Skoda Kylaq 2025 Review: The Czech Challenge to Nexon and Brezza

For years, the Indian mass market has been asking a simple question: “When will Skoda bring its German engineering and solid build quality to a genuinely affordable segment?”

Well, my friends, the wait is finally over. The Skoda Kylaq 2025 is not a facelift, but a brand-new vehicle—the third model born from the highly-successful India 2.0 strategy, following the Kushaq and Slavia. It marks Skoda’s aggressive entry into the most cut-throat segment of our market: the sub-four-meter Compact SUV space.

This is a serious product, built on the proven, localised MQB A0 IN platform, and it’s priced to kill. The new Skoda Kylaq launches with an incredible introductory ex-showroom starting price of just Rs 7.89 Lakh for the base Classic variant. This price point immediately makes it a fierce rival to segment leaders like the Tata Nexon and Maruti Brezza.

We have spent significant time driving the car in various conditions—from the choked city traffic of Mumbai to the open, sweeping highways of Goa—and the biggest question we need to answer is: Does the Kylaq sacrifice core Skoda strengths for that aggressive price tag? Let’s dive deep.

1. QUICK SPECS TABLE (Key Highlights)

This table gives you the essential numbers right away:

Specification	Skoda Kylaq (1.0 TSI)	Notes
Engine	999cc, 3-Cylinder, Turbo Petrol (1.0L TSI)	No Diesel or CNG option at launch.
Max Power	114 BHP @ 5000-5500 rpm	Healthy power figure for the segment.
Max Torque	178 Nm @ 1750-4000 rpm	Peak torque arrives early, great for city use.
Transmission	6-speed Manual / 6-speed Torque Converter AT	AT is a proper TC, not an AMT.
Length/Width/Height	3995mm / 1783mm / 1619mm	Sub-4m compliance. Lower than rivals for better stability.
Wheelbase	2566 mm	Segment-leading, promises excellent cabin space.
Ground Clearance	189 mm (Unladen)	Highly practical for Indian road conditions.
Boot Space	446 Litres	Segment Best! Massive practicality advantage.
Fuel Tank Capacity	45 Litres	Standard for the segment.

2. EXTERIOR DESIGN & ROAD PRESENCE

The Kylaq is the first Skoda in India to fully embrace the brand’s new ‘Modern Solid’ design language, and frankly, it looks like a premium, chopped-down Kushaq—which is a great compliment.

The Stance and Details

The first thing you notice is the road presence. It looks wide and planted, unlike some tall-boy rivals. The front features the signature Skoda butterfly grille, but the new split headlight setup is the biggest change. The sleek, L-shaped LED DRLs sit on top, while the main LED projector headlamp cluster is positioned lower in the bumper. This gives it an aggressive, modern face.

From the side, the robust cladding around the wheel arches and sills, combined with the 189 mm of ground clearance, gives it a proper SUV silhouette. On the top-end Prestige variant, the 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels (with 205/55 R17 tyres) look fantastic and fill the wheel wells perfectly. Skoda has cleverly designed the doors to close over the running boards, which, while a Simply Clever solution to keep your trousers clean, means you need to be careful of mud accumulation in the sills during the monsoon.

At the rear, the ‘SKODA’ lettering is proudly spelled out on a wide black strip, flanked by sleek LED taillights. Does it turn heads? Absolutely. It doesn’t look like a budget car; it looks like a proper, grown-up European Compact SUV.

3. INTERIOR, COMFORT & FEATURES

Step inside the Kylaq, and the premium feel you expect from a Skoda washes over you. The cabin is easily the most spacious and premium-feeling in its segment.

H3. Dashboard and Material Quality

The dashboard layout is clean and driver-focused, heavily inspired by the Kushaq. The standout element is the large, free-standing 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which offers butter-smooth response and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—a must-have in 2025.

Material quality is a mixed bag, which is typical for this segment. While the top of the dashboard is hard plastic, the build is solid, and there are stylish touches like the ‘olive green’ inserts and the neat, textured pattern on the passenger side, which breaks the monotony. The leatherette upholstery on the top variants elevates the ambiance considerably. Skoda has thankfully retained physical buttons for most functions, though the touch-sensitive panel for the Auto Climatronic AC can be tricky to operate without taking your eyes off the road.

