Home / Reviews / First Drive / Skoda Kylaq First Drive Review – Cream

 

Getting in and out of the Skoda Kylaq is easy too. As I enter the rear seat, the space on offer is more evident. There is head-room and knee-room aplenty with enough elbow-room, too, thanks to the car’s generous width of 1,783 mm. Typical for Skoda is the voluminous boot as well, with 446 litres. The 40:60 split-folding rear seat-back adds to the flexibility and improves boot volume to as much as 1,265 litres. The boot itself is smartly designed with a reasonably low loading lip, two bag hooks integrated into the panelling, and a stowage area for the parcel shelf. It’s the little things that count, right?

Skoda Kylaq Action

The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual was soon swapped for the six-speed automatic version. Somehow the dark green accents on the door-panels seemed to fit better on this example. The only change here is the transmission, with the familiar six-speed torque converter coming in to make life easier for the otherwise overburdened set of left limbs. The calibration here is also just right. It accelerates quickly and there is no perceivable lag at all. The response is smooth and immediate, which helps make this more usable and definitely more convenient in and around the city. Even on the not so open highway, the engine’s grunt and the package’s commendable agility make distances shorter. It’s a comfortable car to be in and there was no fatigue even after spending hours in it. This is down to the ergonomics. The seats are supportive and both front seats are six-way power-adjustable. The visibility is good and the ease of access to all necessary controls helps in no small measure. There are plenty of storage spaces. The wireless charger and wireless Android Auto (and Apple CarPlay) help as well—though these are exclusive to this top Prestige trim.

Skoda Kylaq touchscreen

When it comes to efficiency, this Skoda Kylaq is the ballpark as well. Even with hard driving, it was rather commendable 10 km/l throughout in the automatic. This fuel efficiency may be average but the other qualities of the Kylaq, from its build and handling, set it apart from the competition in no small measure. However, there are two things it is missing out on. The first is ADAS and the second is a diesel engine; I had to say it.

All said and done, the sub-four-metre Skoda Kylaq feels just as robust, involving, and fun like another name from the parent group we’ve lost—the VW Polo. It’s a bigger shoe but it fits and feels just as great. A spiritual successor of sorts it can be considered, then.

Was the Skoda Kylaq late to the party? It may seem so, but you know how some folk like to make an entry.

Skoda Kylaq Olive Gold green


Need to Know – Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI/AT

Price: Rs 13.35 lakh/Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-showroom)

Engine: 999 cc, in-line three, turbo-petrol
Max Power: 115 hp @ 5,000-5,500 rpm
Max Torque: 178 Nm @ 1,750-4,500 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual/automatic, front-wheel drive
Suspension: MacPherson strut front, twist beam rear
Weight: 1,219 kg/1,255 kg


 

About the author: Jim Gorde

 

Deputy Editor at Car India and Bike India.
Believes that learning never stops, and that diesel plug-in hybrids are the only feasible immediate future until hydrogen FCEVs take over.

t: @CarIndia/@BikeIndia
IG: @carindia_mag/@bikeindia/@jimbosez

 

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