Skoda Kylaq price, size and specs compared with rivals

The Skoda Kylaq is the newest entrant in the compact SUV segment with its prices ranging between Rs 7.89 lakh and Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-showroom, India). With the Kylaq, the Czech carmaker has forayed into the heavily populated compact SUV segment, taking on some best-sellers like the Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza and Mahindra XUV 3XO. The compact SUV space is the largest sub-segment in the Indian market, comprising more than 50 percent of all SUV sales.

The Kylaq is therefore a very important model for Skoda, one which they hope will finally give them the volume in the Indian market. Here, we are looking at how it compares with its rivals on paper in terms of price, size, and specs.

Skoda Kylaq dimensions vs rivals

At 3,995mm in length, the Kylaq fits just under the sub-4m mark to be in line with most other compact SUVs, although the XUV 3XO, Kiger, and Magnite are slightly shorter. Overall, the Kylaq fits right in the middle on nearly every metric, barring wheelbase length and wheel size. Skoda's compact SUV has the second-longest wheelbase, at 2,556mm, after the XUV 3XO. This also translates to good amount of knee room in the second row, although overall space is still best for four, thanks to a narrow cabin.

The Kylaq and XUV 3XO have the largest alloy wheels on offer and comparable boot spaces. It is the Sonet and the Nexon that boast the largest boots here, with over 380 litres of capacity, while Tata's compact SUV claims the highest ground clearance, at 208mm. 

What’s interesting is that while the Kushaq appears a size smaller in respect to its own rivals, the Kylaq, which is essentially a shrunken Kushaq, virtually feels a tad larger in the compact SUV class.  

Skoda Kylaq engine and specs vs rivals

The Kylaq is powered by a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 115hp and 178Nm of torque. From the other Skoda-VW cars that this engine does duty in, along with our drive in a prototype, we know it is responsive, relatively refined, and delivers strong acceleration. The 6-speed manual and the 6-speed torque converter automatic gearboxes have also been carried over.

The Kylaq comes with a single engine, whereas most competitors offer at least two options. However, it finds itself right in the middle of the pack in terms of power and torque figures – it's more powerful than all entry-level, naturally aspirated engines of its rivals but slightly less powerful than the turbo-petrol units. The XUV 3XO, with the 131hp TGDi engine, remains the most powerful in its class. Meanwhile, the Brezza gets the largest engine, but it's the only one to miss out on a turbo-petrol unit.

It’s worth mentioning that the Nexon, XUV 3XO, Venue, and Sonet are also available with a diesel engine. The percentage of diesel buyers in this class is less than the majority and shrinking, but the said models at least offer that option. The Brezza and the Nexon are the only models in this class to get a factory-fitted CNG kit.

Skoda Kylaq price vs rivals 

To keep it simple, here we have only considered prices of equivalent petrol variants of rivals. At Rs 7.89 lakh (ex-showroom), the Kylaq has quite an aggressive starting price, making it more affordable than likes of the Nexon, Brezza and Venue. And while these prices are introductory, the brand has said there wouldn’t be any major price revisions in the near future.

However, it is important to note that the Kylaq is available in just four trims with a significant price jump from one trim to the next. Most rivals, meanwhile, offer a much wider spread of trims and variants, which means the prices are also spread out more evenly. At the top-end, only the XUV 3XO and the Sonet are more expensive, which means the Kylaq has slightly more premium positioning than most rivals.