New Skoda SUVs for India – What’s coming and when?

Skoda has had a quiet few years in India but 2020 is the year of change. The carmaker’s limited-run Octavia RS245 has already sold out and it’s also opened bookings for the updated Rapid that will sport a new 1.0-litre, turbo-petrol engine. There’s going to be action on the SUV front through 2020-21 too.

Read on to know which Skoda SUV is coming and when.

Skoda Karoq
Skoda has opened order books for the Jeep Compass-sized Karoq SUV. In a nutshell, the Karoq is the long-awaited follow-up to the capable Yeti crossover. However, the ingredients will be different. Where the Yeti was only a diesel-manual model, the Karoq for India will be offered in a single petrol-automatic spec. Power will come from a 150hp/250Nm, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The buzz is that Skoda will go the distance, loading the Karoq with lots of goodies. The sole version on offer will get a panoramic sunroof, Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, dual-zone climate control, nine airbags and more. What remains a question mark is its pricing. The Karoq will be brought to India as a completely built-up unit and could, hence, be pricey for its size.

Coming: April 2020
Engines: 1.5P
Price: From Rs 25 lakh

Skoda Kodiaq petrol
With the roll-out of BS6 emission norms on April 1, 2020, we’ll bid adieu to the Skoda Kodiaq diesel SUV. In its place, Skoda will bring in a petrol-powered version; and the numbers sure seem promising. The new BS6-compliant, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine makes 190hp and 320Nm of torque. Potential buyers who weren’t sold on the old diesel’s 150hp output figure will surely see some merit in going petrol here. Barring the new engine, there won’t be any other changes made to the Kodiaq. A panoramic sunroof, Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, and a large touchscreen infotainment system are some of the features you’d get on the top-spec L&K variant. The Skoda Kodiaq petrol will compete with other luxury soft-roaders like the recently launched Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, the Hyundai Tucson and the Honda CR-V.

Coming: May 2020
Engines: 2.0P
Price: Starting from Rs 33 lakh

Skoda Vision IN

This is the SUV that could change Skoda’s fortunes in India. Shown as the Vision IN concept at Auto Expo 2020, the made-for-India SUV will be the first model under the carmaker’s ‘India 2.0’ program. The SUV will also be the first model to be built on the India-spec MQB A0 IN platform and will be unlike any Skoda before it, with up to 95 percent localisation. Skoda knows keen pricing is vital in the midsize segment, where the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta currently reign supreme.

The Skoda SUV won’t be the largest SUV in its segment but will sport rugged styling that Indian buyers like. A relatively long wheelbase promises fair room on the inside and you can expect a high level of quality in the cabin too. Other things to expect include digital instruments, drive modes and a panoramic sunroof.

The Skoda SUV will be a petrol-only model, at least initially, and will be offered with a 115hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine as well as the more powerful 1.5-litre, turbo-petrol unit. A CNG option could also be rolled out later.

Coming: April-June 2021
Engines: 1.0P, 1.5P
Price: From Rs 10 lakh

(All prices estimated, ex-showroom)