The Skoda Kylaq is the company’s latest product in a long time that will be competing in the sub-4m compact SUV segment, which is a hotly-contested segment that is crowded with the likes of the Hyundai Venue, the Kia Sonet, the Mahindra XUV 3X0, the Tata Nexon and the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. While we have driven the prototype version of the Kylaq earlier, we now have the full details about the Skoda, and here’s how it stacks on paper against its rivals.
The Skoda Kylaq has a wheelbase that is a whole 81mm shorter than the Kushaq, giving it a 2566mm wheelbase and an overall length of 3995mm. The Mahindra XUV3X0 is slightly shorter in length at 3990mm, but has a longer wheelbase than the Kylaq at 2600mm. The Hyundai Venue and the Kia Sonet are as long as the Skoda Kylaq but get a smaller wheelbase, at 2500mm. The Tata Nexon too has the same overall length as the Kylaq, but a smaller wheelbase at 2498mm, the smallest in this lot. Finally, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza has a wheelbase of 2500mm and an overall length of 3995mm – the latter being the same as the Kylaq. The Kylaq having the longest wheelbase amongst these compact SUVs should translate to it having the most roomy cabin, particularly for the rear seat passengers.
The Skoda Kylaq only gets one engine option – the 1-litre TSI shared with the Kushaq and Slavia, and it puts out 114bhp and 178Nm. This engine can be mated to either a 6-speed manual transmission or a torque convertor automatic. The Mahindra 3X0 comes with the choice of three engines – two turbo petrols and a diesel engine. The turbo petrol engine comes in two states of tune, producing 110bhp and 129bhp, with the more powerful engine getting direct injection. The Hyundai Venue and the Kia Sonet share the same powertrains, a 1.2-litre nat-asp petrol, a 1-litre turbo petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel. The 1-litre turbo petrol produces 118bhp and can be had with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT in the Venue and Sonet. The Tata Nexon is powered by a 1.2-litre turbo petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The turbo petrol produces 118bhp of power and can be had with the option of a manual transmission, an AMT or a DCT automatic. The Brezza can be had solely with a 1.5-litre nat-asp engine mated to a manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The power output of the Brezza is 102bhp.
Most of these SUVs are evenly matched when it comes to the features list and include equipment such as a sunroof, a digital cluster, LED headlights with DRLs, an infotainment system that gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as automatic climate control, though the Brezza does get up a HUD (head up display) which is not offered by the others. The Venue is offered with a dashcam, and the Mahindra XUV 3X0 comes with ADAS, features which the Kylaq misses out on. When it comes to the Kylaq, Skoda has equipped with its Simply Clever features such as 6-way electrically adjustable seats for the driver and co-driver which also get ventilation, a wireless phone charger, two 3kg hooks in the boot, a smartphone pocket in the seatback, a ticket holder and reflective safety tape on all four doors.
Prices for the Skoda Kylaq start from ₹7.89 lakh, though no top-end prices have been revealed yet for the compact SUV. In comparison, the Mahindra 3X0 is priced from ₹7.79 lakh to 15.48 lakh, while prices for the Hyundai Venue start from ₹7.94 lakh, going all the way up to ₹13.43 lakh for the top-spec variants. The Kia Sonet is priced from ₹7.99 lakh to ₹15.76 lakh. Prices for the Tata Nexon start from ₹7.99 lakh, going up to ₹15.79 lakh for the top-spec Dark Edition variants. And finally, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is priced from ₹8.34 lakh to ₹13.98 lakh.
The entry-level prices of these compact SUVs are on par with each other. While the entry-level variants of the Venue and the Sonet are closely priced to the Kylaq, they are powered by a naturally aspirated engine. The Venue and Sonet offer turbocharged engines on the higher spec variants, and this means that the Skoda offers better value, thanks to the turbocharged engine being offered as standard.