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Skoda and Volkswagen to renew their India 2.0 cars based on the MQB A0 IN platform in quick succession next year
Having launched some pricey but highly anticipated imports like the Golf GTI and Octavia RS and the high-volume Kylaq, Skoda and Volkswagen will close the year on a high note. Next year, the core brands from the German conglomerate will launch four new premium cars priced in the range of 10-15 lakh rupees (ex-showroom) in the base trim.
Skoda has confirmed that it will launch the long-overdue facelifted versions of the Kushaq and Slavia in India next year. At Volkswagen, mid-cycle updates for the Taigun and Virtus are planned to be introduced next year. All four updated cars are undergoing testing on public roads, spy shots have revealed.
The new Kushaq and new Taigun will likely arrive in Q1 2026, with the Skoda model being in the lead. Both are likely to feature new designs for the radiator grille and lower grille, headlamp and tail lamp graphics, and bumpers. New alloy wheel designs are also expected, but unlike Hyundai’s Creta and Kia’s Seltos, they are unlikely to be offered with 18-inch wheels, settling for 17-inch units in the top configurations.
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The new Slavia and new Virtus should follow in mid-2026, and in this case, too, the Skoda model would be the first one to break cover. It is worth noting here that the current Virtus is the best-selling sedan in its segment, so Volkswagen is not in as much of a hurry to give it a facelift as Skoda is with the Slavia. The new sedans would undergo similar cosmetic updates, but like their current versions, they would get new 16-inch alloy wheels.
No major interior design changes are expected in the new premium SUVs and sedans. While we think it is high time Skoda and Volkswagen started offering the 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster with customisable layouts they already have in this segment globally, there’s no word on this upgrade. The touch-operated automatic climate control system will likely be seen once again. The new Kushaq and new Taigun will likely feature a panoramic sunroof, a crucial feature unavailable in their current versions.
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On the safety front, Skoda and Volkswagen are expected to improve the quality of the reverse camera in their premium SUVs and sedans. Additionally, they may introduce a 360º camera system and Level 2 advanced driver assistance systems.
Mechanically, the Kushaq, Slavia, Taigun, and Virtus are likely to remain unchanged and may continue being offered with the same 1.0- and 1.5-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engines and 6-speed manual, 6-speed torque converter automatic, and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions as the current versions. Sometime towards the end of 2026, though, the 6-speed automatic transmission will likely be replaced by a new 8-speed automatic unit that improves efficiency, and if localised, brings down the cost, too.
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