CNG is emerging to be a popular powertrain option if done right. Only a few OEMs have ventured into factory-fitted CNG variants and these include Maruti Suzuki, Tata and Hyundai. Then there are other brands that offer CNG option via Government approved retrofit kits fitted at the dealer level.
Citroen, Renault and Nissan are some OEMs who have taken this route. Now, Skoda Auto India might take on a similar strategy with its Kylaq B SUV in an attempt to broaden its appeal and boost sales and market share. Let’s take a closer look.
Skoda Kylaq CNG
As per a recent report, Skoda Auto India seems to be exploring CNG powertrain options with its entry-level Kylaq SUV. CNG with Skoda is nothing new as the company explored CNG possibilities with the now discontinued Rapid sedan, which did not materialise. Kylaq will reportedly be Skoda’s first CNG offering in India after 25 years of its presence in the market.
Unlike rival OEMs offering factory-fitted CNG options, Skoda might take a similar approach as Citroen, Renault and Nissan and offer dealer-level retrofit kits. These will be designed and formulated by working with third party suppliers in the CNG realm. Also, these retrofit kits will be Government approved and come with some sort of warranty.
Skoda seems to be further capitalizing the momentum Kylaq has generated for them. In that regard, Skoda recently introduced new Classic+, Signature+ and Prestige+ trims with Kylaq SUV and even announced a Sportline trim as well. Now, with CNG option, Kylaq will not only appeal to performance enthusiasts, but everyday users too.
Once the evaluation is complete, Skoda Kylaq CNG may be offered exclusively with 1.0L TSI Manual powertrain combination to reduce complexities and costs. When run on CNG, there will be a slight drop in performance. This 1.0L TSI engine is rated to develop up to 115 bhp of peak power and 178 Nm of peak torque.
What to expect?
Where pricing is concerned, Skoda Kylaq CNG will cost more, probably around Rs 1 lakh more than its standard counterpart on which it will be based. This kit is likely to consist a single-cylinder implementation and not dual-cylinder, like Tata and Hyundai does. If so, there will be precious boot space lost, but there will be a gain in fuel efficiency.
A launch timeline is still not revealed. However, festive season of 2026 might be a good time. More details about other modifications in the cabin to show CNG stats, CNG filler positioning will be revealed at a later date.
