Skoda Kylaq long term review | 1,600km report

The Skoda Kylaq continues to impress with its engaging turbo-petrol engine, sharp handling and fun-to-drive character, though city drivability and ride comfort leave room for improvement.

Model: Prestige+ MT

Test started: July 2026/2,198km
Current ODO reading: 3,807km
Mileage this month: 1,609km
Efficiency: 12.8kmpl

It is our second month with the Kylaq, and this has become one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve spent time with recently. The 1.0 TSI is a gem of a motor, incredibly smooth, doesn’t make undesirable sounds like typical 3-cyls do, and most importantly, allows one to really have fun. It’s got a very strong midrange, but the real boost comes at the top, and one can really pace the Kylaq, and triple-digit speeds are easy to maintain. The chassis is a thing of beauty, it is taut, and compact, and is paired to a steering that does my bidding without ever hesitating. You feel one with the Kylaq, the steering is brilliant, and the Kylaq’s ability to follow steering inputs is unrivaled, it can take corners sticking to the line without complaining, it makes one so confident that even unlawful speeds feel normal. Then there is the 6-speed manual, engaging, quick, but could’ve done with slightly shorter throws. The ratios work well for enthusiastic driving, but get caught in traffic or even city speeds, and the lack of a longer second gear is irritating, but the long sixth gear keeps the Kylaq efficient at higher speeds. But when it comes to city driving, the lack of low-end grunt makes the Kylaq a bit of a dud, be in a higher gear, and the engine takes its own time to build boost, mostly prompting one to downshift immediately than wait for acceleration. Ride quality though is not special, at low speeds, one can feel every single bit of the surface, and at higher speeds the occasional thuds are not surprising, but this stiffness is rewarding when one has empty roads to enjoy, and then all that discomfort starts making a lot of sense.

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