Skoda launched the Kushaq on 28th June. The prices of the Kudhaq starts at Rs. 10.5 lakhs ex-showroom and go up to Rs. 17.6 lakhs ex-showroom. Some people were disappointed with the pricing and thought that it is a bit high when compared to other mid-size SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Sltos. Here, is Skoda’s director of Sales, Service & Marketing, Zac Hollis, who explains why the prices of the Kushaq cannot be reduced.
Zac explained this via Twitter. He said that Skoda does not have a base or naked version of the Kushaq. The Kushaq starts with the Active variant which also comes with a good feature list and safety equipment. The base variant of the competitor SUVs is often bare bone and people often go for after-market accessories. The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are both offered with base variants priced below Rs. 10 lakh.
The Kushaq also comes with a turbocharged engine which adds to the cost but makes the vehicle fun to drive. When compared, the base variants of other mid-size SUVs misses out on a lot of equipment and they are offered with naturally aspirated engines. These naturally aspirated engines do feel a bit underpowered when compared to the turbocharged engines that are offered on the higher variants.
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Then there is the issue of having long waiting periods. Currently, every manufacture is facing this issue because of a shortage of semiconductors. If the vehicle is priced lower than Rs. 10 lakhs then Skoda would have to restrict the production number of that variant which would have resulted in long waiting periods.
People also asked if there are any plans to change the pricing of the Kushaq. Zac replied that as of now there are no plans to change the pricing because the mid-size SUV has just been launched in the Indian market. Also, Skoda has been able to achieve the target that they set for the first-day bookings. This clearly shows that the customers are considering the features, quality and safety equipment while buying the Kushaq.
Another thing that people raised questions about is that if you opt for the top-end variant of the Kushaq with an automatic gearbox then it misses out on equipment like curtain airbags, side airbags and tyre pressure monitoring system. This seemed weird to people because usually, it is the top-end variant that offers 6 airbags and all the equipment.
To this Zac replied that he has taken the feedback into consideration and has reported it. They will be considering this in the future. So, we can expect that the Style variant gets some updates or the manufacturer can also add up a new top-end variant.
Well equipped entry-level variant
The entry-level Active variant comes with dual airbags, Electronic Differential Lock System, Brake Disc Wiping, Roll Over Protection, dual airbags, Stability Control and Anti-lock braking system as standard. Then there are features such as a multi-function steering wheel, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, 6 speakers and Apple CarPlay, 12V accessory socket, rear parking sensors, basic multi-information display, all four power windows, cushions on door armrests and manual air conditioning. It also comes with a front armrest, 16-inch wheel covers, an Anti-glare outside rearview mirror, LED reading lamps, LED Daytime Running Lamps, LED tail lamps and much more. Rivals of the Skoda Kushaq include the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti S-Cross, the Nissan Kicks and the Renault Duster.
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The post Skoda’s Zac Hollis explains why the Kushaq is costlier than Hyundai Creta & Kia Seltos first appeared on Cartoq.
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