The Skoda Kodiaq, revealed in Berlin, is the new flagship model of the Czech brand that's aimed at a set of buyers looking for a premium SUV. “The Kodiaq gives us a new customer base we never had before,” said Bernhard Maier, CEO of Skoda Auto, who expects the Kodiaq to even outsell the Superb.
The Kodiaq’s styling is heavily influenced by the VisionS concept car shown earlier this year, with the interior in particular featuring several striking new design touches.
The new Skoda SUV is based on the Volkswagen Group’s modular MQB platform and is 4,697mm long, 1,882mm wide and 1,676mm tall when fitted with roof rails. Although that is par for the class – and just 40mm longer than an Octavia – Skoda says the Kodiaq will outdo its rivals because it has better interior space, more technology and offers more value for money.
A matter of space
The Kodiaq will have the option of seven seats – making it Skoda’s first seven-seater – and a massive seats-down boot capacity of up to 2,065 litres (630 litres with the middle row up, 270 litres with the third row up as well), which, according to its maker, is the largest available on the market. The Hyundai Santa Fe’s boot capacity in comparison is 585 litres with the third row in place. Skoda highlights the second-row seating system as an example of the detail it has gone to in order to make the Kodiaq as practical as possible. The seats split 60/40, they move lengthways by 18cm, and the backrests are individually adjustable as standard. Buyers can also spec an electrically operated tailgate that can be opened by waving a foot under the rear of the car.
Those familiar with the Superb will find a similar amount of legroom in the middle row. The Kodiaq feels supremely comfortable and the high seating position gives a good view out. However, the third row is not so practical. Firstly, access is tricky as the middle seat doesn’t tumble; you have to slide the seat forward to clamber into the back. And unless the middle-row seats are slid fully forward, there is simply no legroom in the last row which is best left for small children. However, what Skoda may have stinted on for the last two passengers, it has made up for with luggage space. With its flexible seating and load-carrying capacity, the Kodiaq promises to be just the perfect family car, especially on holidays.
Kitted out
The Kodiaq is likely to set a new standard as a far as features and equipment goes, making even a Hyundai Santa Fe seem bare, and that’s saying something.
The Kodiaq gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen as standard, with Bluetooth and SmartLink, which supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink, available as options. Optionally, buyers can opt for an 8.0-inch touchscreen, which includes a function that records the driver’s voice and plays it back to the rear seats. A sat-nav function plus off-road and parking camera aids are also a part of the kit.
There’s no stinting on connectivity in the Kodiaq and this SUV offers a 64GB flash memory and DVD drive, a WLAN Wi-Fi hotspot, integrated tablet holders behind the front seats and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Additionally, Skoda is offering buyers two apps: Skoda Connect that allows them to monitor the Kodiaq’s movements while away from the car, including setting up alerts for speeding or the car being driven when it should be parked; and SmartLink which combines sat-nav data, music and news information, as well as details of the car’s data.
It’s unclear how many of these features will make it to the India car, but Skoda India managing director, Sudhir Rao hinted, “the equipment levels on the Kodiaq will set new standards in the Indian market”
In terms of safety tech, although exact specifications are yet to be set, standard safety kit levels are expected to be very high.
The Skoda Kodiaq, revealed in Berlin, is the new flagship model of the Czech brand that's aimed at a set of buyers looking for a premium SUV. “The Kodiaq gives us a new customer base we never had before,” said Bernhard Maier, CEO of Skoda Auto, who expects the Kodiaq to even outsell the Superb.
The Kodiaq’s styling is heavily influenced by the VisionS concept car shown earlier this year, with the interior in particular featuring several striking new design touches.
The new Skoda SUV is based on the Volkswagen Group’s modular MQB platform and is 4,697mm long, 1,882mm wide and 1,676mm tall when fitted with roof rails. Although that is par for the class – and just 40mm longer than an Octavia – Skoda says the Kodiaq will outdo its rivals because it has better interior space, more technology and offers more value for money.
A matter of space
The Kodiaq will have the option of seven seats – making it Skoda’s first seven-seater – and a massive seats-down boot capacity of up to 2,065 litres (630 litres with the middle row up, 270 litres with the third row up as well), which, according to its maker, is the largest available on the market. The Hyundai Santa Fe’s boot capacity in comparison is 585 litres with the third row in place. Skoda highlights the second-row seating system as an example of the detail it has gone to in order to make the Kodiaq as practical as possible. The seats split 60/40, they move lengthways by 18cm, and the backrests are individually adjustable as standard. Buyers can also spec an electrically operated tailgate that can be opened by waving a foot under the rear of the car.
Those familiar with the Superb will find a similar amount of legroom in the middle row. The Kodiaq feels supremely comfortable and the high seating position gives a good view out. However, the third row is not so practical. Firstly, access is tricky as the middle seat doesn’t tumble; you have to slide the seat forward to clamber into the back. And unless the middle-row seats are slid fully forward, there is simply no legroom in the last row which is best left for small children. However, what Skoda may have stinted on for the last two passengers, it has made up for with luggage space. With its flexible seating and load-carrying capacity, the Kodiaq promises to be just the perfect family car, especially on holidays.
Kitted out
The Kodiaq is likely to set a new standard as a far as features and equipment goes, making even a Hyundai Santa Fe seem bare, and that’s saying something.
The Kodiaq gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen as standard, with Bluetooth and SmartLink, which supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink, available as options. Optionally, buyers can opt for an 8.0-inch touchscreen, which includes a function that records the driver’s voice and plays it back to the rear seats. A sat-nav function plus off-road and parking camera aids are also a part of the kit.
There’s no stinting on connectivity in the Kodiaq and this SUV offers a 64GB flash memory and DVD drive, a WLAN Wi-Fi hotspot, integrated tablet holders behind the front seats and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Additionally, Skoda is offering buyers two apps: Skoda Connect that allows them to monitor the Kodiaq’s movements while away from the car, including setting up alerts for speeding or the car being driven when it should be parked; and SmartLink which combines sat-nav data, music and news information, as well as details of the car’s data.
It’s unclear how many of these features will make it to the India car, but Skoda India managing director, Sudhir Rao hinted, “the equipment levels on the Kodiaq will set new standards in the Indian market”
In terms of safety tech, although exact specifications are yet to be set, standard safety kit levels are expected to be very high.