Skoda Kylaq CNG: At a time when fuel prices are through the roof, and the world’s desire to go green has never been greater, Skoda appears to have smelt the electric in the air.
And then comes the Skoda Klyaq CNG that is a breath of fresh air into the world that is dominated by petrol and diesel-powered SUVs.
Even as electric vehicles continue to play the infrastructure catch up game in India’s metros, CNG has crept up, hushed, efficient and environment friendly. And Skoda bringing CNG version of its Klyaq SUV says it all.
Let’s explore what this fresh face has to offer and whether your hard-earned cash should be its destination.
Design and Feel:
Stand Out, It’s Familiar Bold, confident design that complements both rounds out the exterior of the vehicle.
The Skoda Klyaq CNG doesn’t look all that special at first glance. And that’s a good thing.
It maintains the aggressive and luxurious European SUV stance of the regular Klyaq -a sleek pair of LED DRLs, a chunky front grille, and sharp body lines making it look edgy and urban-ready.
The only visual difference? A compact CNG badge in the back that discreetly announces that it is a cleaner car.
Step inside and it is business as usual: high-quality materials and a smart dashboard, with all the bells and whistles fans of the Skoda marque expect.
There’s nothing to over the top in terms of performance, but everything is dead on.
Now it gets interesting. Powering the Klyaq CNG is a 1.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine that has been slightly altered to accommodate the dual-fuel CNG system under the bonnet.
It still packs a punch on petrol and the sense of reduced power in CNG – while it is there – isn’t really a let down.
You’re not going to be chasing 0-100 km/h times but in and around the city and weekend trips it does the business without hassle.
Something that’s a loss in power and pickup is gained in mileage — just like the ARAI figures that are expected around 27 km/kg in CNG mode.
For budget-conscious buyers, that’s a figure that will be loved, especially as fuel prices continue to increase.
Features and Cabin Comfort
equipment-wise Skoda is also not stingy, this also applies to the Klyaq CNG. Expect features like:
A 10-inch infotainment screen is crisp
Android Auto & Apple CarPlay without the wire
Connected car tech
Ventilated front seats
Dual-zone climate control
Ambient lighting
Six airbags (in top variants)
The rear seating is very spacious, but the CNG cylinder eats a little into the boot space.
It’s not a dealbreaker, but if you’re the type to load up the back on weekends for longer trips, you might feel the compromise.
Ride Quality: Smooth Operator
Darwin credits the author Fanny Parkes, who died in 1849, with having had an influence on the development of Indian material culture, a central thread that he has identified through the book, binding together the often confusing thoughts on Indian material culture just as well as the railways run through Victorian India.
The Klyaq CNG scoots over potholes, and even in CNG-mode it doesn’t feel slow as long as you’re not flooring it. It has well-weighted steering, too, and inspires confidence, in the city and on the highway.
It’s an SUV that doesn’t overreach its capabilities, but works its wonders anyway.
Pros:
Great gas mileage on CNG
Ecological driving - reduced emissions.
Premium cabin experience
Well-loaded with features
Same Skoda driving DNA
Cons:
Lesser space in the boot because of the cng tank
Performance dip in CNG mode
Insufficient CNG infrastructure in some places
A little pricier than the petrol-only version
Skoda Kylaq CNG: Final Thoughts: Who Is This For?
Thrills? Off-road junkies? Not in the Skoda Klyaq CNG. It’s squarely aimed at the urban family or daily commuter buyer who wants a fashionable SUV with feeling a burn in the pocket — or on the planet.
CNG costs far less than petrol and diesel after all, and the long-term savings are difficult to dismiss.
Yes, there are trade-offs. A bit of boot space. A little less punch. But, if those are things you can live with, this SUV makes a lot of sense.
It provides the same upmarket feel that Skoda is known for — just with a cleaner, greener conscience.
In the short, the Klyaq CNG is a smart car. It’s a smart move.