Skoda Kylaq Review: First Drive

It’s a Kushaq scaled down to fit under 4 metres in length. That’s all there is to it. 

Skoda’s new Kylaq is their smallest and most affordable SUV. The SUV is based on the same platform as the Kushaq and borrows quite a lot of features and quirks from the larger car too. It competes in the hotly contested sub-4-metre SUV space, battling it out with the likes of the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Mahindra XUV3XO, Maruti Suzuki Brezza and more. 

For a similar budget, you could also consider either large hatchbacks such as the Maruti Suzuki Baleno/Toyota Glanza, small sedans such as the Honda Amaze and Maruti Suzuki Dzire or even entry/mid-level models of larger SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta/Kia Seltos. 

Design

Restricting a vehicle’s overall length to 4 metres is an oddball rule present only in India. It’s no surprise that global manufacturers have been puzzled by it, and almost struggle to comply with it. With the Kylaq, however, Skoda had the option of starting from a clean slate. It’s based on the same platform as the Kushaq, with the wheelbase slashed by 85mm. 

That chop in length gives the Kylaq an upright SUV stance, and a boxy design that’s both on trend and easy on the eyes in the long run. You could complain that the car looks smaller than it actually is. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that it is quite handsome to look at. 

It’s classic Skoda — strong lines, no unnecessary cuts or creases and an almost minimal approach to design. It starts with a new design signature at the front, where the daytime running lamps are split from the headlamps placed lower on the bumper. The wide grille, the powerful lines on the upright and square bonnet and the almost flat bumper makes the Kylaq look like a little bodybuilder flexing. Small in size, but not in aggression. 

From the side, the ‘chop’ in length is apparent, but not distasteful. Skoda is offering 17-inch alloy wheels (with a rather sporty design) on the top-spec version which lends the Kylaq that almost hot hatch like stance. A few members of our team remarked that the Kylaq’s basic design would work great as a hatchback. To give it the all essential SUV flavour, you’ve got thick cladding enveloping the bottom third of the vehicle. 

It’s the rear that’s dividing most opinions. The upright tail section, blocky tail lamps and the black trim piece almost remind you of a certain Hyundai. Slightly larger tail lamps, especially something that flows into the bootlid (like it does in larger Skoda SUVs like the Kushaq/Karoq/Kodiaq) would’ve added a sense of visual width too.

It’s not easy to deliver a clean design in the limited real estate that the sub-4-metre rule allows. But Skoda has. It looks especially good in louder colours such as the Olive Green and Tornado Red. As is the case with any Skoda car, it will pull off the white, grey and black with equal ease. 

Interior

 

The Kylaq’s doors open wide enough and the seats are set at a neutral height. We don’t foresee any issues in ingress and egress, including for the elderly. Once inside the cabin, there’s a sense of ‘I’ve seen this before!’. 

The design takes inspiration from the Kushaq, but puts its own spin on it. A split dashboard, free-standing touchscreen and the now-signature two-spoke steering wheel make for a good first impression. Skoda has played around with textures to add some fun to the Kylaq’s interior. Whether it’s a cross-hatch pattern on the top half, the ‘rough’ texture on the white portion of the crashpad, or the dimpled hexagonal accents — it’s all done very tastefully. There are dark green/olive accents peppered throughout to help give some contrast. 

 

Quality of materials and fit, finish, is practically identical to the Kushaq. Sure, you could expect Skoda to deliver a more premium experience, but the cabin doesn’t feel particularly cheap or built-to-a-cost either. The leatherette used on the seats, doorpads and steering wheel too is of acceptable quality, given the price. 

Getting in a comfortable driving position is an easy task. There’s ample range in the power-adjust seats and the steering can be adjusted for reach and rake too. From the driver’s seat, you’d appreciate that you can see the edge of the bonnet easily, especially if this is going to be your first car. The front seats have prominent side bolstering, meaning they hold you in place really well. If you are plus-sized, you might feel the seats are slightly narrow. 

 

At the rear, there’s enough room for a six-footer to sit behind an equally tall driver. The knees clear the front seats with a couple of inches to spare. Footroom and headroom is acceptable too. We noticed that the rear seat of the Kylaq is upright. While this is great for you on longer drives and ensures better posture, quite a few might prefer a more laid back and relaxed recline angle. 

