Skoda Kylaq vs the competition: Which compact SUV will you choose?

Battle of the sub 4m-SUVs: Skoda Kylaq vs Kia Syros vs Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Tata Nexon vs Hyundai Venue vs Others

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Skoda Kylaq

What you’ll like:

• A well-rounded Compact SUV that gives you mini-Kushaq vibes. Solid build too
• Good-looking cabin with supportive seats, sorted ergonomics and decent space
• 114 BHP, 1.0L TSI engine with 6MT or 6AT offers peppy performance
• Sorted suspension delivers a balanced ride & handling package
• 446 litres of boot space (boot floor to roof) is sufficiently sized for a family’s weekend getaway
• 5-star BNCAP safety rating! Equipped with 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• Feature list includes ventilated front seats with 6-way electric adjustment, automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting and a sunroof

What you won’t:

• Just one engine on offer. No diesel, no CNG, no electric, no 1.5L petrol like the Kushaq
• Interior quality doesn’t feel up to old-school Skoda standards
• Mediocre 4 speaker + 2 tweeter sound system. Competition offers a better sound experience
• Missing some features like the 360-degree view camera, subwoofer, driving modes, ADAS…
• Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 adults onboard
• Skoda’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss. The brand’s long-term reliability can be patchy as well

First Drive Review

Kia syros

What you’ll like:

• A well-engineered all-rounder with lots of tricks up its sleeve
• Radical styling makes it stand out in a crowd
• Has a sturdy build and excellent fit & finish
• Available with turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines, both offering optional ATs
• Mature on-road behaviour, including at highway speeds. Good brakes as well
• Excellent use of interior space with comfortable seating for 4 adults and useful storage areas. Rear seat space is fantastic! Healthy 390-465 litres of boot space
• Loaded to the gills with features such as the panoramic sunroof, 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, sliding & reclining rear seats, ventilated front & rear seats, sunshades, driving & traction modes, paddle shifters, 30-inch (!!!) trinity panoramic display panel, all windows up/down through smartkey, remote engine start, electronic parking brake with auto hold, extendable sunvisors, air purifier, dashcam with dual camera and more
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ADAS Level 2, ESC, HSA, 360-degree camera, TPMS etc.

What you won’t:

• Funky styling isn’t to everyone’s taste. You’ll either love it or hate it
• Firm suspension. Liveable, but bad roads will bother you (especially on 17″ wheel variants)
• Back seat’s width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
• Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
• Buzz felt on idling in the cabin (1.5L diesel). Diesel’s engine noise could be better controlled too
• Output from the Harman-Kardon sound system is just average
• Have to mention the misses (thinner spare tyre on top trims, rain-sensing wipers…)
• Cheaper & simpler 1.5L naturally-aspirated petrol isn’t on offer (nor is its butter-smooth CVT)

First Drive Review

Mahindra XUV 3XO

What you’ll like:

• A truly premium crossover. Nice build, quality & refinement levels
• Cabin has enough space for 5. Quality-wise, the interior is more like a Hyundai
• Fantastic petrol & diesel engine line-up; they offer fast performance & good driveability
• Finally gets a smooth torque converter automatic with the turbo-petrol engines
• Wide variant spread ensures there’s something for everyone
• A compliant ride with sorted road manners
• 5-star NCAP rating & kit. Level 2 ADAS, 6 airbags, ESP, ABS, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS, seatbelt reminders for all & more
• Loaded to the gills with equipment (360-degree camera, big sunroof, drive modes, Harman Kardon audio system, wireless smartphone connectivity, auto headlamps & wipers etc.)

What you won’t:

• The new edgy & outlandish design may not be to everyone’s liking. Some love it, some don’t. It is very polarizing
• Top-end variants are expensive. Not overpriced, but definitely higher than expected
• 295-liter boot is the smallest in the segment. There are cheaper hatchbacks that have a larger boot
• No proper diesel automatic option, just a jerky AMT which has no place in a premium crossover
• Light & disconnected steering is the biggest drawback in a competent handling package
• Mahindra’s after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• Some important features missing (ventilated seats, parcel tray, full-sized spare wheel, paddle shifters etc.)

