This marks Skoda's entry into the sub-4 metre segment. Bookings begin on December 2.
06 Nov 2024 | 22300 Views | By Nikhil Bhatia, Autocar India
Skoda India has revealed its compact SUV, and announced the starting price for the Kylaq: Rs 7.89 lakh, ex-showroom, India). With the Skoda Kylaq, the Czech brand wants to go big by going small. The Kylaq you see here is Skoda’s smallest SUV yet and is the Czech carmaker’s vessel ...
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Skoda India has revealed its compact SUV, and announced the starting price for the Kylaq: Rs 7.89 lakh, ex-showroom, India). With the Skoda Kylaq, the Czech brand wants to go big by going small. The Kylaq you see here is Skoda’s smallest SUV yet and is the Czech carmaker’s vessel to crack 1,00,000 unit yearly sales in India. For reference, the Kushaq and Slavia, born from the India 2.0 program, powered sales to a record 53,721 units in 2022.
First things first, the Kylaq name. Selected from over 2,00,000 entries received as part of a pan-India contest, the name pays homage to Mount Kailash and, in Sanskrit, translates to crystal, something the Czech Republic is renowned for. The name also ties in with the carmaker’s SUV naming convention (think Kushaq, Karoq and Kodiaq) though you won’t have much trouble identifying the Kylaq as a Skoda.
Styling is new age Skoda featuring elements of the brand’s latest ‘Modern Solid’ design language. There are clean lines all around and frontal lighting, for one, has clear hints of the Kushaq, with which the Kylaq shares much else. The Kylaq sports the trending split headlamp setup with an LED DRL arrangement up top and LED projector headlamps lower down. The Skoda grille – slimmer than the one on the Kushaq – sits proud on the fascia, and what adds muscle up front are the pronounced creases on the bonnet. Generous cladding on the bumper also gives the front end a two-tone appearance, while an aluminium-look spoiler lower down adds in some contrast.
Viewed head on, the Kylaq could pass off as an updated Kushaq. The differences actually come through in profile. The Kylaq sits on an 85mm shorter wheelbase (it measures 2,566mm) and is a full 230mm shorter end-to-end, with an overall length of 3,995mm.
It’s significantly smaller, yes, but the Kylaq remains well proportioned with a tighter look about it. Ironically, while the Kushaq has always looked smaller than its direct mid-size SUV rivals, the Kylaq appears quite substantial by compact SUV standards. In fact, its wheelbase is second only to the Mahindra XUV 3XO’s. Ground clearance is a sufficient 189mm.
Top versions of the Kylaq stand proud on 17-inch rims while roof rails and cladding at the base of the doors lend the requisite SUV-ness. There are simpler lines on the doors (presumably to lower stamping costs), but there’s a nice flare to the shoulder line that leads to the thick C-pillar and tail lamps. There’s a hint of the Audi Q2 to the small, squared-out tail lamps that sport a distinctive T-shaped lighting signature. The tail lights are linked by a dark applique with Skoda lettering, and there’s thick cladding on the rear bumper too. Overdone or not, it does help give the Kylaq an outdoorsy look.
Anyone who’s been in a Kushaq will find themselves in a very familiar setting in a Kylaq. The dashboard is similar in its layout, with elements like the side vents, climate control panel, two-spoke steering and 8-inch digital instrument cluster common to both models. The 10-inch touchscreen is shared as well, though it runs a newer, slicker operating system.
In terms of features, the Kylaq meets segment expectations, with inclusions like a sunroof (single-pane), keyless entry, wireless phone charger, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, front seat ventilation and leatherette upholstery. The Kylaq does go one up on rivals offering powered seat adjust not only for the driver, but the front passenger as well. Overall, the cabin is a well-thought out space with bottleholders on each of the doors, a sizeable glovebox (it's cooled) and cupholders with easy access. A front centre armrest is a feature drivers will appreciate.
The Kylaq impresses in rear seat space and comfort as well. Sure, there’s less legroom than you’d get in a Kushaq, but there’s comfy enough kneeroom for six-foot-tall occupants, which is not what you can say about other compact SUVs. However, like most other rivals, the Kylaq’s rear seat is a squeeze for three passengers. The rear seat does pack in a fold down centre armrest, adjustable headrests for all seats as well as three point seatbelts.
An area where the Kylaq really impresses is luggage room. Boot capacity is a class-best 446 litres, and the well-shaped bay can accommodate large suitcases with ease. There’s clever storage for the parcel tray as well and should there be a requirement for more luggage space, the rear seat split 60:40 too.
The Kylaq is built on the same MQB-A0 IN platform that forms the base for the Skoda Kushaq and Slavia, and Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus, and there’s a pervading solidity to the build that shines through. The Kylaq doesn’t have a Global NCAP or Bharat NCAP crash test rating as yet, but Skoda is gunning for a 5-star score. Six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, an electronic differential lock and ISOFIX child seat mounts are some of the safety features that will be standard across the board. The Kylaq, however, will not offer any advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), at least at launch.
The Kylaq will be a petrol-only model, solely offered with the Volkswagen Group’s three-cylinder 1.0 TSI engine. The 999cc engine might be small in displacement, but it’s a punchy and enjoyable unit. Turbocharging and direct injection enable a healthy 115hp and 178Nm, and both 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox options help get the most out of the engine. Skoda claims a 0-100kph time of 10.5 seconds for the Kylaq, which would make it among the quickest compact SUVs on sale. What remains a question mark for the moment is fuel economy.
The rest of the ingredients, namely a front disc and rear drum brake arrangement, and independent front and non-independent torsion beam suspension are shared with the Kushaq. However, a stiffer body (resulting from the length reduction) has allowed Skoda to soften the suspension tuning which has resulted in a more absorbent ride. In all, the Kylaq weighs 38kg less than a comparable Kushaq.
That the Kylaq's price starts at Rs 7.89 lakh gives Skoda access to the core of the Indian SUV market. Skoda has announced that the Kylaq will be backed up by a wider sales and service network that will expand the carmaker’s geographical reach into yet untapped cities and towns.
The Kylaq will be up against some strong rivals like the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet. However, in the Kylaq, Skoda has a product to take the fight to the best in the segment. Expect to see a whole lot of Kylaqs on our roads.