Skoda Kylaq vs Kia Syros: German Sophistication Or Korean Comfort?

The SUV fever is currently at its highest level in the nation. Regardless of your budget, you can easily get an SUV. This is a good trend for consumers because they get to own their favourite car without burning a hole in their wallets. It is also a great opportunity for the brands and that’s why they do not want to miss out. To utilise this trend, most brands operating in India have launched SUVs of all kinds.

Today, we will compare two of the hottest players in this segment to see which subcompact SUV you should buy. One is the newly launched Korean beauty, the Kia Syros, and the other is the smallest German beast, the Skoda Kylaq. 

The Kylaq is an entry-level SUV from Skoda whereas the Syros sits slightly above the entry-level Sonet from the Kia’s SUV lineup. Both these cars are recent launches and they cross each other’s path at many points due to similar pricing. That is why we have decided to put these two against each other and see which is the best option for you.

Skoda Kylaq vs Kia Syros

Build and design

The Skoda Kylaq is a downscaled version of the Skoda Kushaq. Its best feature is that it borrows its engine and chassis from the Kushaq. However, since the Kylaq is built for the sub-four-metre segment, its length and wheelbase are shorter than those of the Kushaq.

The Kia Syros is built on the K1 platform, which underpins popular cars like the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios and Hyundai Exter. However, the platform has been heavily modified to maximise utilisation of the space.

In my opinion, both the cars are nicely designed. The Skoda Kylaq follows its conventional brand design language. On the other hand, the Kia Syros has a bold radical design that has been drawing polarising opinions ever since its inception. 

While the length of both cars is 3995mm, the Kia Syros is wider and taller than the Kylaq, which is evident in its superior cabin space. The car has a boxy tallboy design which makes people draw comparisons with WagonR but this comparison is only worth a few laughs on social media. In reality, there is nothing to compare in both cars, the Syros is miles ahead.

Both the cars are equipped with modern aids such as 17-inch alloy wheels in their top variants. One important thing here is that Syros is equipped with disc variants on all four wheels whereas the Kylaq gets discs on the front and drum brakes on the rear wheels. So the braking performance may be slightly superior on the Syros.

Interior and features 

When you step inside, the Kia Syros clearly feels much more premium than the Skoda Kylaq. Kia has loaded the Syros with so much of modern features that it can put some of the cars from a segment above to shame. The car boasts a 30-inch trinity display panel which consists of twin 12.3-inch screens for infotainment and instrumentation; it also gets a 5-inch screen for HVAC controls. Other than that, the Syros also has the upper hand with its sliding, reclining and ventilated rear seats which is unavailable in any other car of this segment. 

Kylaq’s interior is like any other Skoda; it looks simple, elegant and classy. It is equipped with a 10.1-inch infotainment and an 8-inch instrumentation screen, which is not as fancy as the Syros but it looks good. 

Both cars are loaded with standard features such as wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, single-zone AC, cruise control and ambient lights. But, the Kylaq misses out on features like a 360-degree camera, a panoramic sunroof (it has a single pane sunroof) and ADAS, all of which are present on the Syros. 

Performance

The Skoda Kylaq is offered with a single drivetrain, the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine which is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic. This engine churns out 115 bhp and 178 Nm of peak torque. These are impressive figures for a car in this segment and these combined with the dynamic chassis of the Kushaq make the Kylaq a driver’s delight.

The Syron has been launched with two engine options: a 1.5-litre diesel and a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. The petrol is offered with a 7-speed DCT and diesel offers a 6-speed torque converter and both variants have a 6-speed manual option. 

The diesel engine on the Syros is a plus point which is much more fun to drive and efficient. However, since the Kylaq is not offered in diesel, we can not compare its power figures. Hence we will focus on the petrol Syros’s performance, which churns out 118 bhp and 172 Nm of peak torque. These on-paper figures are slightly higher than the Kylaq, and if you have the budget, the diesel is a tried and tested no-brainer. 

Pricing and conclusion

If you want a car that is loaded with all the modern bells and whistles, then the Kia Syros is your answer. 

Another important factor here is the pricing of both cars. The Skoda Kylaq starts at INR 7.89 lakh and goes up to INR 14.4 lakh. The Kia Syros, on the other hand, starts at INR 9 lakh and goes up to INR 16.8 for petrol and it starts at INR 11 lakh and goes up to INR 17.8 lakh for diesel. 

The Kia Syros is a bit more expensive than the Kylaq but it justifies its higher price with many segment-first features and a distinct design. The availability of diesel also widens the range of potential buyers. 

If you want a car with a conventional design that also focuses more on the driving pleasure than the cabin experience, then you can opt for the Skoda Kylaq. Otherwise, the Kia Syros is a better car in our opinion. It has a fresh design and is loaded with features as well as a much more comfortable cabin.