13 countries, over 19,000 kilometers. The Kylaq traveled from Pune to Prague

A group of Indian journalists set out from the manufacturing plant in Pune in a Škoda Kylaq compact SUV on an adventurous journey of more than 19,000 kilometers to Prague. Take a look at everything they encountered along the way.

28. 7. 2026 Lifestyle

“Not a single scratch—even the alloy wheels are unscathed,” says Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of Autocar India, boasting about the expedition’s smooth progress. It was he and his colleagues who decided to put the durability and practicality of the compact Škoda SUV—developed for the Indian market to the test on this demanding, long journey.

It sounds almost unbelievable, but even over so many thousands of kilometers through 13 different countries over the course of 70 days, the group—along with another support vehicle—didn’t encounter a single complication, not even a flat tire. Given the challenges they had to face, this is an admirable result.

The expedition set off from the factory in Pune, where Kylaq is manufactured

The moments when Kylaq could cruise down an open highway “back home” in India were rare

Traffic in India tends to be heavy and slow, and the drivers are very diverse

The crew thus spent virtually the entire stretch through India in heavy traffic

In India, long traffic jams and low average speeds are common

Kylaq and his crew completed the opening stage in India without any hitches

Kylaq and its crew completed the opening stage in India without any hitches

Škoda cars are becoming an increasingly common sight on India's roads

Even in heavy traffic, where there are often no clearly defined lanes, the car didn't sustain a single scratch

Careful Planning

According to him, the Kylaq’s high ground clearance and tires with high sidewalls contributed to the smooth journey. “We made the most of both,” the editor smiles. Careful route planning and administrative preparation were also crucial. In order for the journalists to even set out across 13 countries in a car registered in India, they had to obtain a number of permits. “We already have experience with this from the past and Škoda Auto India, which loaned us the car for the expedition, also helped us,” explains Sorabjee.

After India, the expedition's route headed to Nepal

Due to official regulations, the crew spent an entire week in Nepal

The scenery and views in this country can be truly fascinating

Nepal was also the last part of the route where they drive on the left side

In China, the crew had to get used to driving on the right side of the road

One of the places the expedition visited was Lhasa, Tibet

It was in China that the crew completed what was probably the most challenging part of the route at high altitudes

In Kyrgyzstan, the crew continued along the route of the legendary Silk Road

In Kazakhstan, Kylaq crossed the sometimes seemingly endless plains without any trouble

Completely Different Traffic Conditions

The farther the crew traveled from home, the more the traffic conditions on the roads changed. Even in China, the participants had to get used to driving on the right side of the road which presented various challenges for a left-hand-drive car. “Whether it was passing other cars or pulling into any kind of garage, we had to figure out a system for it,” smiles a member of the expedition.

As we headed west, the pace of traffic picked up, and the Kylaq became an increasingly exotic sight. However, the car drew more attention for its Indian license plate and driving wheel on the right side than for the fact that it isn’t sold in those parts. “I think the car fit right in with European traffic; it looked just like any other Škoda and was literally right at home here,” says Sorabjee, praising “his” Kylaq.

The crew enjoyed some fascinating mountain drives in Georgia

In Romania, the crew visited, among other places, the legendary Dracula's Castle in Bran

Budapest was practically a must-see stop in Hungary

Before reaching its final destination in Prague, the expedition naturally also stopped in Mladá Boleslav, the home town of the Škoda automobile manufacturer

According to him, a pleasant surprise was its stability at high speeds—speeds the car doesn’t reach in India’s heavy traffic. He also praises the comfort of the seats: “I have some back problems that I feel on long drives, but everything was fine here.”

Among the practical features, the expedition participants noted that the large door pockets—each capable of holding two one-liter bottles of drinks—and the ventilated glove compartment in front of the passenger seat were excellent. “We were able to keep our drinks cool there and it kept our chocolate from melting,” smiles the editor of Autocar India.

Škoda Kylaq

The Kylaq is a compact SUV just under 4 meters long. Thanks to its size which puts it as subject to lower taxes, it falls into the best-selling category of vehicles in India. The Kylaq is built on the MQB-A0-IN platform and is powered by a 1.0 TSI engine producing 85 kW and 178 Nm of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. Developed and manufactured locally, the vehicle is produced at the Chakan plant near Pune. It offers modern features and a 446-liter trunk. Before production began, it underwent rigorous testing in India at temperatures ranging from -10 to +85 °C and at altitudes of up to 3,000 meters above sea level. Thanks in part to this, it withstood the demanding test without a scratch.