Skoda has officially revealed that their first compact SUV will be called Kylaq. The word ‘Kylaq’ is derived from the Sanskrit word for “crystal.” The German auto-giant says the car is inspired by Mount Kailash and like the names of the existing Skoda SUVs in India, Kushaq and Kodiaq, the name of this SUV was supposed to start from ‘K’ and end at ‘Q.’ The Skoda Kylaq is expected to launch in Q1 2025 and will be based on Volkswagen’s MQB A0 IN platform, essentially a compact derivative of the Kushaq.
Skoda Kylaq: Design & Features
The teaser and test mule images suggest a few tweaks to the current Skoda design language. The Kylaq appears to adopt the split headlamp design, moving the DRL element above the headlights. Apart from this, the Kylaq will feature the standard Skoda design elements including the slatted butterfly grille design and clean surfaces with kinked window glasses. Expected to fall into the sub-4-metre category, the Kylaq will have a shorter length and wheelbase than the Kushaq.
On the inside, the Kylaq is expected to borrow the interior design from the Kushaq and be just as feature-rich as the Kushaq and Slavia. For example, it could come with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a fully digital driver’s display, ventilated front seats, a wireless phone charger, and a sunroof. Moreover, it could also feature a 360-degree camera and Level-2 ADAS safety suite, which are likely to be offered with Kushaq and Slavia as well by the end of 2025.
For passenger safety, the Skoda Kylaq is likely to get up to 6 airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and ISOFIX child seat mounts.
Skoda Kylaq: Engine & Transmission
The Kylaq is expected to be equipped with the same 1-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine which powers the lower and mid variants of the Skoda Slavia and Kushaq. This engine currently produces 115 PS and 178 Nm. With the Kylaq, it is expected to come with a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmission. In terms of the competition, the Kylaq will offer similar performance to the turbo petrol variants of the Hyundai Venue and Kia Seltos.
Skoda Kylaq: Price & Rivals
The starting price of the Skoda Kylaq is expected to be under Rs. 9 lakh (ex-showroom) and it will rival other compact SUVs, such as the Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Maruti Brezza, Renault Kiger, and Nissan Magnite. With competition being extremely strong in this segment, the Kylaq will need to position itself well to gain a foothold against its rivals.
