There's quite a buzz when a car maker enters a market for the first time. There's the anticipation
of something genuinely new and genuinely different, even if that market has been around for a
long time. It shakes up the rule book on what buyers can expect for their money. So the
world was certainly paying attention when Skoda announced it was building it's first
ever large SUV. The Czech car maker already had the Yeti sure, but this is the first Skoda
has entered the significantly larger, and no less competitive market.
It's called the Kodiaq, and whilst it's got a lot in common with the other Volkswagen
Group SUVs including the Seat Ateca and Audi Q2, it's also up against some of our favourite
large SUVs including the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Kia Sorento.
Will it be a clear winner then? Or is Skoda too late to make its market in an already
crowded market? Keep watching to find out...
There's a choice between two petrols and two diesels and most come in a variety of power
outputs. You might think that the entry-level 1.4 petrols
would struggle with a car this size, but they actually cope pretty well. As long as you're
not expecting any swift progress. There is a more powerful 2.0 litre petrol
that comes in four-wheel drive, if that's the sort of thing that you're after.
The vast majority of UK buyers will head straight to the trio of diesels. Available with 113bhp,
148bhp and 187bhp. Our favourite is the mid-range because it's gutsy at low revs and has enough
power to haul around seven people. Go for front-wheel drive and you get this
DSG automatic gearbox as standard while buyers with four-wheel drive can spec a six-speed
manual. For those who are looking to do a lot of towing,
the 187bhp version will suit well. Be warned though, this does push the price up considerably.
When it comes to ride comfort, the Kodiaq's standard suspension set up works well and
is generally comfortable giving you a decent amount of control through corners.
Most large SUVs sway through the corners, but the Kodiaq feels remarkably stable and
agile, especially for a car of this size. Unfortunately, the steering is inconsistent
and is too light in all but sport mode. Inside the Skoda Kodiaq is a pleasant place
to be. There's plenty of soft-touch materials and it does feel good quality. Infact, it
makes a Nissan X-Trail or Hyundai's Santa Fe feel a little low rent.
Being an SUV, there's a good, demanding driving position and visibility is excellent out of
the front and sides, although if you've got the third row of seating up it's quite tricky
to see out the back. That means you'll probably want to go for
the SE and get rear parking sensors and then front and birds-eye view can be specced as
an optional extra. You can even get this car to park itself, but that's only if you're
a very nervous parker. To get adjustment to find a comfortable driving
position, that is easily done with the seat and steering wheel. Although if you're looking
for a bit of lumber support you'll have to go for the SEL model.
The dashboard is logically laid out, and these chunky buttons are even hard to find in the
dark. This touchscreen is easy to use and the menus
are clear and logically laid out. It's got all the functions that you would expect including
DAB radio, USB-in and iPhone and android mirroring systems, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
And if you go for the SEL and above, you'll also get sat-nav.
There are a couple of clever features to mention too including wireless phone charging on Edition
models, while a system which turns the Kodiaq into a wi-fi hotspot is on the options list
for high-end versions. So, let's see how easy it is to pair my mobile
phone and set a destination in the sat-nav. Connecting automatically, select telephone,
find telephone. And, bluetooth is on. There we are, Rebecca's iPhone.
Now set a destination in the sat-nav. Where would i like to go?
Let's go to Manchester. Street? The high street.
Excellent, well that was easy. The good news is you're unlikely to feel cramped
in here because there's plenty of head and leg room, there's large door bins that can
accommodate a big bottle of water, more storage under here and a decent sized glove box.
You can specify the Kodiaq with just five seats, however higher end SEL model and range-topping
Edition only come with seven seats. This middle row slides backwards and forwards,
split 60/40 and has an adjustable back. There isn't as much room as a Kia Sorento,
however if you've only got four adults in this car there is loads of space.
Adults and teenagers relegated to this third row will find it very squashy. Small children
however will be absolutely fine. When these seats are not in use, they fold
down like that. And with those rear seats stowed away or in
five-seater guise, this boot is absolutely huge.
There's not much that you wouldn't be able to fit in here. Even with these two seats
in place, there's still enough room for a couple of small suitcases or a modest weekly
shop. And the boot floor is virtually flat, as long
as you go for the variable boot floor which is standard on our recommended SEL model.
With its low starting price, the Kodiaq looks like a very tempting proposition. Bare in
mind though that the entry-level model comes with a petrol engine and five-seater guise
only. More popular is going to be the 2.0-litre diesel, although that still undercuts the
Kia Sorento, and the Kodiaq is expected to hold onto its residual value better than a
lot of its rivals. In terms of equipment, we'd go for SEL trim
which gets you most of the kit you're going to want in the Kodiaq including those all-important
extra seats. LED headlights, Alcantara seats, keyless entry
and start and a powered tailgate. It's worth noting though that even the entry-level
versions get air-con and all models get automatic emergency braking as standard.
The Skoda Kodiaq is one of the best seven-seater SUVs around.
For a car in this market it ticks almost every box. It's practical, affordable and good value
for money. This may be Skoda's first large SUV but straight away it's produced one of
the best. If you're looking for a car in this market,
your decision has just got a whole lot harder. For plenty more on the Skoda Kodiaq, including
our full online review, head to WhatCar.com. And don't miss another video, hit subscribe!