Skoda cars in India (8)

Autocar India

•34m

Get the Skoda Slavia 1.0 automatic. Its 6-speed auto is the smoothest in this price band, it has the best front seat space and headroom for tall drivers, and it’s genuinely nice to drive without feeling tired in the city.At 6'1", you will sit comfortably with a relaxed knee angle and good visibility, and the steering and pedal position suit long legs. The engine is quiet in traffic, but has enough pull for quick overtakes on the highway. Ride is absorbent, so bad patches will not beat you up, and the boot is huge for weekend trips. Expect roughly 12-14kpl in mixed use.The only catch is the lower automatic trims are simpler inside and you may have to stretch slightly on-road beyond Rs. 15 lakh depending on your city. If you can, go one trim up for better kit. Also in just about two to three months, Skoda will release an updated version so if you can wait, we would recommend you do so.

Skoda Slavia

Autocar India

•1d

Skoda Kylaq is the better family automatic, mainly because it gives you a bit more cabin and boot space and a calmer ride over bad roads. It feels more secure at highway speeds with a full load, and its turbo engine with the automatic pulls cleanly, so hills and quick overtakes are easy even with the AC on. The petrol Kylaq automatic uses a torque convertor gearbox which is also smoother than the dual clutch unit on the Sonet so it would fare better in city traffic. Kia Sonet makes sense if you want more features and need Kia’s service reach which is wider. For weekend trips with four on board it will do the job too, but rear seat width and long-journey comfort are not its strong points and within a year it will get a major update, thus buying it now would not be ideal.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

•8h

Go for the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI. It feels the most “EcoSport-like” today. It offers a firm, well-damped suspension that handles bad roads easily, a steering with real feel, and a turbo petrol engine that pulls a lot like your EcoBoost. Thanks to the recent update, the Kushaq's AC performance is now strong, and the higher trims have a clean, rich-sounding audio system with a subwoofer. The catch is that Skoda service can be hit-or-miss in smaller cities, and the rear seat is not the roomiest.If smooth city driving and mileage matter more than driving feel, look at the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong hybrid. It glides around town on electric power often, rides softly, has strong AC and a nice sound system in top trims. Just know it will feel much calmer than your Ford on a fast highway run. The Volkswagen Taigun drives like the Kushaq, so pick it if you prefer VW's styling and have a dealer nearby.

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•1d

Buy the Kia Seltos; it hits your mix of big-city commuting in Hyderabad/Mumbai, and 1-2 highway runs a month better than the others. The 1.5 petrol with the automatic is easy in traffic, returns sensible mileage, and the light controls make it a painless jump from the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. Cabin space and boot are genuinely family-friendly for 4-5 with luggage, and higher trims add city-friendly kit like the 360 camera and ventilated seats that you will actually use in summer. The only real trade-off is a slightly firm low-speed ride, and that top trims can stretch the budget.The Hyundai Creta is a close second if you prefer a softer, comfier feel. The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are the most fun to drive, but the rear seat and boot are tighter for five. The Honda Elevate is simple and efficient, but it feels a step behind on features.About waiting: the next-gen Hyundai Creta is expected early next year. Test mules have been spotted in India, which usually means it is in the final testing stages. It will move to the current Seltos K3 platform, which should mean a roomier cabin. It will also feature a new design language and a significantly improved interior. It's worth remembering that new launches are frequently delayed, and it's hard to be certain until an official confirmation from Hyundai. If you need a car soon, then get the Seltos now.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Autocar India

•4d

Get the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic. It fits within Rs. 18-20 lakh, is compact enough to be easy in Mumbai traffic, and the turbo-petrol with the smooth automatic has the kind of mid-range shove that makes quick gaps, and flyover overtakes feel natural after an XUV500. You also get auto AC, central locking, power windows and a reverse camera in the Ambition/Style trims.What makes it work in the city is the clean, creep-friendly automatic and light steering, without the heat worries some dual-clutch setups can have in bumper-to-bumper. On the highway, it feels stable and confident, and the 1.0 turbo pulls stronger than most 1.5 NA rivals, so you won’t feel shortchanged when you need to get a move on.It isn’t as wide or roomy as your old XUV500, and fully loaded hill climbs won’t feel as effortless as a big diesel, but for daily Mumbai use with regular weekend runs, it strikes a good balance within your budget.If you want even more punch, consider the Renault Duster. Its wet-clutch DCT is smoother than the dry-clutch units found in cars such as the Kia Seltos, and it is less prone to overheating in stop-and-go traffic. On the downside, fuel efficiency is not particularly impressive, and rear seat space is more restricted than in the Skoda Kushaq.

