New Skoda compact SUV christened Kylaq

Skoda has just announced that its first-ever compact SUV, slated to be launched by March 2025, will be called the Kylaq. The company had been running a contest to finalise the name from a selection of ten names, and Kylaq received maximum public votes. The name Kylaq is derived from the Sanskrit word for crystal, and Skoda says it is inspired by Mount Kailash. As with Skoda’s existing SUVs in India, the name starts with a K and ends with a Q.

The Skoda Kylaq will be based on Volkswagen’s MQB A0 IN platform and can essentially be considered a more compact derivative of the Kushaq. 

Skoda Kylaq: what to expect?

The initial teaser images and design sketches suggest a familiar Skoda design language with a split headlamp setup, a slatted grille design and clear surfaces with a kinked glasshouse. It will have a shorter wheelbase than the Kushaq, and spy shots also hint at chopped front and rear overhangs to make the Kylaq slip into the sub-4-metre segment. Skoda also says that this will be the first model to bring the brand’s ‘Modern Solid’ design language with typical SUV attributes to India. 

The Kylaq has been spotted testing on our roads on several occasions. 

The Kylaq’s interior is expected to closely resemble that of the Kushaq, and Skoda will likely equip it with more features than it currently offers in the Kushaq and Slavia. So, things such as a 360-degree camera and an ADAS suite could be part of the package right from launch.

Skoda has previously confirmed that powering the Kylaq will be its 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that produces 115hp and 178Nm of torque. It will be the only engine option on the Kylaq, while most of its rivals get at least two. The 6-speed manual and the 6-speed torque converter automatic gearboxes will also be carried over. 

Teaser image previewing Kylaq's rear-end design.

The Kylaq will rival the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, and Maruti Brezza, among others. Skoda is likely to price the Kylaq aggressively in this very competitive segment, and we expect it to be in the Rs 8 lakh-14 lakh (ex-showroom) range.

Skoda to reward the naming contest’s winners

Skoda says it received over 2 lakh entries with over 24,000 unique names in this contest. The brand will be awarding the winner of this contest with the first unit of the Kylaq that rolls off the production line. Additionally, 10 other winners will visit the brand’s headquarters in Prague and be given tours of the Skoda Museum and the city. Skoda Auto India will announce the winners across its social media channels.