BEST OF ALL WORLDS

The Skoda Kylag sub-compact SUV is arguably all the car you'll ever need!

- MANDAR SAWANT

You've got to doff your hat to Skoda for what it's pulled off with the Kylaq. Subcompact SUVs might be flooding the streets these days — they’re practically a dime a dozen — but one that feels properly thought through, genuinely complete, and effortlessly liveable? That's rarer than hen's teeth. The Kylaq doesn't just join the crowd — it stands a cut above. It's the kind of car that grows on you, quietly convincing you that this is the one you'll want to hang on to for years to come. But what's even more wonderful is that the Kylaq comes with a rather charming split personality. In true Skoda fashion, it's not just beautifully engineered — it's also, forgive the cliche, simply clever.

Now, Mumbai has been drowning in gloom and relentless downpours for the past month and a half, but my colleague Rushi hasn't been fazed one bit. Why? Because ever since the Kylaq's been on test with me, I've been chauffeuring him to work every single day. And those familiar with the Maximum City will know that commuting from Borivali to Dadar is nothing short of an expedition — one that inevitably involves at least 30 minutes of bumper-to-bumper traffic, and in this torrential downpour it becomes worse. But this is exactly where the Kylaq proves its mettle.