Skoda was on to a winner with the unique Kodiaq seven-seater SUV.
It hit the Australian market when patrons had been on the lookout for a European three-row mannequin that didn’t break the financial institution. Volkswagen didn’t have a seven-seater on the time, and an Audi Q7 was about double the worth.
Now the Kodiaq has entered its second technology, scoring new underpinnings from the Volkswagen Group MQB Evo toolkit, a brand new exterior look that makes it arguably extra palatable than the earlier one, and a few huge inside enhancements, to not point out a expertise overhaul.
CarExpert had an opportunity to pattern the brand new Kodiaq in Germany, and whereas the mannequin pushed wasn’t utterly consultant of what Australia will see, this family-friendly high-rider is an enormous enchancment over its glorious predecessor.
How does the Skoda Kodiaq examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Skoda Kodiaq in opposition to equally sized automobiles.
Skoda
Kodiaq
How a lot does the Skoda Kodiaq value?
Australian pricing and specs for the new-generation Kodiaq are nonetheless to be confirmed – it arrives domestically round February 2025, so pricing ought to be launched within the first few weeks of the brand new yr.
Within the meantime Skoda Australia has confirmed it can proceed to supply three grades of the Kodiaq.
The entry-level mannequin shall be referred to as the Choose, and we’ve been instructed it gained’t stray removed from the prevailing Type’s value and positioning regardless of a big bump in normal gear. For reference, the outgoing Kodiaq Type is at the moment $56,490 drive-away.
The Sportline will kind the center floor within the Kodiaq vary, with a sportier look inside and outside, and little question a couple of further options. The Sportline mannequin within the outgoing vary lately had a $5000 value lower to match the Type at $56,490 drive-away.
The range-topping RS mannequin is priced at $76,890 drive-away in outgoing mannequin kind. The newest tackle the theme hasn’t but been revealed, however a second-generation RS value within the $70,000 vary appears doubtless.
As with the prevailing vary, all fashions bought in Australia shall be petrol-powered, and can come as normal with seven seats.
To see how the Skoda Kodiaq stacks up in opposition to it rivals, use our comparability device.
What’s the Skoda Kodiaq like on the within?
The earlier Kodiaq was nonetheless one in all our favourites within the phase, as a result of it really lived as much as what we’ve come to count on from Skoda’s ‘Merely Intelligent’ mantra.
The brand new one seems extra particular because of its revised design, larger touchscreen, and new supplies and trims. Fortunately nevertheless the model hasn’t strayed from what labored so effectively first time round.
That new 15-inch touchscreen media system is an enormous differentiator, at virtually twice the diameter of the final show.
Whereas merchandise from the Volkswagen Group have copped some criticism over software program quirks, the display right here is straightforward sufficient to become familiar with – I managed to be taught a lot of the menus that I wanted inside just some minutes of driving.
A number of that’s right down to Skoda’s new Sensible Dials, which make interacting with a few of the fundamental controls far less complicated than having to be taught your approach via the menus on the show.
The Sensible Dials are configurable, tactile controls with small shows inside that permit you modify sure components of the automotive. The center dial will be customised to regulate fan velocity, airflow, quantity, drive modes, or map zoom. Two different dials sit both aspect of it for local weather management, and also you push the dial in to regulate seat heating and cooling, if outfitted.
They’re certainly smarter than utilizing the touchscreen for all that stuff, however you are able to do that if you want. There’s additionally a terrific display wipe for the touchscreen that eliminates fingerprints in only a second or two.
Count on normal built-in sat navigation, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wonderful digital instrument cluster.
For probably the most half the expertise within the new Kodiaq is straightforward, and the controls are manageable. These embody the shortcuts to disable the protection programs which will annoy you. It takes simply a few steering wheel button presses to show off the lane-keeping help and speed-sign bing-bong noises.
