The Skoda Kodiaq is the Czech car maker's flagship three row SUV from its global portfolio for India. Earlier this year in April, the Kodiaq received a generational update. The update brings in subtle changes to the exterior and a brand new interior altogether with more features down the line.
The Skoda Kodiaq goes with the likes of SUVs such as the, MG Gloster, Nissan X-Trail, and the Toyota Fortuner. If you're in the market for a premium three row SUV, here's our list of key pros and cons of the Skoda Kodiaq to decide whether you should buy one.
High quality interiors
The Kodiaqs well built interiors are on par with luxury cars
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Our Skoda Kodiaq review talks about how its interiors are a treat the moment you step in. The dashboard and other surfaces come with high quality padded materials with an ash wood trim running across the dash. Moreover, the interiors are built with great attention to detail; case in point: the knurled effect on the knobs. The stylish winged dashboard and a good ambient lighting setup further add to its appeal.
Spacious and comfortable seating
Plush and flexible seating options across the board
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Seat comfort is also one of the strenghths of the Skoda Kodiaq. The front seats are well-cushioned and largely accomodable. The front seats aren't only ventilated but also come with heating and a massage function. The second-row is spacious, and comfortably seat three average-sized adults. Knee room here is also good for six footers and the second row seats can slide forwards and backwards according to passenger needs. The third-row here is usable as well over short commmutes, but space can be increased through sliding the second row seats. Boot space is decent at 281 litres with all three rows up, which can be extended to 1976 litres with the last two rows folded.
Big on features and safety tech
Comes well equipped especially on top variants and standard safety features
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The Kodiaq comes packed with features like heated, ventilated and massaging seats, ambient lighting, 360-degree cameras, auto park, 3-zone climate control, air purifier, a 725W 13-speaker Canton sound system, digital dials, panoramic sunroof and a 13-inch infotainment display. In terms of safety, you get nine airbags, ESC, hill descent control, ISOFIX child seat mounts and more. It does miss out on ADAS though. While not tested for Bharat NCAP yet, the Skoda Kodiaq achieved a 5-star rating by Euro NCAP.
New TSI engine comes with more power than before
Gets AWD as standard fitment across the lineup
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The new-gen Kodiaq comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. Power is up by 14hp from the previous gen Kodiaq at 204hp, while the torque remains the same at 320Nm. There is AWD here as standard across all variants mated to a 7-speed DCT. The engine responses are crisp, and overall performance is quite satisfying for everyday use. Even the engine sounds quite good. It also comes with sport mode and paddle shifters for manual control. Overall refinement is also decent. We even tested out its AWD capabilities at a Skoda experience drive in Mumbai on an off-road course
Firm ride quality
Suspension tuned on the firmer side which affects driving over rough roads
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When it comes to ride comfort, the suspension is set on the firmer side. Over potholes and uneven surfaces, the ride is not smoothened out. Moreover, the new-gen Kodiaq does not get damper control unlike its predecessor did, causing more vertical movement at higher speeds.
Lack of multiple powertrain options
Kodiaq sold only with a sole 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine
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While the petrol engine may be peppy for everyday use, unfortunately its the only engine option available. The Skoda Kodiaq currently doesn't come with a diesel or hybrid powertrain, which may lure away diesel buyers especially. There are possibilities that we could see a 2.0-litre diesel or the spicier Kodiaq RS version, but there's no confirmation of it yet.
Costs almost 2 lakh more than the previous Kodiaq
New gen Kodiaq is expensive, even by premium SUV standards
Starting at Rs 39.9 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Lounge variant and going all the way up to Rs 49.2 lakh (ex-showroom) for the fully loaded L&K variant, the Kodiaq has become a lot more expensive. Not only is it substantially more expensive than its predecessor, (Rs 37 lakh) but it is also a lot more expensive than the Hyundai Tucson (Rs 27.31-33.49 lakh ex showroom), the go-to car in this segment.
