Is Skoda Kushaq the safest SUV in segment?
The compact SUV segment in India has become all the more competitive with the addition of Skoda Kushaq. Launched earlier this week, the Kushaq has been specifically developed for the Indian market and the Czech carmaker is relying on this SUV to achieve a bigger market share in India. To make sure that Kushaq has a fighting chance against popular rivals like Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, Skoda is offering its SUV with a choice between two turbocharged petrol engines and has equipped the SUV with several creature-comforts even on the entry-level model. However, another highlight of Kushaq that is expected to attract a substantial number of buyers is the list of safety features available with the SUV. The Kushaq gets a raft of safety features as standard. According to Zac Hollis, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, the Kushaq offers the highest level of safety to occupants in the segment. This was revealed by Zac as a response to a tweet. GNCAP decide which car they want to test and when. This is not something we will influence but we can assure you with Kushaq with the highest level of Passive and Safety features.  Zac Hollis (@Zac_Hollis_) June 29, 2021  Now, the structural strength of the SUV can only be decided once Skoda Kushaq is crash-tested by Global NCAP. But let's take a look at the safety features on offer. Skoda Kushaq, as standard, comes with dual front airbags, electronic stability control, ABS, EBD, multi-collision braking, electronic differential lock system, anti-slip regulation, motor slip regulation, rollover protection, brake disc wiping, and reverse parking sensors. The top-end Style variant, however, gets six airbags, hill-hold control, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, tyre pressure monitoring, and a rear-view camera. Now, almost all the safety features available on Kushaq's top-end trim can also be found on the top-end models of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. However, the latest Skoda compact SUV definitely offers more safety features as standard in comparison to its rivals. This, along with the high structural strength that is usually associated with Skoda (and even Volkswagen) vehicles, is likely to make Kushaq one of the safest (or probably the safest) SUVs in the segment. However, we will have to wait for Global NCAP to crash-test this SUV. But for reference, Kia Seltos has received a three-star safety rating in Global NCAP's crash test while the popular Hyundai Creta is yet to be tested. Besides offering several safety features, the Kushaq also offers a lot of creature comforts like a touchscreen infotainment system and six speakers as standard. However, Skoda Kushaq's top-end variant, though very well-appointed, is not as feature-rich as the top-end trims of Creta and Seltos. But with passenger safety increasingly becoming a priority for several customers, we can expect the Kushaq to rack up decent sales for the Czech brand while facing tough competition from the likes of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.