Skoda recently revealed the full price list of the Kylaq compact SUV which ranges between Rs 7.89 lakh and Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Sharing the platform, most of the equipment and the 1.0-litre TSI engine with its elder sibling, prices of the Kylaq, unsurprisingly, have a reasonable overlap with that of the Kushaq.
Skoda, however, is keen to create a differentiation between both models, and in a recent interaction with Autocar India, Petr Janeba, brand director Skoda India, has confirmed that the company will make efforts to create a new value proposition for the Kushaq. To that end, Skoda is expected to introduce more affordable trims of the Kuhsaq with the 1.5-litre TSI engine.
“Currently, 85 percent of Kushaq’s sales are of the 1.0-litre variants. However, with the Kylaq now in the market, we can drive more volumes towards the 1.5-litre variants. In the future, Kushaq’s 1.0-litre variants could be around 65-70 percent of total sales,” said Janeba.
In an earlier interaction, Janeba has even admitted there will be some cannibalisation, where the Kylaq could draw buyers away from the Kushaq. While additional volumes with the Kylaq will certainly add to economies of scale, Skoda will still have to keep itself relevant in the midsize SUV segment. That sales of the Kushaq have been below expectations does not help the case either.
“There is something we can do with the features set on the Kushaq, and also with regards to the warranty structure. We will create a different value proposition to keep cannibalisation as low as possible,” said Janeba. He added, “A certain level of parity between these two products must be there.”
Skoda is also working on a mid-lifecyle update for the Kushaq that will arrive in 2025. With newer features and cosmetic updates, the facelift will further help position the Kushaq differently from the Kylaq.
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