After a five-year hiatus, Skoda has returned to the sub-4 metre segment of the passenger vehicle market in India with the brand-new Kylaq. The car has been launched at an ex-showroom starting price of Rs 7.89 lakh (introductory). In the past several months, multiple test mules of the Kylaq have been spotted. The subcompact SUV made its debut a few weeks ago, albeit in a camouflaged version. Now, the Czech automaker has officially launched the car in its complete, unmasked form. With the new Kylaq, Skoda is making its first foray into India's competitive sub-compact SUV market. Bookings for the model will open on December 2, with deliveries scheduled to start on January 27, 2025. The full pricing details will be revealed at the Bharat Mobility Expo next year.
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Skoda Kylaq SUV: Design Elements
The Kylaq follows Skoda’s familiar design style, highlighted by the iconic butterfly grille finished in piano black. It is flanked by a split lighting setup, with narrow LED DRLs on top and projector LED headlights housed in the bumper below. While it shares many design elements with the Kushaq, the Kylaq appears to be a bit smaller in size. The car is built on the brand's MQB-AO-IN platform and rides on 17-inch alloy wheels. Customers can choose from six paint jobs: Carbon Steel, Candy White, Olive Gold, Lava Blue, Tornado Red, and Brilliant Silver.
Dimension-wise, the SUV measures 3,995mm in length, 1,783mm in width, and 1,619mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,566mm. It offers a ground clearance of 189mm and a boot capacity of 446 litres, which can be increased to 1,265 litres by folding the rear split seats.
Skoda Kylaq SUV: Powertrain Options
Coming to the mechanical side of things, the latest offering from Czech carmaker is driven by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, turbo petrol engine. This unit belts out 114bhp of maximum power and 178Nm of peak torque. A six-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter gearbox handles transmission duties, sending power to the front wheels. For the uninitiated, the same engine is also used in the Virtus, Taigun, Slavia, and Kushaq models. Skoda claims that the Kylaq can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 10.5 seconds.
Skoda Kylaq SUV: Interior and Features
The Kylaq's interior, similar to the Kushaq and Slavia, features a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless charging, ventilated front seats, six-way electrically adjustable front seats, a single pane sunroof, and cutting-edge connected car technology. Other highlights include leatherette upholstery, keyless entry, ambient lighting, a six-speaker Canton sound system, cooled glovebox, and cupholders.
Skoda Kylaq SUV: Safety Suite
The Kylaq is equipped with over 25 safety features, including six airbags, ABS with EBD, traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, Electronic Brake Distribution, three-point seatbelts, Brake Disc Wiping, Roll Over Protection, Motor Slip Regulation, Electronic Differential Lock, passenger airbag deactivation, Multi-Collision Braking, and ISOFIX child seat mounts. However, the lack of ADAS features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist is a significant drawback in today's highly competitive market.
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Skoda Kylaq SUV: Market Rivalry
In terms of market rivalry, the Kylaq will face off against popular models like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, and other sub-compact SUVs.
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