[Aditya]

At a small course at Mandwa, Alibaug, Skoda demonstrated the acceleration, braking and capabilities of the Kylaq, Kushaq and Slavia. The course consisted of a short straight where one could accelerate hard, and a hard braking zone immediately after that. Then, one had to enter a slalom run followed by a moose test and a handling test:




After a round with an instructor, I had a chance to have a go in the Kylaq and then, the Kushaq or Slavia (depending on availability):


The Kylaq is powered by the 114 BHP, 1.0 TSI, 3-cylinder engine. This car was mated to a 6-speed torque converter AT. Here it is being launched:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18RhyX9bKQk

Braking and coming to a halt from ~45-50 km/h was very easy. Next up was the slalom. This was the first time I was driving a Kylaq, and I was pleasantly surprised by its composure:


It is small and very chuckable:


Body roll is very well controlled:




The car breezed through the moose test, without any effort:




The handling test at the end involved zig-zagging between cones and that too was handled with ease:




The turn-in is sharp and the steering feels direct:




Obviously, the speeds on this short course were not high, but still, this feels like one of the better drivers' cars in the sub-4m SUV segment on sale at the moment:


Next, I had a go in the Kushaq. This one had the 1.5 TSI powerplant producing 148 BHP, paired with the 7-speed DSG automatic. Unlike the Kylaq, we didn't launch this one:


Despite, not getting disc brakes at the rear, the Kushaq's braking is impressive:


Through the slalom, the Kushaq is just not as sharp as the Kylaq:


While it can manage such a course easily, it feels softer:


Body roll is more pronounced:




The Kushaq still has pretty good composure, and can change direction pretty well:




The moose test was done with ease:


The steering feels pretty direct and once you get used to the body roll, you can start pushing it in corners:






As mentioned earlier, there was a Slavia at the track as well. Like the Kushaq, it had a 1.5 TSI engine with a DSG transmission. However, I did not get a chance to drive it. It looked fantastic in this Monte Carlo trim. Here it is going through the acceleration and braking tests:




Looked very controlled through the slalom...








...and moose tests:






Disclaimer: Skoda invited Team-BHP for this event. They covered all the travel expenses.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[Kickdown]

It's great to see Skoda actively showcasing its unique selling points to customers. These tests reaffirm that their cars are not only the safest in their respective segments but also excel in handling.

As an owner of a Skoda Slavia (1.5 DSG) with nearly 5,000 km on the odometer, I can personally vouch for its highway stability and unwavering confidence even at triple-digit speeds. Add to that its impressive braking performance—despite the rear drums—and it’s evident that this is a well-engineered machine.

Now, the onus is on Skoda and its dealers to complement this excellence with honest and dependable after-sales service.

[carhead]

Originally Posted by Aditya

Obviously, the speeds on this short course were not high, but still, this feels like one of the better drivers' cars in the sub-4m SUV segment on sale at the moment:

Query to fellow BHPians- which other car in this segment is a better drivers car?

Originally Posted by Aditya

Despite, not getting disc brakes at the rear, the Kushaq's braking is impressive:

Is Kushaqs braking better than Kylaq? Being a heavier & slightly larger car the momentum would be more than Kylaq and maybe tougher to stop?

Originally Posted by Aditya

While it can manage such a course easily, it feels softer:

Isn't the Kylaq chassis more rigid v/s Kushaq? If so, wouldn't this enable softer springs and thus a plusher ride?

Originally Posted by Aditya

Like the Kushaq, it had a 1.5 TSI engine with a DSG transmission.

1 Did you find the 1 L engine - AT combo better in any way compared to the higher segment 1/5 L -DSG combo?
2 In terms of insulation / NVH was there any difference?

Thanks for a great report on the dynamics!