KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- The first Skoda in India to bear the Modern Solids design language.
- Powered by the smaller 1.0-litre TSI powertrain with 6-speed manual and automatic transmission options.
- Gets power-adjustable front seats and automatic climate control.
- Its wheelbase is second-longest wheelbase in the segment.
- No ADAS features available as of now.
Skoda India has made a return into the small car segment with its latest launch, the Kylaq compact SUV, prices for which begin from Rs 7.89 lakh (ex-showroom). The Skoda Kylaq goes up against a horde of competitors in a very tightly-packed segment.
Before going into the top highlights of the Kylaq, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates!
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Skoda Kylaq: Top Highlights
Dimensions
Let's get the dimensions out of the way first; being in the compact SUV segment, the Kylaq measures 3995mm in length, with a wheelbase of 2556mm, which is longer than most of its rivals, save for the Mahindra XUV 3XO, which gets a 2600mm wheelbase.
Skoda also says the Kylaq gets a boot space of 446 litres, which is easily more than what you get compared to its rivals in the compact SUV segment.
Design
The Kylaq is the first Skoda car in India to come with the Modern Solids design language. As such, the butterfly grille gets a completely new treatment, and it is also the first Skoda to receive a split headlamp treatment, with DRLs placed above the headlamp.
The profile and overall design of the car is understated, clean and devoid of any dramatic cuts or lines. However, it does come with a substantial amount of cladding, giving it a more imposing, beefier stance. The alloy rims of the car also receive a completely new design, and more importantly the top variants of the Kylaq come with 17-inch wheels, while the lower variants make do with 16-inch wheels.
The tailgate of the car receives a certain dark treatment, and there is the Skoda lettering on it. The Kylaq gets smaller, square-ish tail lamps, and th bumpers also receive cladding to aid protection and also giving it a tougher look.
Powertrain
The Kylaq comes with the smaller 1.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain seen on the Kushaq and the Slavia, given that it is also built on the same MQB-A0-IN platforn. This powertrain produces 113bhp and 178Nm of torque, paired to either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. This makes the Kylaq on par with the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue and the Kia Sonet, but lesser than the TGDi powertrain of the Mahindra XUV 3XO.
Skoda says the Kylaq can reach a top speed of 188kmph, with a claimed 0-100kmph time of 10.5 seconds. This is something we would like to compare with all its rivals; stay tuned for that.
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Interiors and Features
If you've been inside the Slavia and the Kushaq, the interiors of the Kylaq will feel familiar, with a similar dashboard layout, the glovebox, steering wheel, controls, and the shape of the air-con vents as well. The 10.1-inch touch screen infotainment is smaller, and the Kylaq also receives an 8-inch Virtual Cockpit Display.
Some other features on this car include ventilated front seats with power adjustment, automatic climate control, electric sunroof, cruise control, paddle shifters, wireless smartphone connectivity and wireless charging. Skoda also says the Kylaq comes with 25 active and passive safety features, which includes six airbags, brake disc wiping, ISOFIX child seat mounts, passenger airbag de-activation, and multi-collision braking. However, there seem to be no ADAS features available as of now.
Verdict
With the Kylaq, Skoda is entering a segment ideally it should have a few years ago, but better late than never. Even if this is a tightly packed segment, it is nice for the customers to have yet another option that stands out in a few ways.
