox is designed to improve fuel efficiency and is better suited to Indian driving conditions, particularly in stop-and-go traffic.
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