By Crossing 50,000 sales within a year is not normal for a European brand in India’s competitive auto market and Skoda is among the few European brands which could even survive in India. Yet that’s exactly what the Skoda Kylaq has managed to do and is now selling a decent numbers of car and even recently launched Facelifted Kushaq which also has received a very good response. What surprised many people is that this success didn’t come from aggressive pricing alone and buyers genuinely liked the car.
After understanding the market response, one thing becomes clear, the Kylaq didn’t try to become an “everything car”. It became a “driver’s car first, family car second” and that has worked for it.
Let’s see why this compact SUV connected so strongly with Indian buyers and how it can be even better.
Why the Kylaq Became a Hit in India
India’s compact SUV segment is crowded with feature-loaded cars. Most brands compete on screens, sunroofs and other gimmick features however Skoda took a slightly different approach, solid engineering first and features comes later.
The Kylaq offered a mix rarely seen at this price:
- European driving feel
- Strong safety reputation
- Turbo performance
- Reasonable pricing
This combination helped it gain trust quickly and contributed heavily to its growth in India.
3 Things Buyers Loved
1) The Engine & Driving Feel
Under the hood is a 1.0-litre turbo petrol producing ~113 bhp and 178 Nm paired with manual or torque-converter automatic.
The steering feedback, mid-range pull and highway stability make it one of the most enjoyable compact SUVs to drive and many buyers just didn’t buy it because it had more features but they bought it because it felt so enjoyable to drive. This is rare in a segment where most cars feel tuned only for mileage and comfort.
2) Safety & Build Confidence
Every variant gets six airbags and other 25 + safety features, and the car carries one of the highest safety ratings in its class.Indian buyers are slowly becoming safety-aware, and the Kylaq arrived at the perfect time offering peace of mind with 5 star safety.
3) Balanced Feature Packaging
Instead of forcing buyers into top variants, Skoda spread useful features across trims:
- Sunroof
- Cruise control
- Rain sensing wipers
- Real torque-converter automatic starts with classic +
Where the Kylaq Could Have Done Better
No car is perfect and the Kylaq has its own weaknesses and that explain why it still hasn’t reached mass-market domination like some other cars.
1) Mileage & Daily City Use
Turbo engines feel great on highways but in heavy traffic they drink more fuel. Many owners report below average efficiency in bumper-to-bumper conditions. It is a great highway car but not the cheapest to drive daily to office.
2) Rear Seat & Practicality
Rear seat comfort and cabin width are acceptable but not class-leading. Indian families used to softer, wider rear seats in competitors may find it slightly firm for long journeys.In India, where a car often doubles as a family car , this matters a lot.
Final Verdict
Buy the Kylaq if You enjoy driving and You travel often on highways and You care about safety and stability.
You can Skip it if You drive mostly in heavy city traffic and Rear seat comfort is your top priority and Mileage matters more than performance.