Read More : Toyota Camry 2025 

H3. Space and Seating Comfort

This is where the Kylaq delivers a knockout punch. Thanks to the segment-leading 2566 mm wheelbase, the cabin space is genuinely impressive.

• Front Seats: The front seats are excellent—firm, supportive, and, best of all, the top variant gets six-way powered adjustability and ventilation. This is a segment-first and a massive blessing for Indian summers.
• Rear Seats: Two six-footers can sit one behind the other comfortably, with decent knee room. The biggest plus is the usable width; three adults can squeeze in the back better than in a Venue or Sonet, though it will still be a snug fit. Rear passengers get AC vents and dedicated phone pockets on the seatbacks.
• Boot: The 446-litre boot space is simply enormous for a sub-4m SUV, easily swallowing the luggage of four people for a weekend trip.

H3. Feature Highlights (And What’s Missing)

The top-spec Kylaq is loaded:

• Single-Pane Electric Sunroof (A must-have for the Indian buyer, whether you use it or not).
• Ventilated and Powered Front Seats.
• Wireless Phone Charging.
• 8-inch Digital Driver’s Cockpit (Virtual Cockpit).
• 6-speaker Canton Sound System (Excellent clarity).
• Paddle Shifters (for the Automatic variant).

What’s Missing: The only significant feature omission that stands out is ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). While some rivals are starting to include Level 1 ADAS, the Kylaq has skipped it, perhaps to keep the price competitive. Also, the reverse camera quality, a crucial feature in India, is just average.

4. ENGINE PERFORMANCE & DRIVING DYNAMICS

This section is the heart of any Skoda review. Powering the Kylaq is the workhorse of the VAG India lineup: the brilliant 1.0L, 3-cylinder TSI Turbo Petrol engine.

The engine produces 114 BHP and 178 Nm of torque. This is a segment-leading figure and makes the Kylaq one of the quickest cars in its class, with a claimed 0-100 kmph time of just 10.5 seconds for the manual.

H3. City Drive: Smooth, Not Stressful

In city traffic, this engine is surprisingly tractable. The turbo lag is well-contained, and the torque comes in early from around 1800 rpm, meaning you don’t have to constantly downshift.

• Manual (MT): The clutch has a slightly long travel, but it’s light enough not to tire your left leg in heavy traffic. The 6-speed gearbox is precise.
• Automatic (AT): The 6-speed Torque Converter is a massive highlight. It’s miles better than the AMTs offered by rivals. The shifts are smooth and timely, and the transmission understands when you need a quick downshift for an overtake. The AT is highly recommended if your commute involves heavy traffic.
• Steering: The electric steering is light at low speeds, making the Kylaq easy to maneuver and park in tight spots.

H3. Highway Drive: The VAG Stability

This is where the Skoda DNA truly shines. Unlike some sub-4m SUVs that feel floaty at high speeds, the Kylaq is rock solid at 100 kmph and above. The weight of the MQB-A0-IN platform and the European tuning inspire tremendous confidence. Body roll is present but well-controlled, making cornering at speed feel secure.

H3. Suspension and Potholes

The suspension is tuned perfectly for Indian roads—a fantastic balance between high-speed stability and low-speed comfort. The suspension absorbs potholes easily; in fact, it feels slightly softer than the Kushaq, making it more compliant over broken patches of tarmac. The 189 mm ground clearance ensures you clear almost every speed breaker without scraping the underbelly. This is one aspect where the Kylaq easily outshines its Korean competitors.

5. SAFETY (Crucial Section)

For an Indian buyer, safety has become the number one priority, and Skoda has built its India 2.0 reputation on this.

The Kylaq comes with Six Airbags (Standard across all variants), which is a commendable move by Skoda and a first in this price bracket. Key safety features include:

• ABS with EBD
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control System (TCS)
• Roll Over Protection
• Hill Hold Control
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Three-Point Seatbelts for All Five Occupants

Global NCAP/BNCAP Rating: Given that its platform siblings—the Kushaq and Slavia—have achieved a fantastic 5-star Global NCAP rating for both adult and child occupants, we can confidently expect the Skoda Kylaq to achieve a similar 5-star BNCAP safety rating when officially tested. The build quality, or thud sound of the doors, certainly feels reassuringly solid.