First Drive Review

AMT Review

Tata Nexon

Review Link

Hyundai Venue

What you’ll like:

• A mini-creda in almost every way! Same formula, in a smaller package
• Precise build & quality (including interiors) are easily among the segment best
• Competent engines mated to slick gearboxes
• Fast shifting dual-clutch Automatic gearbox available
• Balanced road manners. Very easy to drive as well
• Loaded to the gills with equipment (paddle shifters, drive modes, sunroof, BlueLink telematics, cabin air purifier etc.)
• Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, BAS, ESP, HSA, ISOFIX and more
• Hyundai’s competent after-sales & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won’t:

• Diminutive street presence. Looks more hatchback than SUV from some angles, especially the rear
• Strictly a 4-seater; the rear bench has very awkward seating for the middle occupant
• Missing kit (auto wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, steering reach adjustment…)
• Long term reliability of the DCT is a concern
• Engine noise is very prominent, more so in Sport mode
• AT only on the petrol, not the diesel. Kia Sonet gets a Diesel AT

Review Link

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

What you’ll like:

• Good-looking Compact SUV with improved road presence & mass appeal
• Well-rounded product. Takes a successful formula and improves upon it
• A competent BS6 petrol with Smart Hybrid tech and excellent fuel efficiency
• Smooth 6-speed torque-converter AT comes with paddle shifters
• Well-mannered suspension setup riding on 16-inch wheels and 215/60 section tyres
• Decent cabin space for a sub-4 meter car. Lots of storage & a powerful air-con too
• Now gets a sunroof, 360-degree camera, head-up display, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, ambient lighting, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, connected car features etc
• Long feature list includes dual projector LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs & foglamps, auto-dimming IRVM, cruise control and a 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, hill-hold assist and ISOFIX. Built on the same platform as the outgoing car, which had received a 4-star GNCAP safety rating
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won’t:

• Feels more like a significant facelift rather than an all-new product
• No diesel option like its rivals!
• 1.5L petrol engine lacks outright grunt. Tuned for fuel-efficiency and suitable for relaxed cruising only
• Expensive! AT variants are priced higher than competitor turbo-petrols with more advanced transmissions
• AT option commands a stiff Rs. 1.5 lakh ex-showroom premium!
• Interior quality and fit & finish are underwhelming for the price. The game has moved on
• Short gearing of the 5-speed MT and lack of 6th cog results in an unusually busy engine at 100-120 km/h
• 328-litre boot is one of the smallest in the segment
• Some missing features like ventilated seats, leather upholstery, TPMS, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensors

Review Link

Let Sonet be

Facelift Review

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

What you’ll like:

• Smart looking crossover with sharp & attractive styling
• Feels better built than some other Maruti cars
• 1.0L Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine is quick and has minimal turbo lag. Driveability is satisfactory
• Smart Hybrid system ensures excellent fuel efficiency. ARAI = 20.01 to 22.89 km/l
• Nicely tuned suspension glides over small bumps, potholes and road imperfections
• User-friendly cabin with loads of space! Can easily seat 5 adults (unlike many competitors)
• Long feature list includes LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs, cruise control, 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system, 360-degree camera, head-up display, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, footwell lighting, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, connected car features etc
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, ESP, traction control, hill-hold assist and ISOFIX
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won’t:

• On the inside, it’s almost identical to the regular Baleno. Differentiation should’ve been more
• Quality of some plastic parts and fabric upholstery is mediocre
• 1.0L turbo-petrol although quick, is not exciting enough for enthusiasts
• 308-litre boot is among the smallest in the segment
• No diesel option like some rivals
• Rear seat’s under-thigh support is lacking for taller passengers
• A few missing features like sunroof, TPMS, rear armrest, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensors
• Lesser height means, despite the smart styling, it doesn’t have the road presence of typical crossovers

Review Link

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Launch Discussion

Nissan Magnite

What you’ll like:

• The Magnite looks really good…that handsome face is a head-turner
• Sheer value-for-money pricing. Turbo-petrol with a proper AT under 10 lakhs!
• Peppy performance from the Magnite’s 1.0L turbo-petrol engine
• Smooth well-tuned CVT in a sea of jerky AMTs. Has Sport and L modes too
• Healthy legroom for rear passengers. Space packaging is brilliant
• Impressive kit (cruise control, LED headlamps, rear air-con vents, 360-degree camera, wireless charger, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay)
• 205 mm of ground clearance is more than enough for any kind of bad roads
• Safety kit includes ESP, TPMS, ABS, EBD & hill start assist
• Base variant also gets reasonable kit, including a rear wiper. It’s not poverty-spec

What you won’t:

• Stiff & basic ride quality. You feel each and everything on the road
• The Magnite is built to a cost and it does show, especially in the budget-grade cabin
• Lower variants’ 1.0L naturally-aspirated petrol is a boring, unimpressive engine
• Clunky, firm MT gearshift & a clutch pedal that has more weight than it should
• No diesel option available on the Nissan Magnite
• Cabin is narrower than some competitors. Narrow width makes it best for 4 adults
• Missing features such as an auto dimming IRVM, full-size spare tyre…
• Doesn’t have the finesse or quality of premium crossovers like the Syros, Kylaq, XUV 3XO, Sonet etc.
• Nissan’s tiny dealership network & lousy after-sales quality

Review Link

Renault Kiger

Renault Kiger 1.0L Turbo-petrol Driving Report

Ownership Review

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