Skoda Kylaq

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. 

As someone who’s owned a Volkswagen Polo GT TSI for a decade, the Kylaq seemed naturally exciting. I wanted to see if it really is a spiritual successor to the Polo in any manner, and what it brings to the table. Let’s dive straight into it. 

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 LED projector 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. Small details, such as the turn indicators on the mirrors and the subtle use of chrome on the door handles give it a premium vibe. 

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. Another interesting colour option is the Lava Blue which is borrowed from the Slavia and Kushaq. As is the case with any Skoda car, it will pull off the neutral colours such as the Carbon Steel, Brilliant Silver, Candy White, and Deep Pearl Black quite well. 

As you’d expect from a Skoda, build quality is among the best in class. The doors close with a reassuring thud, the panel gaps are consistent and the paint finish is above average. All of these point towards a small SUV that’s built to last.

Design and Quality

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. 

Front Seats

Getting in a comfortable driving position is an easy task. There’s ample range in the 6-way power-adjust seats and the steering can be adjusted for reach and rake too. For longer drives, you’ll like the front armrest that’s set at just the right height. 

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. 

Rear Seat 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. There is a central headrest, but the upright posture (due to the backrest and slightly raised seat base) here will mean a compromise in headroom. Additionally, the seats have well defined and prominent contours, making it further difficult for the central passenger to be comfortable. However, the upside is that the same side bolsters make it phenomenal as a four-seater. 

Storage and Practicality

Practicality is very well taken care of. All doors get usable bottle holders, there are twin cup holders and a large cooled glovebox as well. There’s more storage under the front armrest (that’s perfect for your wallet and keys) and some space in the centre console too. Rear seat occupants get seat back pockets with dedicated phone holders, and a couple of cup holders in the rear armrest. 

Charging Options

Skoda has equipped the Kylaq with a 12V charger, two USB Type-C ports and a wireless charger up front. The wireless charging isn’t particularly effective, and we’d have liked to see better ventilation for the phone too. 

Rear occupants get two USB Type-C ports placed under the rear AC vents.

Features

On the top-spec Kylaq, Skoda is offering practically everything that the Kushaq gets. Here’s a quick look at the functional features.  

Let’s now dive deeper into the highlight features of the Skoda Kylaq. 

Both the front seats of the Kylaq get a 6-way power adjust functionality, which is unique in the segment. There’s ample range and the adjustment is quick too. 

The 10.1-inch touchscreen is the same unit we’ve seen in other Skoda-VW vehicles. It’s very Android tablet-like in terms of user interface and experience. In our time with the car, it functioned as intended with quick response times. This infotainment also supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. 

It is paired with a 6-speaker audio system that sounds largely flat and mediocre. It also tends to distort at higher volumes. If you are an audio enthusiast, it’s best you consider upgrading the speakers for a better experience. 

Another hiccup is with the reverse camera feed that’s shown on the screen. Not only is the resolution poor (and unacceptable), there are no dynamic guidelines that aid ease of parking either. 

There’s another 8-inch screen that serves as the instrument cluster. It relays all the vital information including details about your trip and audio. It has a few customisable views, but the colour theme is not configurable. This screen can be operated using the buttons on the steering wheel. 

Like the Skoda Kushaq, the Kylaq also gets a touch-panel for climate control. It’s quite straightforward to use and features recesses for temperature and fan speed. Do note that Skoda had rolled out a software update following complaints of poor AC performance on the Kushaq. The same has been applied with the Kylaq. AC performance was satisfactory in the limited test time.

Front seat ventilation is also offered on the Kylaq. This has three fan speed settings and it works very effectively. However, it can get very noisy. 

While the Kylaq’s feature list is expansive, there are still quite a few misses compared to its rivals. For instance, cars such as the Kia Syros, and Mahindra XUV 3XO offer a panoramic sunroof as well as ADAS. Quite a few of its rivals such as the Maruti Suzuki Fronx and Tata Nexon feature a 360° camera. While we do not consider these missing features to be dealbreakers, it would’ve certainly been very nice to have.

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. Do note that the TPMS is simply a deflation warning. It does not show exact tyre pressures. 

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

Skoda claims a bootspace of 446-litres, but that’s measured up to the roof. Under the parcel tray, the space is still quite generous at 360-litres. 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.

Skoda has added baggage hooks to either side which are capable of carrying 3kg each. Also, there’s space between the rear seat and the boot to store the parcel tray when not in use. Very thoughtful!

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. 

There are no non-turbo petrol, diesel or CNG variants on offer. Skoda India has confirmed that a CNG version of the Kylaq is under consideration, but is unlikely to launch any time soon. 

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.

City Performance

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 ensures that city drives are dealt with quite easily, and you can drive around town in the first three gears comfortably without needing to downshift frequently. But, the long travel on the clutch might just be annoying in bumper-to-bumper traffic. For heavy city usage, we’d recommend the automatic despite the hit in fuel efficiency. It’s quick, smooth and is almost always in the correct gear. It also responds well to slight changes in throttle input that ensures your city drives aren’t jerky. 

You could expect a fuel efficiency of 10-12kmpl for city use. 

Highway Performance

The highway performance of the Kylaq  is sure to get you smiling as the little Skoda makes its way past 100kmph effortlessly. The engine is not even breaking a sweat at triple digit speeds and feels very much at ease munching miles on the highway.

In fact, even stepping on the accelerator at 80-100kmph has you adding speed almost immediately. Overtakes will require next to no planning. Even the automatic version is eager to downshift and give you the acceleration that’s required. Alternatively, you can use the paddle shifters to take full control of the gearbox. 

If you foresee doing a lot of highway trips, and having fun on these trips is on your agenda, the Kylaq is among the most fun small SUVs you can consider for these drives. 

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. In this crucial aspect, it is very similar to the old Polo GT TSI.

The Skoda Kylaq is available in four broad variants: Classic, Signature, Signature Plus and Prestige. 

Skoda Kylaq Classic Variant

• Offered only with the manual transmission. 

• Gets standard safety features such as 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts and electronic stability control. 

• Feature list is bare basic, that includes tilt-telescopic steering adjust, seat-height adjust, powered mirrors, manual AC.

• Exterior highlights include LED headlights and tail lights, turn indicator on ORVM and 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers. 

• There is no music system here, but 2 speaker are offered. 

Skoda Kylaq Signature Variant

• This is the base variant for the automatic version of the Kylaq. 

• Major feature additions include 16-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, and rear AC vents. 

• A 7-inch touchscreen infotainment (with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) is available, along with a 4-speaker music system. 

Skoda Kylaq Signature+ Variant

• Some practicality gets added in with features such as 60:40 split rear seats, sunglass holder in glovebox, and rear centre arm rest with cupholders. 

• Features a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and an 8-inch digital driver’s display.

• Other notable feature additions include automatic climate control, reverse camera and hill hold control. 

Skoda Kylaq Prestige Variant

• Visual upgrades include LED projector headlamps, LED fog lamps and 17-inch dual tone alloy wheels.

• Interior experience is elevated with leatherette upholstery, and ambient lighting.

• Feature additions include electric sunroof, 6-way powered front seats, front seat ventilation, wireless charging and auto-dimming IRVM. 

CarDekho recommends: 

• Those wanting an SUV on a budget can consider the Classic variant (in case of manual) or the Signature variant (in case of the automatic). 

• Overall, the most value for money pick is the Signature+ variant which offers a healthy balance of the good-to-have and the must-have features.

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.