Skoda India has introduced Kylaq at starting price of Rs 7.89 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The Bookings for the new SUV will officially commence on December 2 with deliveries slated to begin from January 27, 2025 onwards.
The name Kylaq has been 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 style on the new skoda kylaq is 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.
The Kylaq has an 85mm shorter wheelbase (it measures 2,566mm) and is a full 230mm shorter end-to-end, with an overall length of 3,995mm.
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 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.
There are a lot of features in Kylaq like a sunroof (single-pane), keyless entry, wireless phone charger, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, front seat ventilation and leatherette upholstery. The cabin of the SUV is well planned 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.
The Kylaq has a large space for luggage with boot capacity is 446 litres, though with the parcel tray, there’s 360 litres. The well-shaped bay can accommodate large suitcases with ease. There’s clever storage for the paSkoda Kylaq safety kit
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.
Skoda Kylaq engine, gearbox, suspension, brakes
The new Skoda Kylaq will be a petrol-only model with a 999cc engine . 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.
The new SUV has a front disc and rear drum brake arrangement, and independent front and non-independent torsion beam suspension same as the Kushaq. The weight of the Kylaq weighs 38kg less than a comparable Kushaq.
Skoda Kylaq price, rivals
The new Kylaq’s price starts at Rs 7.89 lakh that will allow Skoda to make its presence felt of the Indian SUV market. The company has decided for a wider sales and service network that will Kylaq to be accessible 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.