New Skoda Kodaiq: Experiential Review

Skoda has finally revealed what its flagship SUV will look like. Well, here’s our first driving impression as we get behind the wheel of a camouflaged pre-production version.

In the history of every brand, there comes a time when it must make a clean break from the past. It’s at this moment that a new starting line is defined, and this is where Skoda stands today. At one time, Skoda may have been the butt of all jokes – but the company that sets out to produce the Kodiaq can do so full of confidence and secure in the knowledge that it now makes vehicles of the absolute finest quality.

We got our hands on Skoda’s new flagship, in pre-production trim, amidst the beautiful Norwegian fjords. Pictures of the production version were unveiled in early September, and the car will first be shown at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September. The final production version looks very much like you would expect a 7-seat SUV from Skoda to look. It’s got broad shoulders and sharp creases much like the Skoda flagship sedan – the Superb. It’s based on the VW MQB platform that underpins the Octavia – and its underpinnings suggest that we won’t have to worry about driving dynamics. But, at the same time, the downside is that there’s a risk of homogeneity with the various VW Group products that share this platform. At any rate, it means that there won’t be any surprises.

The familiar 2.0 TDI that’s under the hood of our pre-production model works just fine. It’s the engine most likely to power the first batch of Kodiaq’s when it’s launched in the second half of next year in India. Very little of the diesel clatter makes its way into the cabin. The engine will come in two trims – with 180bhp and 148bhp. Our test car was the latter that produces 340Nm of torque, which gives it adequate grunt to comfortably cover ground in the Norwegian countryside. By the way, the name for this SUV is derived from the Kodiak bear – which is found on the islands of Alaska.

The Kodiaq will come with both a six-speed manual and a dual-clutch DSG. In our case, the six-speed manual did the job just fine – sufficient torque from the engine meant that we didn’t have to row the gear lever too much. The steering is light and uncommunicative, but weighs up nicely in Sport mode. The ride and handling balance appears to be spot on, as the Kodiaq reacts to your inputs in a very measured manner. The piece de resistance, though, is a spacious passenger compartment that not only holds seven people in comfort but also offers the latest infotainment connectivity and technology.

Sure, Skoda has taken a very measured approach with the Kodiaq – but it’s a sign of a company that’s very sure of itself! The Kodiaq, then, appears to do everything it promises – it provides space for seven people in a cutting edge package.

Skoda has already revealed pictures of the final production version of the Kodiaq, in which you can see the broad shoulders and chiselled lines that take their cue from Skoda’s current flagship – the Superb.

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Also read: A peek into Skoda’s ambitious SUV strategy