2018 Skoda Kodiaq review, road test

The Czech brand’s first middle-of-the-road SUV promises much, but does it deliver enough luxury SUV to justify the price? We put it under the microscope.

Published on Feb 02, 2018 06:00:00 AM

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150hp version of Volkswagen’s 2.0 litre diesel is smooth and very refined.

Alloys look a bit small, but 235/55 R18 tyres are good for our roads.

'C'-shaped LEDs are a Skoda signature; note crystal like detailing.

The climb up to the cabin of the Kodiaq isn’t very steep. With the range available on the adjustable steering and the powered seat, finding a comfortable driving position is easy, and the large, square-rigged seats offer excellent back and thigh support. The dash, however, is very compact and placed close to the windscreen, and sitting so far forward does take some getting used to. It is well designed and the build in most places is very good as well. This is clearly a Skoda dash, with the majority of the elements carried over, but what sets the fascia apart are the vertically aligned chrome vents and the faux-wood finish of the second glove box. The wood finish isn’t very convincing and functionality isn’t very slick, but you do get plenty of storage space in the front with the two gloveboxes, large bins on the doors and a massive elbow box. This ‘jumbo box’, as Skoda calls it, even comes with a smart insert that has cubbyholes and phone holders of different sizes and shapes; neat. There’s more clever stuff to appreciate, like the door edge protectors that extend to protect the door when it is being opened, umbrella holders in the doors and a mini LED torch that can be magnetically attached to the body of the car to provide illumination.

You also get what Skoda calls a ‘virtual pedal’ for the boot. Wave your leg under the hatch with the key in your pocket and the boot lid flips up. It doesn’t work seamlessly, but once you get the hang of it, it’s quite a useful feature. There are nets and hooks in the back and should you need to expand the boot capacity of 630 litres (with the third row flat), you can do so with the 40:20:40 folding second row. And should you need to hide something, there’s even a double floor.

The best seats in the house, however, are those on the second row. The big rectangular bench offers plenty of support, the height is just right and the seats can be inclined to suit your needs. It’s also wide enough for seating three abreast. And should you want to nap, you can extend the collars integrated into the headrests to prevent your head from lolling around; it actually works quite well.

What enhances the back seat experience considerably is the huge panoramic sunroof that allows for stunning vistas, even with just the blind pulled back and the glass roof closed. Palm trees, Mumbai’s heritage buildings, the cliff faces near Aamby Valley in Lonavala, we enjoyed viewing them all.

The third row, however, isn’t as impressive. This is Skoda’s first seven-seater, but honestly, it’s more like a 5+2; the last couple of seats nowhere near full size. The second row can be slid forward, and if you pull the front seats forward marginally, you can accommodate adult passengers in the back. But, ingress isn’t easy. You need to climb up into the cabin via a narrow gap between the second-row seat and the door frame, and getting out with even a modicum of decorum, is even more difficult. The worst bit, however, is that the seat has practically been placed on the floor, so the seating position is positively commodious and very knees-up; only for children, or for very short drives.