Skoda Kylaq Drive Review: Worth The Wait?

Out on the highway, where the Kylaq shines is the ride and handling along with very good high speed stability. It is clearly one of the more fun to drive SUvs in its class.

It is a typical Skoda with a 10-inch touchscreen and a two spoke steering wheel with a simple but easy to read digital driver display.

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

It has been a long wait but finally we have driven the Skoda Kylaq and there is a lot to say. The Kylaq is a very important Skoda being their first sub 4m SUV in India and comes with a starting price of Rs 7.89 lakh. Standard, unlike others, there is a turbo petrol engine and it comes with 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic options. We tested the manual version and drove it across the city as well as on the highway for a proper review.

Our drive started early and in red, the Kylaq looks good especially having clear differentiation over the Kushaq. It is of course a Skoda but the new design language works well here while Skoda has added plenty of SUV design cues including thick cladding as well as silver skid plate. It may be compact at under 4m but visually it looks appealing and we also like the square tail-lamps while it is compact yet good looking. Paint finish is impressive while the build quality is easily amongst the top tier in class, especially the way the doors close to the materials used inside. 

 

Skoda Kylaq: Interiors, Dual Powered Seats, And More

While there may not be soft touch materials, the cabin feels solid and expensive. It is a typical Skoda with a 10-inch touchscreen and a two spoke steering wheel with a simple but easy to read digital driver display. The main touchscreen is slick to use and comes with all of the expected features like wireless Android Auto as well as Apple CarPlay. Below there are touch AC controls which work well while storage is plenty with unique touches like a ticket or a mobile holder added in. The audio system sounds good but the rear view camera is not a 360 degree one while not having a clear display either. 

Where the Kylaq scores is the dual powered seats with ventilation and in the Goa heat, the cooled seats came in handy. Other features include a cooled glovebox, wireless charging, 6 airbags and a standard sunroof.

Space at the back is roomy enough for even tall passengers but the cabin feels narrow for three passengers but there is a middle headrest. The front seats are accommodating while there is rake/reach adjustment for the steering. The boot is much bigger than rivals too. The 1,0 TSI is pretty refined at low speeds and the manual gearbox has a well weighted but precise shift quality. The clutch is light and so is the steering which makes driving the Kylaq across narrow Goan roads, an easy affair. 

We liked the way the car absorbed the speed breakers and the bad roads with a sense of solidity but also composure. It is slightly firm at low speeds but feels tough along with feeling like a bigger 4m plus SUV behind the wheel. The 189mm ground clearance is also handy with the Kylaq going over some serious bad roads across the outskirts of Goa. The 6-speed manual shift was perfect in the way it feels but it is also a fun car to drive with this gearbox. Importantly there is enough low end torque which means you can move around in 3rd gear at low speeds without constant downshifting. 

 

Skoda Kylaq: Fuel Efficiency

While being turbocharged, this engine feels eager and you can enjoy revving it. It feels responsive and responds the harder you drive it but there is some 3 cylinder noise when pushed hard. Out on the highway, where the Kylaq shines is the ride and handling along with very good high speed stability. It is clearly one of the more fun to drive SUvs in its class with a higher dynamic polish in the way it drives. Efficiency is around 11-12 kmpl but also depends on the way you drive it.

 

The Kylaq then is a proper SKoda but being sub4m and an attractive price, makes it more accessible. Sure, it is not the most spacious while missing out on features like a 360 degree camera or ADAS but looks, build quality, safety (5 star rated) and the driving experience make it stand amongst rivals- no mean feat that!

What we like- Looks, quality, toughness, driving experience, engine

What we do not- misses some features, cabin feels narrow