KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- New Skoda SUV possibly in works
- To sit below the Kushaq in the portfolio
- Read more details below
Skoda has an increasingly strong footing in the Indian car market. While it has its presence in the sedan segment with the Slavia, compact SUV with the Kushaq, and premium SUV space with the Kodiaq. But with the customer base widening, the brand is now coming up with a new SUV that aims to sit below the Kushaq to rival the Hyundai Venue.
Let's delve into some more details and see what could it offer.
New Skoda SUV By 2025?
Skoda appears to be in the early stages of developing a new compact SUV that is anticipated to occupy a position below the Kushaq in the company's product lineup. This sub-4-meter model aims to rival vehicles in the segment where the Hyundai Venue competes.
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The upcoming compact SUV is set to be based on a modified MQB-A0-IN platform, with reports indicating that the carmaker is currently in the process of setting up the assembly line for this new product. While these details are currently speculative, and there's been no official confirmation from Skoda or Volkswagen, the new compact SUV could potentially become a high-volume product.
If these speculations materialize, the vehicle is expected to feature sharp design cues inspired by its siblings, a high-quality interior, a strong safety rating, and well-sorted driving dynamics. Skoda may likely offer the 1.0-liter TSI turbo petrol engine with both manual and automatic transmission options, instead of the larger 1.5-liter TSI unit used in the Kushaq to maintain competitive pricing.
According to the official statement of the company, "We are always looking above and below the Kushaq and Slavia for more potential. In late 2024, there might be big news for that to be expected, but we're very shy (to talk) about that." If this is the case, the brand will be focusing on a segment that attracts a bigger customer base, and going by the sales of Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, and Hyundai Venue, a Skoda rival in this segment is highly probable.
Expected Pricing
To successfully penetrate the market and compete with established rivals, Skoda will need to adopt an aggressive pricing strategy for its upcoming compact SUV. This segment will put it in direct competition with popular models like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300, and others. Price competitiveness will be crucial for the new Skoda compact SUV to make a significant impact in this highly competitive space. If this is the segment it targets, then a price range of around Rs. 7.7- 7.9 lakhs mark would be the sweet spot to hit.
Verdict
While the statements are open to interpretation, we can look at the maket to get an idea of the direction where this developmnt is heading. The SUV space is piping hot for quite sometime now and Skoda will be looking to claim its share of the pie as well. Meanwhile, while it has the mechanicals to support this assumption, the design launguage is something that the Indian consumers are embracing as well. Also, If you are someone with a passion for engines mounted on wheels, you must join our Whatsapp Group Community of petrolheads to find out more exciting stuff about the Auto world.
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