6. REAL WORLD MILEAGE (The Truth)

Let’s address the elephant in the room. This is a powerful, turbocharged engine, and its efficiency heavily depends on your driving style.

Mileage Metric	1.0L TSI Manual (MT)	1.0L TSI Automatic (AT)
ARAI Claimed Mileage	19.68 kmpl	19.05 kmpl
Real World City Mileage	12.5 – 14.0 kmpl	10.0 – 12.0 kmpl
Real World Highway Mileage	17.0 – 18.5 kmpl	15.5 – 17.0 kmpl

The Real World Truth: The 1.0L TSI can be thirsty in heavy city traffic, especially the Automatic (AT) variant, which struggles to cross the 12 kmpl mark if your commute is bumper-to-bumper. However, on open highways, the engine sips fuel happily. If mileage is your top priority, you will need to drive with a very light foot, particularly in the city.

7. THE COMPETITION (Auto-Selected Rivals)

The Skoda Kylaq enters the arena to face two established titans: the homegrown safety king and the perennial segment leader.

Skoda Kylaq vs Tata Nexon vs Maruti Suzuki Brezza

The Kylaq’s core rivals are the Tata Nexon (The undisputed safety leader and diesel option) and the Maruti Suzuki Brezza (The undisputed sales leader and mileage champion).

Feature	Skoda Kylaq (1.0L TSI)	Tata Nexon (1.2L Turbo Revotron)	Maruti Suzuki Brezza (1.5L K15C)
Engine Power (BHP/Nm)	114 BHP / 178 Nm	120 BHP / 170 Nm	102 BHP / 136.8 Nm
Automatic Type	6-speed Torque Converter (TC)	6-speed AMT	6-speed Torque Converter (TC)
Boot Space	446 Litres (Best in Class)	382 Litres	328 Litres
Top Features	Ventilated Seats, Powered Front Seats, 6 Airbags Std.	ADAS (Select Trims), Ventilated Seats, 5-Star BNCAP	Hybrid Tech, Heads-Up Display, 360-Degree Camera
Ex-Showroom Price (Top-End)	Rs 14.40 Lakh (Prestige AT)	Rs 15.80 Lakh (Fearless+ S Diesel DCA)	Rs 13.01 Lakh (ZXI+ AT Dual Tone)

H3. Winner: Which one provides better Value For Money (VFM)?

• Maruti Brezza: Provides the best Hassle-free Ownership and Fuel Efficiency, thanks to its mild-hybrid system and vast service network. It’s the most reliable choice for a user with high city mileage requirements.
• Tata Nexon: Provides the absolute best Safety (proven 5-star BNCAP/GNCAP) and the option of a punchy Diesel Engine for high-mileage users. Its features, like a 360-degree camera and ADAS, are now very competitive.
• Skoda Kylaq: Provides the best combination of Driving Dynamics, Premium Interior Feel, Engine Power, and Boot Space. It offers a truly European driving experience at a competitive price. For the enthusiast who wants a powerful, spacious, and well-built vehicle, the Kylaq is the clear winner on VFM, especially with 6 Airbags being standard.

8. FINAL VERDICT

Is the Skoda Kylaq worth the price tag? After all the testing and comparisons, my answer is a resounding yes. It has successfully brought the core VAG strengths—a robust chassis, a firecracker of a turbo-petrol engine, and a genuinely premium cabin—into the mass-market segment without cutting major corners on safety. The 446-litre boot and standard 6 airbags are its standout features. It’s a compelling choice for anyone looking to upgrade from a hatchback to a proper European Compact SUV.

Buy it if:

• You prioritize driving dynamics and stability on the highway. The 1.0L TSI is a gem.
• You want the largest, most usable boot space in the sub-4m SUV segment.
• You value standard, top-tier safety (6 Airbags) and a solid build quality above all else.

Skip it if:

• Your daily running is very high and you absolutely need a Diesel or a factory CNG option.
• You prioritize real-world city mileage over performance and need to cross 15 kmpl consistently.
• You want the latest ADAS features.

Score: 9.0/10

---

9. FAQs (People Also Ask)