Skoda has finally entered the hugely competitive compact SUV segment with the launch of the Kylaq today. It is a very important model for the brand, one with which the company hopes it will be able to take its annual sales in the country up to 1,00,000 units. To that end, the Kylaq not only has an aggressive starting price of Rs 7.49 lakh, but at Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-showroom), even the top-spec variant is priced competitively right at par with its rivals.
This is pretty unusual of Skoda who is typically known to price its model at a slight premium over its rivals. Speaking to Autocar India, Petr Janeba, brand director Skoda Auto India, said, “It is the first Skoda which we are proud to have rightly priced in the market.”
Skoda Kylaq trim and equipment packaging
Janeba explained that the Kylaq’s trim and equipment packaging has been crucial in achieving this price point. The base Classic trim covers all the essentials such as like six airbags, ESC, full LED lighting, electric adjust for the wing mirrors, 4 speakers and three-point seatbelts and head restraints for all five seats. The only necessary feature missing is an infotainment system.
Janeba explains, “The only thing missing is an infotainment system, but that’s missing [in the base trim] in all our rivals as well. We always prefer delivering a full car, but this way important for the pricing. It, however, has all the connections, antennas and speakers, so customers can fit their desired aftermarket screens or they can even have a Skoda system as an accessory. This is the only thing which a customer needs to get additionally over the full car that we are delivering”
Similarly, features like the sunroof, powered driver’s seat with ventilation, paddle shifters for the AT gearbox, large 17-inch alloy wheels and ambient lighting are limited to the top-spec Prestige variant, which is again keeping in line with the targeted audience of the top-spec variant.
“We kept some features like the electric sunroof limited to just the top trim. I understand that some manufacturers are offering the sunroof much earlier in their trim lineup, but for now, we want to keep it in the highest version only. Maybe we will bring it down at a later point. And we believe the Prestige will be highest selling variant mostly in the metro cities. It comes with the best of what we have to offer,” said Janeba.
Skoda Kylaq colours and pricing
What Skoda has done very uniquely with the Kylaq is how the colour options are spread out across the line-up. The base Classic trim only gets a few basic colours, with the entire palette being available from the Signature trim onwards. However, some of these colours will have to be optionally availed for a price of Rs 9,000. It is only on the top-spec Prestige trim all colours are available as standard. This, again, has been done to price the mid-spec trims competitively, allowing customers to spec their car as desired by paying extra.
“In order to make the Prestige buyer feel special, who is paying the most money for the car, we have kept all the colours free in the top-spec trim. However, we are charging a premium of Rs 9,000 from the Signature trim onwards for a few specific colours. It will keep these colours which are in more demand exclusive to people who are willing to pay for it. That way people can have their car exactly as they would like to have it. I think Rs 9,000 for a colour also isn’t a very big premium.”
Skoda Kylaq powertrain strategy
On the powertrain front, Skoda is offering the Kylaq with just a sole 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with either manual or automatic gearboxes. This appears like a limitation for the Kylaq because some rivals not only offer multiple petrol engine options, but even diesel and CNG powertrain options. Skoda, however, believes that the Kylaq with a turbo-petrol engine is priced competitively against equivalent turbo-petrol variants of rivals, while also making performance accessible at the lower end.
“One engine across the range could look like there is nothing better for customers at the top end, but looking at this the other way round, even buyers of the lower trims will be able to enjoy performance of the turbo-petrol motor. It is also very reliable and fuel efficient, which customers will appreciate,” said Janeba.
“We tried to over deliver at the lower end with the engine and features, democratizing it for customers who so far couldn’t enjoy this at this price point,” elaborated Janeba.
Also See:
