Skoda Kodiaq Review

source: Skoda

source: Skoda

source: Skoda

The Skoda Kodiaq is Skoda’s first large SUV providing 5 or  7 seats with  front-wheel and four-wheel options.

Designed to compete with the likes of the Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa-Fe, and Nissan X-Trail; and underneath it is the same platform as the VW Tiguan and SEAT Ateca.

Auto Express says “For families looking for a practical, comfortable and good value SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq is hard to beat”

Skoda Kodiaq Overview

• 3 Year / 60,000 Warranty
• Fuel Types: Diesel and Petrol
• Engines: 5
• Trims: 5
• MPG Across The Range: 32.5 – 52.3
• RRP: £30,415 – £46,035

Trims

The trim levels start with the entry level SE and SE Drive – available with five or seven seats – then moves through SE L/SE L Executive, Sportline and the luxury Laurin & Klement versions. There’s a sporty flagship too, in the Kodiaq vRS model.

All variants, except SE and SE Drive, come with seven seats as standard.

A facelifted version was launched in mid-2021, which brought equipment upgrades across the board plus some mild styling tweaks to the front and rear ends.

Engines

Engines for the Kodiaq comprise 1.5 and 2.0 TSI turbo petrols and a 2.0 TDI diesel – the 1.5 TSI comes with 148bhp, while the 2.0 TSI has 187bhp. The 2.0 TDI diesel comes with either 148bhp or 197bhp.

The vRS model has a 242bhp TSI petrol engine.

Interior

The interior feels more upmarket than some of the competition such as the Nissan X-Trail.

source: Skoda

The high driving position is hard to fault, with plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment.

If you want adjustable lumbar support then you will have to skip the entry-level SE trim.

source: Skoda

Technology is another area where the Kodiaq stands head-and-shoulders above rivals. SE models get an eight-inch touchscreen display as standard, while Sportline models and above get a 9.2-inch system.

There’s a chunky centre console with big, clearly labeled buttons that are easy to use while on the move.

SE trim matches up to its rivals when it comes to the kit on offer, but it doesn’t get sat-nav as standard. However, Skoda’s SmartLink+ system is standard-fit across the range and brings Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Space and Storage

The Kodiaq has tonnes of occupant space up front, while headroom is impressive in the rear, too. Legroom isn’t quite as cavernous as the longer Superb even with the seat slid all the way back, but it’s more than adequate.

Storage is also excellent in the Kodiaq. The front passenger has access to a centre console bin, phone storage, a number of cupholders, plus two gloveboxes – a conventional one and a second with a flip-up lid behind the wood-style dashboard panel. Rear passengers also have neat tray tables with built in cupholders and lights.

This being a Skoda, there’s also a number of neat ‘Simply Clever’ touches dotted about the cabin. Top-spec cars get a powered tailgate as standard, but Skoda has really thought about the detail with the Kodiaq. Umbrellas in the front doors, an ice scraper in the fuel filler flap and useful underfloor storage in the boot are some of the smart additions. These little features won’t make or break a purchase, but they’ll come in useful and make everyday life with the car simpler.