Skoda Kylaq

The Skoda Kylaq is a sub-compact SUV based on the same platform as the larger, more expensive Skoda Kushaq compact SUV The Kylaq will sit in the same price space as the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV3X0 and Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It will be offered with one turbo-petrol engine option (1-litre TSI) paired with both manual and automatic transmission options. The launch and price announcement of the Skoda Kylaq is expected in early 2025.

The Kylaq overall keeps up Skoda family appearances with a clean simple design to the grill and bumpers and at the rear the simple tail lights are connected with a neat new Skoda typeface. In typical Skoda fashion there are not wow features like connected taillights or fancy door handles but a simple design that’s easy to like and with little to criticise. 

Measuring 3995mm in length with a wheelbase of 2566mm, the Kylaq is quite compact making it ideal for space starved cities, especially when it comes to parking. However, given how the Kushaq itself looks a size smaller than its rivals, the Kylaq does seem like it will look a little smaller than its rivals like the Brezza and 3XO.

What the Kylaq does get is 17-inch alloys wheels, 189mm of ground clearance and it’s underpinned by the same MQB-AO-IN platform as the Kushaq and Slavia. It also carries Skoda’s new design language which includes LED DRLs up top with bumper integrated LED headlights. In fact the lighting all around is LEDs and the front fog light units that are integrated into the headlight cluster also have a cornering light function. 

Our initial expectations of the Kylaq being similar to the Kushaq were spot on. The touch screen, drivers information dash and ac control panel have been carried down to the Kylaq pretty much unchanged for the most part. Even the steering wheel feels like the same unit. Yes the dash board design is slightly different but familiar at the same time. But there have been some improvements as well. The switch panel for the cabin lights and sunroof is much improved and feels more solid now. The air con vents also feel a lot more durable and this is a welcome change. Yes there is a bit more hard plastics in the cabin as expected but overall it feels well built and put together. 

The Skoda Kushaq offers great cabin space for 4 tall adults and again as expected the Kylaq is a similar experience. Two 6-footers should manage to fit one behind the other however it will be a bit of a squeeze. Knee room and leg room are sufficient but not what we would call spacious. The seats are supportive but also a little upright and our guess this is due to the massive boot the the Kylaq gets

446 litres is literally next-segment boot space! The seats also fold in a 60:40 split so it’s reasonably practical too. There is a bit of a lip to load luggage over but it’s not very deep so this should also be fairly easy to do. Inside the cabin too there is no shortage of storage spaces with cupholders in the front console as well as the rear fold down armrest. The doors also all have space for 1-litre bottles and there are charge ports for both front and rear passengers. 

In terms of features the list seems as long as the Kushaq’s as well. So ventilated and 6-way powered front seats, sunroof, climate control 8-inch virtual cockpit, 10-inch touchscreen infotainment and wireless phone charging to name a few. 

The Kylaq is based on the same global NCAP 5 star-rated platform as the Kushaq and Slavia. Safety features include 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, a rear camera, ISOFIX child seat mounts, ESP with rollover mitigation and more.

The Kylaq gets the same 1-litre, 3 cylinder turbo-petrol engine as the Kushaq and as we’ve experienced before it’s a punchy motor that delivers good usability even with a full passenger load. For the first experience, Skoda had us drive the Kylaq on the CoaSST racetrack and the engine felt right and home attacking one corner after the next. The engine’s focus is delivering usable performance at lower revs but there is some initial turbo lag that can make it feel a little jerky in stop and go city traffic. It’s also not an engine that enjoys being revved hard as the three-cylinder vibrations become quite apparent and the performance itself flatlines quickly. Upshifting early and making the best of the 2000-3000rpm rev range is the best way to get the most out of this engine.

In the manual, the clutch pedal is light but has longer travel than what you’d experience in something like a Hyundai Venue. The 6-speed automatic is the one we’d tilt towards for its convenience.  

The Kylaq drives and handles in a manner similar to the Kushaq making it one of the most fun to drive options in its segment. In fact, if Skoda offers the Kylaq with the 1.5-litre TSI, it’d do well to wear a Kylaq ‘RS’ badge! The car feels very involving to drive and is balanced even when you push it to the limit on a racetrack. 

We didn’t experience the ride in real-world conditions but over the few rough patches we did take it through, the Kylaq felt composed. It does sit slightly on the firmer side which, in our experience, tends to bode well for the car’s ride quality with a full passenger load and its behaviour on bumpy highways.  

The Skoda Kylaq is entering the sub-4 metre SUV space at a time when its rivals are already punching above their weight. The Kylaq isn't the most feature-rich option in its segment as the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV3X0 and Kia Sonet. 

What does stand out about the Kylaq is that it feels European in how it drives and handles. It delivers a compact-outside-large-inside experience to a certain extent with great practical features and a large boot space for the compact family. At the moment Skoda has only announced the starting price of Rs 7,89,000 (ex-showroom). Bookings will start from 2nd December 2024, full details and display at Bharat Mobility 2025 and deliveries will start from January 27th.