Kia Sonet vs Mahindra Bolero vs Skoda Kylaq (2026)
The classic compact suv shortlist, settled with numbers (September 2026):
- Pick the Kia Sonet if you want the lowest starting price (₹7.41 Lakh), the most power (118 bhp), the best claimed efficiency (up to 24.1 kmpl).
- Pick the Mahindra Bolero if you want the most seats (7).
- Pick the Skoda Kylaq if you want the best crash-test score (5 stars), the biggest boot (446 L).
Three-Way Specification Comparison
Kia Sonet in short
The Kia Sonet is one of the most feature-loaded sub-4-metre SUVs on sale, and its 2024 facelift sharpened the styling while making six airbags standard across the range. It remains the only car in its class to offer a diesel-automatic combination, giving it a unique selling point against the Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO. The wide engine-gearbox matrix and segment-first features like ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera keep it a strong all-rounder.
Full Sonet prices & variants →Mahindra Bolero in short
The Bolero is Mahindra's evergreen workhorse, a ladder-frame 7-seater that has ruled rural and semi-urban India for over two decades. It sells on toughness, cheap maintenance and a vast service network rather than features or refinement. There is no direct rival at its price; buyers cross-shop it with the Bolero Neo and used Scorpios.
Full Bolero prices & variants →Skoda Kylaq in short
The Kylaq is Skoda's first sub-4-metre SUV and its most affordable car in India, aimed squarely at the Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet. Every variant gets the willing 115 PS 1.0 TSI turbo-petrol, giving it the strongest driving manners in its class. A five-star Bharat NCAP result seals its family-car credentials.
Full Kylaq prices & variants →Head-to-head pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
Sonet vs Bolero vs Kylaq — which should I buy?
Pick the Kia Sonet if you want the lowest starting price (₹7.41 Lakh), the most power (118 bhp), the best claimed efficiency (up to 24.1 kmpl). Pick the Mahindra Bolero if you want the most seats (7). Pick the Skoda Kylaq if you want the best crash-test score (5 stars), the biggest boot (446 L). Test-drive at least two before deciding — ride and dealer experience differ by city.
Which is the cheapest among Sonet, Bolero, Kylaq?
The Kia Sonet starts lowest at ₹7.41 Lakh, against ₹7.59 Lakh for the Kylaq and ₹9.80 Lakh for the Bolero (ex-showroom, September 2026).
Which is the safest of the three?
Kia Sonet: not yet NCAP-tested; Mahindra Bolero: not yet NCAP-tested; Skoda Kylaq: 5 stars.