Kylaq Is The Name Of Skoda’s Maruti Brezza Challenging Sub-4 Meter Compact SUV [Video]
Czech car maker Skoda has just announced that it’s first sub-4 meter compact SUV will be called the Kylaq, pronounced Kai-lak. The Skoda Kylaq will take on the likes of the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Kia Seltos, Tata Nexon, Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger and the Mahindra XUV 3XO in the hotly competitive sub-4 meter compact SUV segment. The official launch is slated for 2025. Meanwhile, here’s an official video that Skoda India has released about the Kylaq’s name. The name means Crystal in Sanskrit.
The Kylaq will have a high amount of localization, and will be built in India, at the Skoda-Volkswagen factory in Chakan, off Pune. The new sub-4 meter Skoda Kylaq compact SUV will make its official debut next year, following which it will go on sale in the Indian market. Skoda is also planning to export the Kylaq from India.
At a future date, a badge-engineered version of the Skoda Kylaq is likely to be sold by Volkswagen India as well. While Volkswagen has been tightlipped about badge-engineering the Kylaq, the possibility of this happening is very high.
The Skoda Kylaq, and the Volkswagen-badged version, will be entry level offerings from the European brands in India as both brands now seek to move completely away from hatchbacks in the entry-level budget segments.
The Kylaq compact SUV is expected to use the 1 liter-3 cylinder TSI turbo petrol engine that’s already on offer in multiple Skoda cars including the Kushaq mid-size SUV and the Slavia full-size C-Segment sedan.
The same engine’s offered on the Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus as well. On the Kylaq, this engine is likely to make 120 PS-170 Nm. A front wheel drive layout, monocoque body, 6 speed manual and torque converter automatic gearboxes are likely to be some of the key features of the Skoda Kylaq.
Traditional attributes associated with Skoda cars – sturdy build quality, balanced ride and handling, feature-rich interiors and strong engine performance are likely to be carried over to the Kylaq. The new compact SUV is also expected to have an electric sibling. In fact, the European version of the Kylaq is called the Epiq, and is an electric crossover. It is expected to make an official debut later this year in Europe – Skoda’s home market.
Coming back to the Indian model, the Skoda Kylaq has already been seen testing on Indian roads numerous times over the past 6 months or so. In the coming months, expect Skoda to release a flurry of teasers in the run up to launch. Uncamouflaged versions of the Kylaq are also likely to be spotted.
The Kylaq is a very important car for Skoda’s Indian operations as it will 1. Help the automaker utilize its factory capacity to the fullest 2. It will be a big volume offering from the Czech brand, and is expected to more than double Skoda’s sales volumes in India and 3. It’s expected to leverage India’s status as a high quality, low cost manufacturing destination for exports.
Clearly, a lot is riding on the Kylaq, and as one of the latest entrants in the sub-4 meter compact SUV space, it needs to have significant improvements over incumbents to make a real dent in the market. Will Skoda rise up to the occasion and deliver? Only time can tell.