Skoda India To Enter Sub-4 Metre SUV Segment In India With Tata Nexon Rival

Note: Skoda Kushaq images used for representation purposes. 

• It may be based on a shortened version of the MQB-A0 IN platform. 
• This may be a standalone Skoda model and might not spawn a VW version. 
• Should come loaded with all the gizmos to compete with established rivals. 
• Expected to be offered with just the 115PS 1-litre turbo-petrol engine. 
• Launch likely to happen in early 2025.

Skoda India could soon foray into the hotly contested sub-4 metre SUV segment with a brand new model for the Indian market. Details about Skoda’s upcoming Tata Nexon rival are expected to be announced on February 27. This new car is expected to be launched on our shores in early 2025. Here are all the details. 

The upcoming sub-4 metre SUV will be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform that underpins the Skoda Slavia and Skoda Kushaq. That being said, alterations will be made and you can expect the platform to be truncated to ensure it fits under the four-metre mark. 

Also, while the Slavia and Kushaq also have a VW equivalent each (the Virtus and Taigun), this sub-4 metre SUV may be a standalone Skoda model, as Volkswagen may move straight into the electric vehicle segment. But only time can give us a concrete answer on this, so stay tuned. 

Skoda is foraying into a segment where competition is super stiff, with a priority on feature comforts. We expect the new SUV to boast a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic climate control, a single-pane sunroof, ventilated front seats and a digital driver’s display. 

As for safety, you can expect it to come with six airbags, electronic stability control, rear parking sensors with camera, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. We also hope it gets a partial ADAS suite to keep up with competition, like the Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue, both of which get this safety tech. 

It’s still too early to talk about engines. But one can expect the upcoming model to be offered with just the 1-litre turbo-petrol engine belting out 115PS and 178Nm. It should be offered with the six-speed manual and six-speed torque converter automatic transmissions. 

With over 64,000 unit sales in January, the sub-4 metre SUV segment is one of the hottest sellers in India. In order to get it right, Skoda has to be spot on with pricing, which could start around the Rs 8 lakh mark (ex-showroom), putting it in contention with the Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Nissan Magnite.