Skoda has made a foray into the fast-growing sub-4 metre compact SUV space with the Kylaq. While this latest offering from Skoda priced under Rs 800,000 is packed with segment staples like sunroof, keyless entry, automatic climate control and many others, it does not feature ADAS. Is it a compromise? Well, Skoda doesn’t agree. They believe even without ADAS, the Kylaq is an attractive option.
Speaking to Financial Express Online, Petr Janeba, Skoda India Brand Director explained that the Kylaq is inspired by the Kushaq and shares many features with it while missing out some that the Kushaq doesn’t. However, Janeba believes that the Kylaq is still a compelling buy, “Even without ADAS, this car is quite attractive. You cannot have everything, and we are focussing on creating Kylaq as an attractive price-value proposition, which will make it a compelling buy.”
They expect the Kylaq to take pole position in driving Skoda sales to 100,000 units by 2026. Currently Skoda’s yearly sales are below the 50,000 units mark. Between 2022 to 2023, the sales have seen significant momentum and the company is betting big on the newly launched Kylaq to help double the sales in two years.
Kushaq facelift next year to feature ADAS
Skoda is however not completely ruling out ADAS. They are keen about introducing it in cars in the higher price bracket first. “We would bring ADAS gradually starting with facelifts for the higher-end cars. So when the Kushaq Facelift will be introduced next year, it will feature ADAS and this car will also get it one day but higher-end cars will get it first,” added Janeba.
The Kushaq is in the higher price bracket, above Rs 10 Lakh. It is also a 5-seater mid-size SUV packed with two-petrol engine options of 1 litre and 1.5 litres. A facelift version is expected in the first half of next year.
How important is ADAS on Indian roads?
ADAS or Advanced Driver Assistance System essentially refers to use of connected tech and cameras and sensors to prevent accidents and improve driver safety along with their comfort while cutting down stress. There could be both passive and active components that help in cutting down scope of human error.
Speaking specifically in the Indian context, Janeba highlighted that, “Honestly, we do not believe it’s hundred percent the feature that will ensure safety, because it often depends on how the cars are being used. Especially in big cities, it’s sometimes very difficult for customers to get the real benefit of ADAS. But on the highway, it can be important to support safety.”
Given the road infrastructure in India, many of the features need to be recalibrated. Features like emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, warning for shifting lanes, and lane keep assist are all geared towards boosting driver safety but often on crowded Indian city roads, given the number of users and plethora of those who do not follow rules, ADAS is not very effective.