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2025 Skoda Kylaq review, first drive - Skoda's sweet spot?

Tuhin Guha Published: January 28, 2025, 11:57 AM IST

You can't hold it against Skoda India for the drip-feed of information about the Skoda Kylaq that we have witnessed over the last year. This SUV is its biggest bet for India yet and marks its entry into the country's most competitive segment. Finally, it's time to see what the Kylaq can do from where it matters the most, from behind the wheel.

2025 Skoda Kylaq engine

Get behind the wheel of the Skoda Kylaq, and you experience that SUV-like sensation you look forward to in this segment. It's quite convincing, with the flat bonnet that flows out in front and the fairly unobstructed pillars. You also sit high but not enough to be detached from the driving experience. The powered seat adjustment makes finding a good driving position easy, and none of the controls feel like a stretch.

The Skoda Kylaq can be had with the now-familiar 1.0-litre turbo-petrol with its 116PS and 175 Nm. This puts it right in the ballpark of the other turbo-petrols in this segment. The gearbox options are straightforward too. You have a six-speed manual or the Aisin-sourced 6-speed automatic. But the differences show on the move. The Kylaq has taken a step forward from the earlier India 2.0 cars in refinement. While the clatter is quite apparent on the outside, it's much quieter on the inside and vibrations are now acceptable. Complementing this is the well-controlled levels of tyre and wind noise, which immediately give you a premium sense that many of these small SUVs lack.

The motor's performance ties in with this sense. Yes, it is subdued below 1,700 rpm but there's still enough punch off-boost to keep you moving without hesitation. This is useful in stop-go traffic but the motor fully comes into its own in the mid-range. You have a clear, linear build-up of performance that is predictable and engaging. As we've seen before, the notable step-up in performance post 3,000 rpm is something enthusiasts will enjoy. It's not the best sounding of the many three-cylinders out there but it does get too shrill as you build pace.

2025 Skoda Kylaq gearbox

The manual also best harnesses this performance and is the one enthusiasts should look towards. This gearbox sharpens the motor's responses. Skoda has tuned this gearbox well. Yes, the clutch travel is a bit too long, but it engages smoothly. The lever falls to the hand easily, and it's easy to slot into gears without too much guidance. The action is crisp, which makes it quite pleasing.

The low-end torque also means that in traffic you don't need to change too often. The Kylaq takes speed breakers easily enough in second gear. Further on, the tall gearing means it could have been more enjoyable to skip through the gears, but the SUV is usually not very stressed at higher speeds.

Skoda has also done work on making the automatic a bit nicer to use. So yes, it still stutters a bit at low speeds and the crawl is still quite brisk, but both less so than before. You also notice that shifts are better managed. That said, it's still not as sharp as some of the dual-clutch boxes in this segment. You do have to plan for slower reactions during heavy throttle inputs. The Sport mode does make things a bit sharper and the paddle shifters are quicker still. But you find it upshifts automatically before the redline or won't give you a high rev downshift. But for most users, the gearbox does the job.

2025 Skoda Kylaq ride and handling

The Kylaq has remained nearly as wide as the Kushaq but the wheelbase has reduced by 85mm. So immediately, this makes for a fun recipe. The Skoda is about as nice to drive as sub-four-metre SUVs get. So you have a compact, agile sense to it that's great in the city. So have a nimble car that fits into tight spots. Helping is the steering. It's not too light but has a precision that makes driving feel less effort.

As you start going faster, you find that the Kylaq has a confident and lithe demeanour. So it turns quite briskly with good grip that lets you hold high speeds. It leans rather than rolls but this too is well-controlled for a high-riding car. So on a winding stretch of road, you find that you are making quick progress without necessarily going much faster than the traffic around you. You have a greater connection that also shows on a high-speed cruise. The steady, taut feeling from the Kushaq and Slavia has been brought here without much change. So you will be able to do long intercity trips without feeling tired at the end of it.

Sure, there is still some underlying firmness that is a trait of these Skoda cars, but this too has been reduced from earlier. You aren't thrown around over a broken road as much as in the Kushaq and the tough structure seems like it will take quite a battering. That said, the Kyalq also tends to hit its bump stops when you take a speed breaker a touch too quickly. Otherwise, at high speeds and on fairly smooth surfaces, you have a plaint if not cushy sense that feels comfortable without feeling wallowy. Skoda also seems to have toned down quite a bit of the sharpness from the brake pedal, although it still is as effective as in the other MQB-A0-IN cars.

