2025 Skoda Kylaq Spied One Last Time Before November 6 Debut

The sport in sport utility vehicle, however, does not apply. For starters, the spied prototype is equipped with rear drum brakes rather than discs. But more importantly, there is no case for an engine larger than the Volkswagen Group's 1.0-liter TSI three-cylinder.

Zooming in on the rear bumper of the Kylaq reveals a twist-beam axle, which is cheaper to produce and maintain than a multi-link setup. Underpinned by a low-cost derivative of the MQB A0 platform dubbed MQB A0 IN, the Kylaq is joined at the hip to the B-segment Slavia for the Indian market, which replaced the Polo-based Skoda Rapid in 2022.

Applications further include Volkswagen's Polo Sedan, as well as the Volkswagen Taigun subcompact crossover. Pictured with a sunroof and a black shark fin-style antenna, the heavily camouflaged prototype further shows a small rear overhang and an upright rear end.

Although the front overhand is more pronounced, the front end is similarly upright, which perfectly complements the relatively flat roof. Equipped with relatively small rear quarter windows, the Kylaq should receive rear disc brakes for top-of-the-line grades. Flaunting a vertically slatted radiator grille flanked by split headlights, the Kylaq is expected to churn out 85 kilowatts and 178 Newton-meters of twist from the Volkswagen Group's EA211-series 1.0 TSI engine.

In old money, those figures convert to 114 horsepower and 131 pound-feet. Known as 1.0 TFSI in Audi vernacular, the force-fed lump will be offered in both six-speed manual and torque-converter automatic flavors. Had it been the 1.5-liter TSI, a dry-clutch DSG would have been the standard transmission.

However, in order to keep the production costs low and starting prices reasonable, this fellow is not expected to receive the optional 1.5 TSI of the Kushaq and Slavia. Measuring 3,995 millimeters (157.3 inches) in length and 2,566 (101.0) in wheelbase compared to 4,221 (166.2) and 2,651 (104.4) for the Kushaq, the Kylaq has been confirmed with a ground clearance of 189 millimeters (7.4 inches).

Kylaq comes from the Sanskrit word for crystal. Skoda claims that Kylaq has racked up over 800,000 testing kilometers (almost 500,000 miles) in India alone. Skoda Auto enthusiasts from the Old Continent should not look forward to the 2025 model year Kylaq for Europe and the United Kingdom, for this vehicle was developed specifically for India.

Confirmed with over 25 passive and active safety features (think six airbags, traction control, and so forth), the Kylaq will compete against the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Breeza, and Tata Nexon. Prices are believed to kick off at 800,000 rupees or thereabouts, meaning 9,510 dollars at current exchange rates for the B-segment crossover.