Much like the Kushaq, seating three at the rear in the Kylaq is possible but not at all recommended. The seats have well defined contours, making it difficult for the central passenger to be comfortable. However, the upside is that the same side bolsters make it phenomenal as a four-seater.  

Skoda has practicality taken care of too, with usable bottle holders in all doors, a large glovebox, ample space under the front armrest and space in the centre console. There are usable seat back pockets with dedicated phone holders too that make the Kylaq more practical.  

Boot Space

Skoda claims a bootspace of 446-litres, that’s measured up to the roof. Under the parcel tray, the space is quite usable. You could very easily fit in four cabin-sized trolley bags without a hiccup. We tried a few luggage combinations and were able to fit 3 cabin-sized trolley bags and 4 backpacks quite easily. There’s 60:40 split functionality too, making it all the more convenient for when there’s more luggage than occupants. Folding the rear seat away entirely gives you access to 1265-litres of space.

Features 

On the top-spec Kylaq, Skoda is offering practically everything that the Kushaq gets. Here are the highlights: 

 

Other features on the top-spec Kylaq includes push-start, cruise control, automatic headlamps, 4x type-C USB ports, and an electric sunroof. 

What could’ve been added? Well, competition offers features such as a 360° camera, L1/L2 ADAS and Heads Up Display to name a few. None of these features are dealbreakers in our opinion, but would’ve certainly been very nice to have. 

Safety

 

The safety kit on the Kylaq is very comprehensive. The following features are available right from the base variant: 

 Higher variants get features such as hill hold control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The Skoda Kylaq has been crash tested by Bharat NCAP. It scored a full five star rating for adult occupant and child occupant protection. 

Performance

 

Skoda is offering a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with the Kylaq, which is the same engine from the smaller displacement Kushaq/Slavia. This engine makes the same 115PS of power, 178Nm of torque and is available either with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. 

Start the engine, and you’re treated by a typical three-cylinder engine thrum. You can feel some mild vibrations on the floorboard too. That said, it never seems intrusive or unpleasant. If anything, it gives the Kylaq some character. The tuning of the engine is also such that it enjoys being pushed hard. Whether you drive the manual or the automatic, you’d notice that as soon as you release the clutch or brake, the Kylaq creeps forward quickly with enthusiasm. 

Get over the initial turbo lag, and the Kylaq will serve all of that 178Nm of torque in one swift go. This is sure to get you smiling as the little Skoda makes its way past 100kmph effortlessly. In fact, even stepping on the accelerator at 80-100kmph has you adding speed almost immediately. 

Between the manual and the automatic, we’d recommend you consider the manual only if the Kylaq is intended to be the second car in the house and something you’d drive either occasionally for the fun of it. It’s engaging, no doubt. But, the long travel on the clutch might just be annoying in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The 6-speed automatic transmission is quick enough and goes through the gears quickly. However, don’t expect DSG levels of responsiveness here. There are paddle shifters too, in case you want to take full control of the gearbox.  

Ride and Handling

 

The potent 1.0-litre TSI engine in a lighter, smaller body with a tighter wheelbase is a recipe for fun. With the Kylaq, Skoda is delivering a near perfect balance between everyday ride quality and cornering prowess. Sure, the ride is a little firm if you’re travelling solo or two up. However, load the Kylaq up with passengers in the rear and some luggage and you’d thank the firmer set up.  

Highway stability is fantastic where undulations and level changes don’t seem to bother the Kylaq at all. There’s next to no vertical movement over uneven roads, which makes the overall experience that much more relaxing for passengers. 

Show the Kylaq some corners and it almost lights up with glee. The steering is quick and predictable making it super easy to stitch one corner to the next. On a set of winding roads, you will enjoy the Kylaq. Body roll is well contained, and you always seem to feel confident in its abilities.

We’ll stick our neck out for the Kylaq for its dynamics. As a combination of engine performance and ride/handling balance, Skoda has got something that a driving enthusiast will most certainly enjoy. 

Verdict

 

Skoda’s Kylaq isn’t trying to appeal to everybody. We believe this is a rare trait. It’s for the enthusiast who prioritises the driving experience over practically everything else. Yes, it’s doing enough in terms of features, space and comfort and that’s to be treated as a plus one over what’s a fundamentally well-sorted mechanical package. Sure, it could do with some more features, you could argue it could feel more European and premium on the inside. But these aren’t fatal flaws at the slightest. 

If you want an SUV that puts fun first, the Skoda Kylaq should be number one on your list. 

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