Skoda Kushaq

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•6d

Do note, only the Volkswagen Polo GTI was brought to India as a completely built unit (CBU); the regular Polo was locally manufactured, although the localised content varied over time.Coming to your question, you seem to have tried all the options available, and none have caught your fancy. In that case, we would recommend that you look at pre-owned options instead. A two- or three-year-old Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen Tiguan should fall within your Rs 25 lakh budget, and both have the same solid European build quality and are powered by a strong 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. You will enjoy driving either of these two cars, which will feel like a proper upgrade from your outgoing car. Look for a car that's still covered by factory warranty for greater peace of mind.

Skoda Kodiaq

Volkswagen Tiguan

Autocar India

•6d

You should consider the Skoda Kylaq Prestige MT for your needs.Like your Ford Figo diesel, the Kylaq has impressive ride and handling balance, and it feels sure-footed on the move. The suspension handles bad patches well, and it stays steady at high speeds. The 115hp, 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is also punchy, much like the Figo diesel's, and it comes paired with a slick 6-speed manual gearbox. The Kylaq has even received a full, 5-star crash safety rating from Bharat NCAP.Do note, though, the Kylaq won't have the same low-end grunt like the Figo diesel, and it won't be as efficient either. If you still wish for a torquey diesel engine in a hatchback, go for the Tata Altroz Accomplished S.

Skoda Kylaq

Tata Altroz

Autocar India

•1w

With a Rs. 12 lakh cap, mostly city use and the odd highway trip, comfort first, the Hyundai Venue fits your brief best. It is easy to drive and park, and tackles bumps well, taking the sting out of daily commutes. Cabin insulation is good for this price, which helps on longer runs too.Your budget means you have to choose between features and power. The base 1.2-litre petrol engine is fine for city duties but feels underwhelming out on the highway. The 1.0-litre turbo-powered Venue is punchier and nicer to drive but also pricier. The DCT auto gearbox on the Venue Turbo drives the price further up, and is just out of your budget. If you are not bothered by high-end features, you could get the Skoda Kylaq AT in a low trim. It's a great compact SUV to drive, and you'll value its solid build on long highway runs.

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•1w

As a first-time buyer with mostly city use, you want something that feels easy, smooth and stress-free rather than chasing outright performance. The Classic+ automatic variant fits if you are sticking tightly to budget, while if you can stretch by roughly Rs 50,000 over Rs 12 lakh, the Signature automatic is the sweeter spot because it feels noticeably better equipped and more complete. The torque converter automatic is smooth in traffic, the car feels solid, and it is also genuinely nice to drive when you do head out on longer trips.Your second strong option is the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic. It also has a smooth torque converter automatic, feels substantial and offers a strong safety proposition. The downside versus the Kylaq is that the Skoda feels a little more polished to drive, while the Mahindra’s boot space is tighter if family luggage matters.

Skoda Kylaq

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•1w

If you are coming from a VW Polo and are considering the Skoda Kylaq largely because of how it drives, we completely understand the appeal. It is one of the few compact SUVs in this price bracket that still carries that solid, European driving feel that Polo owners tend to appreciate.The ethanol question is valid, though, especially with the recent discussion around E25 fuel compatibility. As things stand, the Kylaq’s 1.0 TSI is E20 compliant, which means it is fully compatible with the current fuel ecosystem. The recent move to study how E25 affects existing E10 and E20 compliant cars simply tells us that the next phase is still being evaluated rather than finalised.The practical reality is that if India eventually moves meaningfully beyond E20, it is unlikely to be a sudden switch where current petrol owners are left stranded. Beyond a certain ethanol blend, manufacturers would need proper flex-fuel compatible engines, and the transition would almost certainly involve continued availability of lower-blend fuels for existing vehicles. Governments cannot realistically force an overnight incompatibility for millions of current petrol cars.So should a buyer delay a purchase today because of this? We would say no. If you keep waiting for complete certainty, there will always be another policy shift, EV push or emissions update around the corner.

Skoda Kylaq