The Kylaq is quite an important SUV for Skoda India. It’s the SUV the Czech carmaker will heavily bank on to fulfil its goal of becoming the best-selling European automotive brand. The Kylaq will play in what’s currently the hottest segment in India – the sub-compact SUV. Here’s a closer look at the all-new Skoda Kylaq.
Styling and dimensions:
The Kylaq is the third SUV in Skoda India’s portfolio and as such, has the distinctive design language that’s seen in the Kushaq and Kodiaq. It gets a clean design with a bold imposing front end that’s dominated by a familiar yet slimmer grille. It features a different headlamp assembly than the Kushaq which has a vertically stacked setup with the headlamp positioned above and the fog lamp/cornering lamp positioned below. The Kylaq gets a more compact setup with a DRL strip positioned above the headlamp assembly that has the fog lamp/cornering lamp stacked together. The bumpers feature a two-tone finish with a spoiler lip positioned at the bottom. It gets thick cladding on the sides which with the chunky 17-inch machine-cut alloys offer a butch look. The tail lamps are all-new and are connected with a black plastic strip carrying the new Skoda lettermark logo, the first Skoda in India to do so.
The Kylaq sits on the same MQB-A0-IN platform that underpins the larger Kushaq (and Slavia). It is quite compact compared to the Kushaq, its 3,995mm length sitting just below the sub-4 metre mark and being 230mm shorter than its SUV sibling. The wheelbase (2,566mm) though is just 85mm shorter than the Kushaq, ensuring there’s not much compromise on cabin space. The cabin has ample space for both rows and while the rear passengers have ample knee room, placing three passengers on the rear seat is going to be a squeeze. In terms of storage, it gets a bottle holder for each door, a cooled glovebox, cup holders and a storage space with a wireless charging pad fore of the gear lever.
The boot space, at 446 litres, is the largest in the sub-compact SUV segment. The back of the rear seat has a clever slot to hold the rear parcel shelf which helps maximise boot space. Overall, the Kylaq looks larger than its dimensions suggest and feels as premium as the rest of the Skoda lineup.
Interior and features:
The cabin feels familiar with a dashboard layout, touch-screen climate control and two-spoke steering wheel similar to the Kushaq. The dash though gets a unique bamboo-infused fabric finish. The seats get leatherette covers while the driver and co-driver seats both get six-way height adjustment and ventilation as well.
It shares a host of features with the Kushaq, like the 8-inch digital instrument console and 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system which runs an updated operating system. It gets features such as keyless entry, wireless charging, ambient lighting, sunroof, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and more.
In terms of safety, the Kylaq gets more than 25 safety features on the lower variants and up to 35 features on the top models. It gets six airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP and an electronic differential besides safety features shared with the Kushaq, like multi-collision braking and disc brake wiping. Given that the Kylaq also sits on Skoda’s advanced MQB-A0-IN platform, Skoda is confident that the Kylaq should score a full five stars in GNCAP and Bharat NCAP safety tests.
Powertrain and underpinnings:
The Kylaq will be offered only with the 1.0-litre TSI petrol powertrains also seen in the Kushaq and Slavia. The 999cc mill offers 115PS and 178Nm which makes the Kylaq one of the most powerful SUVs in its class while also being the quickest given a claimed 0-100kmph acceleration time of 10.5 seconds.
Besides sharing its platform, the Kylaq also shares its suspension setup with the Kushaq. It runs a comparably softer state of tune which should offer a more absorbent ride. In terms of braking, the Kylaq gets front discs and rear drum brakes setup.
Pricing and rivals:
While Skoda has not received the entire price list for the Kylaq, prices for the sub-compact SUV will start at Rs 7.89 lakh ex-showroom. While that’s closer to the higher end of the sub-compact SUV pricing spectrum, it undercuts sub-compact SUVs such as the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue and Tata Nexon. The Skoda Kylaq will go up against the Mahindra 3XO, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Nissan Magnite and Renault Kiger as well.
It looks like Skoda has researched the sub-compact market well and has quite a strong product with the Kylaq. The Kylaq plays on Skoda’s strengths like tough build quality, premium feel and features and powerful engines while also coming at a competitive price point. Skoda’s new sub-compact SUV looks set to be a gamechanger for the Czech carmaker and help it reach its vision to be a European bestseller.
