Skoda cars in India (7)

Autocar India

•20h

On a Rs 15-23 lakh budget, the Kia Carens Clavis diesel automatic fits your use best. It rides comfortably on long trips, the low step-in makes it easy for elders, and the third row lets you carry six or seven or fold it to free up a big boot. The diesel pulls well on hills with a full load, and the automatic keeps driving effortless in traffic. For you at 5 feet, the high seat, wide glass area and light controls help with confidence in a tier-3 city, and Kia’s service reach outside big metros is a plus.Know that, compared to your Alto, it is a long car, so tight parking needs a bit more care. With all three rows up, boot space is small, so plan to fold one side when needed. If five seats are enough and you want a sportier feel on hills, look at the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 automatic. If smooth city running and lower fuel use matter more, you can go for Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid. Given your affinity for long family road trips, we would not recommend an EV at this stage. Overall, the Carens suits your family-first brief best.

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•1d

For under Rs. 20 lakh, petrol, a strong engine, and a 5-star crash rating, the Renault Duster would be a good option. The 1.3 litre turbo coupled with the automatic is a fun car to drive. The powertrain is quick, and the Duster feels nice and lively to drive, even when driven in a regular manner efficiency is decent too. As an option, consider the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 petrol. It too has a 5-star crash test rating, the 1.0 turbo feels quick enough and returns a good fuel efficiency too. Like the Duster, the Kushaq is also a fun-to-drive car.

Renault Duster

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•22h

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•4d

The Mahindra XUV 3XO turbo-petrol manual best fits your brief. It has a strong engine, so even with four passengers and weekend luggage, it should cruise on the highway without feeling strained. The cabin feels solid and well built. The rear seat is also slightly roomier than the other cars you mentioned. Its steering is light, and the ride quality is well suited to both city and highway use.A couple of things to note: its clutch pedal travel is long, which could take some getting used to in slow traffic, and its boot is on the smaller side compared to rivals.You could consider the Skoda Kylaq Classic Plus variant too, which is nice to drive, but it also feels safe and solid, just like how you'd expect a family car to be.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•3d

A 2018 BS‑IV diesel is allowed in Delhi‑NCR till it completes 10 years from its first registration. So you’re fine till 2028 if your RC, insurance and PUC are valid. Be aware that on some severe pollution days, Delhi temporarily stops BS‑IV diesels from running; on those days, it’s safer to park it to avoid a penalty or even impound.Given the diesel policy swings and that you enjoy a driver’s car, shift to petrol. The Skoda Kushaq 1.5 turbo‑petrol fits best. It feels quick, the steering has a good feel, and the size is like your loved EcoSport, so it’s easy in the city yet steady on highways. Being petrol keeps you clear of future diesel bans in Delhi.Trade-offs: it’s much smaller inside than your Crysta, and if you drive hard, the fuel use will go up. If you prefer another brand with the same fun-to-drive nature, look at the Renault Duster 1.3-litre turbo.

Skoda Kushaq

Renault Duster

Autocar India

•4d

Considering your needs, go for the Skoda Kylaq Prestige AT. This Skoda car comes with a punchy 115hp, 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine and when paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic, it will make for an easy-going and convenient SUV to drive in the city, which is where you'll do majority of your running. The Kylaq is also compact, so parking in tight spots and darting in and out of gaps in traffic will be easy. On the highway at high speeds, it stays composed and comfy and the suspension handles bad patches well. It also stands out for its ride and handling balance and is very enjoyable to drive around some twisty roads. Do note though, the rear seat is best reserved for just two adults and Skoda's service network isn't as widespread as some rivals.

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•4d

Considering your requirements and budget, the Skoda Kodiaq fits your brief better. Coming from a Tiguan, it will feel familiar and a clear step up: smooth petrol engine, strong highway stability, and a more premium, feature-rich cabin. Your running of 500 km a month is low, so a petrol car makes sense: it is simple to live with, refuels in minutes on road trips, and you do not need to plan charging. For a family of three, you get loads of space, plus a large boot for your highway trips.Pick the Mahindra XEV 9e only if you have a private parking spot where you can install a charger and most of your driving is in town. It will feel very smooth and quiet and will cost less to run, but highway trips will need planning in order to charge the EV.

Skoda Kodiaq

Mahindra XEV 9e

Autocar India

•4d

With short daily city runs and a few very long expressway trips each year, a safe, smooth petrol automatic that holds steady at speed is the priority, and within your Rs. 16 lakh budget, the Skoda Kushaq Classic+ 1.0 TSI AT fits your brief best. It keeps things simple: a proven torque converter automatic for stress‑free traffic driving, light controls, and clear visibility for city use, plus cruise control for those 850 km Haryana-UP hauls that cut fatigue. It has a 5‑star crash safety rating and comes with the key safety tech you would want. The boot is wide and deep enough for two big suitcases plus soft bags, and the rear backrest folds if you need extra room.Know these trade‑offs: the ride is a bit firm on broken roads at low speeds, the rear seat isn't as spacious as some larger rivals, and Skoda’s service reach beyond big cities isn’t as wide as some rivals.

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•5d

Given your usage, we would not change the T-Roc unless the seating comfort issue is genuinely becoming a deal breaker, because the T-Roc is still a very solid long-distance machine with excellent driving manners. However, at 6 feet tall, if the seating position is causing leg fatigue after 8 to 10-hour drives, that is a legitimate reason to upgrade, and in that case, you need something with a more relaxed seating position, better thigh support and a roomier cabin.The Jeep Compass is a strong candidate if driving dynamics matter. It still has one of the best ride and handling balances in this segment. It feels planted at highway speeds and genuinely tackles poor roads brilliantly. It also offers a more upright SUV seating position than the T-Roc, which could suit you better for long hours. Build quality and overall solidity are still strong points.On the new Compass, there are no immediate plans for an all-new generation in India. Jeep is expected to keep the current line-up fresh with special editions and updates, with a genuinely new product likely only around 2027. So, waiting specifically for a brand new India-bound Compass does not make much sense right now.If your brief is purely long-distance comfort plus great driving dynamics, we would actually look beyond the Compass as well. The Skoda Kodiaq or the Volkswagen Tayron, as they feel like a more natural upgrade from a T-Roc, with much better long-distance comfort, stronger ergonomics for taller drivers and excellent highway manners.If you want something more SUV like, the Jeep Meridian deserves a closer look than the Compass because it offers similar Jeep dynamics along with more space and a more relaxed long-distance experience.

Jeep Compass

Skoda Kodiaq

Volkswagen Tayron

Jeep Meridian

Autocar India

•6d

With 1,600km a month running, a diesel automatic will be an economical option, so we'd suggest you rule out the Kylaq, which is only available with a turbo-petrol engine. The Kia Sonet HTK Plus and Hyundai Venue HX5 share their 1.5 diesel engine and 6-speed automatic gearbox, and both are equally smooth, refined and efficient. Also, both feel quite similar to drive too, although the Venue's steering feels noticeably lighter. The Hyundai is the newer car here, while the Kia Sonet is due for a generation change in 2027.However, if you like the Sonet for what it offers, go ahead with it, as you're going to hold on to the car for a long period of time, so resale value should not matter.Do note that a lifetime tax is collected on all cars for 15 years (except in Delhi NCR, which has different rules), after which you will have to subject your vehicle to fitness tests to ensure it is roadworthy, and pay the relevant taxes for a few years at a time, as per your RTO, to continue driving your car.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Skoda Kylaq