2025 Skoda Kylaq interiors, space, practiciality

The Kylaq follows the theme set by the Kushaq and Slavia. While the cabin feels familiar, Skoda India has used materials and finishes to create a slightly more modern, vibrant feel.

You notice quite a bit that's been carried over like the air vents, steering wheel, the touch climate controls and all of the switchgear. But this is also offset by the smart dark green inserts on the new blocky, horizontal dash face. The textured plastic here with its fabric-like pattern and finish is smartly done, and ties in with Skoda's higher-end models. You notice this with the floating effect to the door handles which seems to open up the cabin more.

As with other Skodas, the cabin may not have the flash of some competitors but it is right at the top of its segment in its quality and finish. The fiddly climate panel aside, there is a tough, tactile feel to the controls. The premium car-like heft and tight panel gaps add to this sense, despite fewer soft surfaces than some rivals.

The 8-inch instrument cluster is a straight lift and like in the Slavia and Kushaq, it's functional and heavily customisable but could be better with its sub-menus. The 10.1-inch touchscreen now has a more colourful skin, which we think wasn't necessary, especially since the new colour palette isn't consistently implemented but importantly, it now adds an in-built navigation function. The wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay functions continue.

The Kylaq's practicality has been helped immensely with it being based on a C-segment SUV. It's a wide car, so you don't sit close to the doors or the other passenger in the front. The seats themselves are especially supportive, which the powered adjustment makes easier to use. You have massive door bins and large storage space within the cabin.

But this width is most apparent in the rear. You can seat three adults here when needed, even though the seat has that four-seater focus contouring as seen in other Skodas. So four-up, you have great thigh support and bolstering, which the cushion keeping you comfortable even after a few hours of travel. You won't be thrown around much and the seatback has a slightly upright but comfortable angle. With a 2,566mm wheelbase, there's above-average knee room here. The front seats are placed quite high which helps those with long feet with legroom. The single-pane sunroof may be a step down now, but this lets Skoda free up a good amount of headroom. An oddity here is that the doors don't quite open wide enough, with the large seat base ingress and egress feel a touch compromised.

2025 Skoda Kylaq features and safety

As has been the case so far, the Kylaq can't quite compete with the Korean and Indian manufacturers in the kind of equipment it offers. So yes, you do have ventilated and powered seats, a single pane sunroof, wireless charging, LED lighting, a cooled glove box, leatherette upholstery and rake and reach adjustable steering. But you also miss out on a wide connectivity suite, panoramic sunroof, branded speakers and a wider ambient light selection.

The Kylaq is safe as usual, with a five-star BNCAP rating, but we would have liked a much better camera to start with and a 360-degree set-up ideally, as well as ADAS. We also think Skoda needs to upgrade the horns on these India-specific cars further.

2025 Skoda Kylaq styling, boot space

The Kylaq is unique in the sense that it is the first ICE Skoda to carry this new family face. So while it now follows the general spilt headlamp theme, it is a smart look. The more compact grille design incorporated with the DRLs and the blocky air dam give it a good deal of presence.

The squarish stance looks good too, especially with the blocky bonnet design and upright glass area. Unlike some other sub-4m SUVs, the Kylaq looks proportionate. The bodywork is simple but the slight kink and bulge in the rear window adds to the aggression.

This cohesive sense is also seen at the rear. The compact LED light cluster is crisp but the grey band and contoured boot lid make for a compact, sporty look.

At 446L, the Kylaq's boot is much larger on paper than most rivals and even the Kushaq. But this is down to a measurement change. It's still one of the larger spaces in the segment with a low lip, square space and the length to lay down big trolley bags.

2025 Skoda Kylaq verdict, price

Yes, the Skoda Kylaq can't quite compete with the big hitters in this segment with its features list and powertrain options. But other than this there's not much to fault here, especially since Skoda has got the pricing right. The smart looks and cabin ambience, good space and solid driving experience stand out. That it also happens to be the car that enthusiasts will like the most in this segment is a good bonus to have, whether you call yourself one or otherwise.

Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 10.5 Lakhs
Displacement
1498cc
Transmission
Automatic
Max Power(ps)
149
Max Torque(Nm)
250
Mileage
-NA-
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