Up entrance there’s a sizeable centre console bin, cupholders between the seats, and a coverable storage zone the place the gear selector would historically be positioned (it’s a column-mounted shift-by-wire one as a substitute). The latter additionally homes two USB-C ports and a pair of wi-fi telephone chargers.
Materials high quality has clearly been a spotlight, with beautiful touches to the cabin trim on the dashboard, doorways and between the seats. Our German take a look at automobile had a convincing part-leather, part-vinyl end, with seat heating and cooling for the entrance occupants.
Second-row area is nice sufficient for a six-footer behind somebody equally sized, with manageable leg-, foot- and headspace, and ample shoulder room. Three adults throughout the again is doable and three little one seats ought to be too.
The second-row seats have a sliding perform that lets you permit for extra space within the again.
As a household hauler, there are ISOFIX factors within the window seats and three top-tethers within the second row, however no positions for kiddos within the very again row. This would possibly make one thing like a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento enchantment extra to you, as they’ll accommodate little one seats within the very again.
Facilities for second-row riders embody multi-pocket seat backs, huge bottle holders within the doorways, built-in window shades, a storage zone on the transmission tunnel, a flip-down armrest with cupholders, and dual-zone local weather management with outboard seat heating.
Entry to the third-row is completed by a lever that flips the seat again ahead and slides the bottom simply. I managed to step in with out an excessive amount of problem.
Third-row area might be higher thought-about a short-term rental fairly than a endlessly residence, as a result of there are not any air vents, no fan controller, and no child-seat factors.
There’s sufficient area for a smaller occupant to sit up, with a grown-up nonetheless able to being comfy within the center row.
There are armrests over the wheel-arches within the third row, in addition to an honest quantity of headroom because of the boxy-backed design.
With all of the seats up there’s a claimed 340 litres of boot area. This expands as much as 910 litres with the third row of seats folded which is superb for the category.
The cargo space features a space-saver spare wheel underneath the boot ground, purchasing bag hooks on the edges, and a pair of crevasses on both aspect of the ground space for free objects.
To see how the Skoda Kodiaq stacks up in opposition to it rivals, use our comparability device.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
Australia gained’t get the diesel engine I drove in Europe. There is no such thing as a marketplace for diesels in Australia, in accordance with Skoda, with the New Automobile Effectivity Normal (NVES) mandates killing that phase for newcomers.
Which means, just like the outgoing mannequin, the brand new Kodiaq shall be a petrol-only line-up in Australia.
Remaining specs are nonetheless to be decided, however we’ve been instructed the bottom mannequin Choose and mid-spec Sportline variants may have a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 140kW, with a seven-speed dual-clutch computerized transmission and all-wheel drive as normal.
The engine for the range-topping RS variant hasn’t been confirmed but. It’ll doubtless rating the identical engine because the Excellent Sportline and the up to date Golf GTI, a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol with 195kW/400Nm.
Skoda hasn’t revealed particulars on the towing capability of its higher-capacity petrol engines but, however you may count on an unbraked capability of 750kg. Braked towing is predicted to be between 2000kg and 2500kg for the fashions bought Down Underneath.
To see how the Skoda Kodiaq stacks up in opposition to it rivals, use our comparability device.
How does the Skoda Kodiaq drive?
The model of the Kodiaq on take a look at in Germany for this overview didn’t function a related powertrain for our market. It’s a disgrace as a result of the two.0-litre turbo-diesel is a terrific unit, providing nice low- to mid-range oomph and surprisingly good refinement.
As a substitute, Aussies will get petrol fashions solely, they usually’ll little question be pleasant if the earlier model of the Kodiaq is something to go by.
What was additionally pleasant on this occasion was the drivability of the brand new Kodiaq.
Throughout a mixture of totally different situations together with site visitors round Munich airport and the encircling arterial roads, some stretches of unrestricted Autobahn driving, to twisting mountain roads and tight streets in high-altitude villages, this family-focused SUV is an absolute allure to drive.
The steering is exact and effectively weighted, making it straightforward sufficient to dart again to the sting of the street when oncoming site visitors strays too near the median, but additionally permitting for easy parking strikes.
