Skoda Kodiaq First Drive Review: This SUV ‘Czechs’ All the Boxes

Skoda Kodiaq first drive review.

Skoda as a brand has always been about two words: Premium and classy. That reflects in each of the cars it has released in India till now.

2017 has been very good for Skoda thanks to additions like the new Skoda Octavia Facelift that has garnered good reviews all over. Now, Skoda wants to end 2017 with a bang (that too a ‘BIG’ one).

The Skoda Kodiaq is the company’s first ever 7-seater SUV. It has had a great run in Europe and has finally come to India. The Quint got to experience the huge 7-seater in the winding and narrow roads of Kovalam in Kerala.

Specifications:

• Type: 7-seater SUV
  
• Engine: 4-cylinder 2.0-litre diesel
• Transmission: 7-speed automatic DSG
• Wheel drive: 4x4
• Wheels: 18-inch alloys
• Features: 8-inch infotainment, ABS, 9 airbags, multiple drive modes
• Fuel economy: 16.25 kmpl
• Max. power: 150 bhp
• Wheelbase: 340 Nm
• Boot Space: 270 litre (3rd row down)
• Price: Rs 34,49,501

Design

Before we get to the design, here’s a refresher about the meaning of the name. Skoda’s beast is as big and muscular as its namesake, an Alaskan bear.

via GIPHY

Skoda is known to be practical with their innovative design, as we’ve seen with the Superb and Octavia. The 7-seater SUV is as wide as the Hyundai Satna Fe with a wheelbase of 4,697mm and stands at 1,665mm (without the roof rails). It comes across as an imposing figure on the roads, but it isn’t intimidating.

The beast boasts a number of design elements that were seen in the Skoda Superb and the Karoq (not in India).

The Quint tested the Business Grey variant (it also comes in Petrol Blue, Moon White and Black).

The front butterfly grill gives the car a rugged and muscular look, accentuated by the matte black finish.

The all LED headlamps are sharp and come with cornering functionality, as do the fog lamps beneath. The rear tail lamps (just like that of theSuperb’s) have been crafted with elegance and sport a diamond cut design on the inside. Again all LED.

The Kodiaq is wide at 1,882mm, so maneuvering it in Indian traffic conditions may not be easy. It isn’t as tall as a Ford Endeavour or a Toyota Fortuner, and the roofline towards the back makes it look more like a big Sedan.

Indian will receive the 18-inch alloy wheels for the Kodiaq, which blend perfectly with the SUV’s design.

There are a lot of surprises packed for the rear passengers. The second row can easily accommodate 3 passengers (4 is a crowd). Don’t even think of putting any adults in the third row, they’ll suffocate. There’s absolutely no head or leg room.

There’s ample boot space – 270 litres of boot space with the third row up. Got more stuff? Drop the 2nd row and you get 630 litres. If you really need to fit a tank in there then you can also drop the second row seats to get a whopping 2005 litres of boot space.

Performance & Handling

The Kodiaq is a powerful car, but not the most powerful in India. Skoda is only releasing the 4-cylinder 2.0 litre diesel variant in India, which pumps out 150 bhp of power and 340 Nm of torque. Not enough.

The company claims that the Kodiaq is capable of delivering 16.25 kmpl fuel economy. It offers 7-speed automatic DSG (direct-shift gearbox) transmission but there is also an option to go manual with the pedal shifters behind the steering wheel.

The car offers multiple driving modes, like Eco, Sport and even Individual. While in city traffic, I was mostly on the Eco mode but as soon as I hit the highway, I switched on the Sports mode.

When I needed more power or wanted to overtake, I dropped the transmission and VRRRROOOMMMM! Instant power.

For a big car, the Kodiaq corners well – the 4-wheel drive gives you that extra grip you need and the vehicle feels more stable.

I couldn’t take the car off-roading, but I encountered a few uneven roads and bumps in Kovalam. The McPherson suspension was able to pick up the load of the car, while the brakes proved to be very responsive.

There is a lot of authority that the steering wheel commands though I did feel the feedback change a bit as I was switching between different modes.

Features

The Skoda Kodiaq comes bundled with a lot of interesting features that really puts it on par with cars above its price segment.

First, the basics. The Kodiaq comes with an 8-inch fully touch sensitive infotainment system and offers audio from Canton (just like in the Superb). It comes with satellite navigation and also offers connectivity via Android Auto, Apple Car Play and mirroring.

The Kodiaq comes with vertical AC vents and three-zone automatic climate control and worked well even in the humid weather of Kerala. It kept the odour out as well.

The car comes with automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers that helped me navigate my way through the Kerala monsoon.

The retractable door protectors that pop out when you open the door are a great addition. The front doors also house an umbrella holder.

The Kodiaq gets 9 airbags, more than most premium SUVs. Also in the package is muli-collision braking and a fatigue alert system. FYI, I never slept or got tired during driving so couldn’t really test it out.

It also comes with 10 colour ambient lighting and digital voice enhancement systems which make it easier even for the rear-seat passengers to talk on the phone via the car’s speaker. Other additions include the Wi-fi hotspot and a 360-degree reversing camera.

Initial Verdict

‘A beast in a tuxedo’ would be an apt description for the Skoda Kodiaq. It packs enough features to excite, while the extra space is a value addition in this segment.

My drive with the Kodiaq was delightful. It may not seem like much on paper, but the car delivers an appropriate amount of power. The steering, too, is responsive enough to make the drive engaging.

In its price range, the Kodiaq definitely is an SUV worth ‘czeching out’.

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