Is the Skoda Kylaq the best among compact sports utility vehicles (SUVs) under four meters? Can it defeat its opponents and reach the top? We were driving in Goa.
Story: Jim Gold
Photography: Sanjay Lekha
Only good cars will have good reviews. A great car will also get good reviews and find more takers through word of mouth and repeat brand customers. The sub-four meter segment has always been a busy arena, with gladiators of all kinds trying to dominate it. However, lacking a noteworthy name, a Volkswagen Group product has not appeared for a long time, but, with the emergence of the Skoda Kylaq, this gap has now been filled, and we might add, quite successfully.
We’ve driven the camouflage version and had a static experience with the Skoda Kylaq, but the actual driving experience of the production car is yet to be determined. so far.
The Skoda Kylaq is 3,995 mm long and has a wheelbase of 2,566 mm, which is only 85 mm shorter than the larger Kushaq. Despite being based on the same MQB-A0-IN platform, it’s also 23mm wider and 29kg lighter than the Kushaq, which are all very good things.
The styling is signature Skoda, with a sleek new front end positioning LED daytime lights above the headlamps, while a clever mustache-like grille ties them together. The lines are clean and smooth, and what particularly caught my eye is the power dome sculpted bonnet, which looks like the 60 TSI V8 would slide right in and stay underneath, but it only houses the three-cylinder 1.0 TSI turbo petrol engine with the old American V8 Engine, power 115 horsepower. Unlike the previous camouflage cars, this time we have a full-color version, the manual version is Tornado Red, and the automatic version is Olive Gold. To be honest, Olive Gold is Kylaq’s unique green. In fact, the skid plates, 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails, and overall proportions look modern and attractive. Either way, it looks suave and stunning. Squint and your left brain might even conjure up what looks like a Fabia Scout who joined the gym after seeing a Kodiaq. Well done, Skoda!
The interior of the Skoda Kylaq’s cabin uses a mix of plastics, metals and sustainable materials to create a high-quality atmosphere. There’s plenty of space and the overall ergonomics are great. Controls are easily in place and the 10.1-inch high-resolution touchscreen caters for tech-savvy users and offers access to the Skoda Play app store. The screen is clear and detailed, and the touch response is smooth, similar to a tablet. The 8.0-inch driver’s cockpit makes it easier to access all necessary car-related information. The steering wheel is similar to the Kushaq’s, with a bunch of controls and scroll bars for easy access to audio and communication settings. And the front seats are ventilated. There is a lot to be happy about in Goa.
Once you get in the car, the Skoda Kylaq’s solid feel and solid build quality are immediately apparent. That feeling of weight, solidity and stability, coupled with the agility of a small car, is what this segment has been missing. Ride quality is very good. Other cars, including the leading ones, suffer from stray bounces when the road surface undulates or changes suddenly, but that’s not the case here. Compression is soft and rebound is well calibrated, allowing for better stability in a straight line on a variety of surfaces and sharper cornering when handling corners. The steering wheel is also nicely weighted and provides plenty of feedback.
Also worthy of praise is the engine’s potential. It handles very well and accelerates well throughout the rev range. This 1.0 TSI engine does a great job of hauling the larger, heavier Kushaq along quite briskly, and in the Skoda Kylaq it feels even better. Peak output is 115 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, but that’s not the most important number. That’s torque available, and it makes a strong impact and makes its presence felt early on. The Kylaq can accelerate from 30 km/h in fourth gear, starting from as low as 1,200 rpm before hitting a peak of 178 Nm at over 1,700 rpm. The exhaust note is loud, too, and a turbo whistle is audible once the redline of peak power revs is approached. And efficiency? Through it all, we see a higher level of 15 km/l.
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