That’s as soon as I acquired my head round that gear selector – you twist as much as go forwards, right down to go backwards.
The visibility from the driving force’s seat impresses, with an excellent ahead view, good side-mirror imaginative and prescient, although with individuals within the second- and third rows I couldn’t see out the again. A digital rear-view mirror would alleviate this.
On the parking entrance our tester got here outfitted with a surround-view system, in addition to entrance and rear parking sensors with auto-braking that helped when a foolish pedestrian determined to stroll precisely the place I used to be reversing.
The trip consolation may be very effectively suited to this type of automobile, with a easy and comfy standing on most surfaces I drove on, although sharp edges did catch the entrance suspension out a bit at occasions.
Maybe most spectacular was the sensation of solidity within the new Kodiaq.
It has a extremely well-built really feel to it, by no means feeling clumsy or unmanageable in any of the conditions I drove.
To see how the Skoda Kodiaq stacks up in opposition to it rivals, use our comparability device.
What do you get?
The usual gear for the new-generation Skoda Kodiaq hasn’t but been confirmed.
Skoda Australia has outlined what you may count on to be supplied as normal within the Sportline trim.
Skoda Kodiaq Sportline highlights:
- Gloss black exterior highlights
- Matrix LED headlights
- LED daytime operating lights
- LED tail-lights with sequential indicators
- Energy tailgate
- 19-inch alloys (20-inch items could also be supplied in Australia)
- Proximity entry and push-button begin
- Sportline Design Choice inside trim
- Electrical seat adjustment
- Driver’s seat reminiscence
- Ambient inside lighting
- Darkish headliner
- Suedia trim finishes
- Distinction gray stitching
- Three-spoke sports activities steering wheel
- 10-inch Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster
- 13-inch touchscreen infotainment show
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Energy-folding door mirrors
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- Sensible Dials
To see how the Skoda Kodiaq stacks up in opposition to it rivals, use our comparability device.
Is the Skoda Kodiaq secure?
Euro NCAP put the new-generation Skoda Kodiaq via its testing in 2024, and the end result was the utmost five-star ranking. It has carried over to ANCAP simply but.
It achieved 89 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 83 per cent for little one occupant safety, 82 per cent for weak street consumer safety and 78 per cent for its security help programs.
Normal security expertise consists of:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian, bicycle owner, head-on and junction detection
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane-keep help
- Adaptive cruise management with cease and go
- Journey Help (lane centring)
- Parking help
- Reversing digicam
- Entrance and rear parking sensors with auto braking
The brand new Kodiaq is predicted to be supplied with as much as 9 airbags – twin entrance, entrance centre, entrance aspect, rear aspect and full-length curtain protection.
To see how the Skoda Kodiaq stacks up in opposition to it rivals, use our comparability device.
How a lot does the Skoda Kodiaq value to run?
Title one other European model that gives a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia…. That’s proper, there isn’t one other one.
Skoda affords pay as you go service plans for as much as seven years too.
Servicing for the brand new Kodiaq is predicted to be due each 12 months or 15,000km, whichever happens first. Should you prepay your servicing, it would add to the resale worth as a result of you may go it on to the following proprietor with upkeep already coated.
Skoda additionally affords the choice of a assured future worth for the automobile when you finance via its in-house loans operation, which could be attractive for these involved about resale values.
To see how the Skoda Kodiaq stacks up in opposition to it rivals, use our comparability device.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Skoda Kodiaq
There is no such thing as a doubt in my thoughts the brand new Skoda Kodiaq shall be among the best medium SUVs with seven seats when it reaches our shores in 2025.
Whether or not or not it will likely be a celebrity on value stays to be seen, however there’s doubtlessly loads of worth right here, and it’s one of many extra sensible three-row choices amongst its present friends.
Fascinated by shopping for a Skoda Kodiaq? Get in contact with one in all CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
Click on the photographs for the complete gallery
