Since the Kylaq has been extensively reviewed by now, adding my experience of installing a new Pioneer infotainment unit and dash cam
BHPian BSASLR recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Pioneer VREC-Z820DC Dash cam installation:
Yes, the Dashcamera can be powered by both the Rear USB ports. 12V Cigarette lighter is always on and if I forget to unplug the dash camera I risk draining my battery. I have a Pioneer VREC-Z820DC 8MP UHD 4K (3840 x 2160)Video resolution hence if this works others that draw lesser power will work. The USB cable is routed to the rear port and I tested them and they work fine. A big relief and one less thing to worry abut unplugging the 12V. Note the Kylaq Signature variant does not get front USB ports.
I had budgeted 15K for the dash and this came for 14K at the Pioneer dealer
Pioneer DMH 6650BT infotainment system
The stock Skoda head unit in the Signature variant has a very small screen which is not very good looking. Even if a camera could be connected (which seems unlikely), the display would still be too small to be useful.
I was never going to opt for an unreliable aftermarket Android unit, as many of them can’t handle the heat and vibrations in our environment. My options were limited to non-Android models from Blaupunkt or Pioneer, since Sony wasn’t compatible. Pioneer came to around 25K
Good:
No Wire Cutting: The installation was done with a coupler-to-coupler-to-coupler connection—completely plug-and-play. It was handled by one of the most experienced local installers, who has worked on multiple Skoda, Toyota and other vehicles.
Stable Operation: No issues like freezing or connectivity loss. When I later took the car to the service center for mud flaps, my phone connected and started playing music the moment the engine was turned on—even while I was in the reception area 30 feet away.
Radio: The Skoda infotainment system used to automatically turn on the radio every time I started the car, and I couldn’t disable it. The Pioneer has no such issue. Map display quality is also excellent.
Music: I initially planned to add a Sony subwoofer, but after hearing the sound through the stock speakers with the Pioneer, I didn’t feel the need, nor the need for damping. If the Skoda unit scores a 6/10 in sound, this Pioneer is a solid 9/10.
Camera Setup: I installed both Front and rear Blaupunkt cameras. Image clarity is good —even in low light—and the feed is displayed full screen. The rear camera is mounted above the number plate where higher variants get it (don’t ask how). For touch-ups, a Lava Blue paint liner pen from Amazon helped.
Front Camera: Each camera was just above 2K and I felt the camera was better than the almost 11K parking sensor that Skoda sells with bumper and dash both drilled and without integration to the head unit. did not opt for 360 camera as quality was not worth it I am looking for a cover to protect the front camera during the rain any suggestion is appreciated?
USB Output: The USB output also was given in the phone placement area near the gear lever and not in the glove box[/i]
What Could Be Better:
Firmware Limitation: While the Pioneer dashcam updated its firmware immediately, the head unit hasn’t received any updates. During installation, it only listed “Kylaq” and “Slavia” under car names, which is likely why I can’t receive calls using the steering controls. Though it display in big on screen and it’s not a issue
Steering Control Compatibility: While audio controls, voice commands, and mute all work perfectly from the steering wheel, call receive doesn’t.
If anyone finds a fix, please let me know.
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