Skoda has again shown a cheap crossover that should save the brand's sales

The new small SUV will go on sale next year. India will be the debut and main market for the model. Moreover, special hopes are placed on the five-door.

Skoda first officially announced the budget crossover aimed at India in February, publishing an image of the front end. Now the brand has shared another design sketch: this time they showed off the stern. Let us remind you that the SUV will be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform (that is, a simplified version of the global MQB), on which the already presented Skoda Kushaq SUV and the Skoda Slavia sedan are also based. The name of the upcoming SUV is still not announced. But it is known that it will be smaller and cheaper than Kushaq (from 1,089,000 rupees or 1.1 million rubles at the current exchange rate): the length of the new product will not exceed four meters (Kushaq indicator is 4225 mm), and such machines in India are entitled to significant tax benefits .

By the way, the small SUV is intended to improve Skoda's business on the Indian market. According to local media, the company sold only 2,566 cars in June 2024 (-35%). For comparison, Hyundai dealers sold more than 50,000 cars (+0.2%) during the same period, and Kia's June result was 21,300 units (+10%). In general, special hopes are pinned on the subcompact.

Future small crossover Skoda 1/3 Future small crossover Skoda 2/3 Future small crossover Skoda 3/3

Like the co-platform Kushaq and Slavia, the new product will be produced at the local Volkswagen plant. At the same time, according to information from Indian specialized media, if for the older SUV and sedan the brand set a goal of achieving a localization level of 90-95% (this figure apparently remained on paper), then with the new SUV the plan is already more realistic — approximately 75% .

As for the design, as Skoda stated, the appearance of the crossover will display features of the new Modern Solid corporate style. In addition, the model is promised impressive ground clearance. But the company has not yet talked about the technology. Most likely, a 1.0 TSI petrol turbocharger will be installed under the hood; it will probably only be front-wheel drive.

In India, sales of the cross will start next year. Subsequently, the Volkswagen brand should release a similar small SUV: the same Skoda Kushaq and Slavia have relatives on the Indian market — VW Taigun and VW Virtus. It is possible that the new Skoda and VW SUVs will be exported.