Czech In

The bustling compact sport utility vehicle SUV) segment has had a notable name missing until now. Czech major Skoda Auto have readied their new sub-four-metre offering and we drove a pre-production camouflaged model at a private event in Coimbatore. Here is what to expect

- Jim Gorde

THE COMPACT SUV segment has a commanding market share in India-almost a third of the cars sold of late are sub-four-metre SUV-styled vehicles. However, there was one big name missing from the arena: Škoda. And they are set to address this bustling segment with their new offering, the Kylaq.

The name comes from the winner of a naming contest. The rules were simplestart with K and end with Q-a la Kushaq, Kodiaq, Karoq, Kamiq, Yeti, et cetera. That apart, the Kylaq is their first small "Aoo" SUV based on the formidable MQB platform which underpins major VW Group cars today, especially the ones made here in India at Chakan, near Pune.

Cost-efficient, robust, and dependable? That's what they all are. And fun! So, does the formula stay put? In a word, yes. The Škoda Kylaq is all of those things and it is lighter, lower, and more engaging than most others in the segment it is targeting. It seems to be a scaled-down Kushaq; a rather excellent thing. It measures 3,995 millimetres long and has a wheelbase measuring 2,566 mm-85 mm less than the Kushaq's. The width was not disclosed but we were told it was almost identical if not the same as the Kushaq's. The height wasn't mentioned as well. This prototype ran blacked-out 17inch wheels with 205/55 rubber.