The clever design of Skoda Kodiaq makes it look smaller than it actually is. Measuring a good 4697mm in length (the Endeavour and Fortuner measure 48952mm and 4795mm, respectively), the Skoda flagship seven-seater SUV flaunts a signature ‘butterfly’ grille. The head lamps, like that of the other Skoda cars, have a crystal look about them. The fog lamps are nicely placed in their own angular pods. The air dam (in the bumper) cleverly masks the vertical elevation of the SUV. The sides, marked by well carved out wheel arches and sharp lines reflect upon the SUV’s length. The wheel arches contain 18-inch dia alloys and 235/55 R18 tyres. A grey cladding runs along the base of the Kodiaq; it reminds of the Tiguan. At the rear, the crystal tail lamps draw attention.
8-inch touchscreen
Featuring standard Skoda dials, steering wheel, stalks, window switches and air conditioner controls, the cabin of the Kodiaq is beige and dark grey. The quality of trim, and fit and finish standards are good. At the dash centre is a 8.0-inch touchscreen. It comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a proprietary navigation system. The Canton music system sounds nice, and is made up of 12-speakers. The interior also has ambient lighting, a huge panoramic sunroof, auto head lamps and wipers, powered tail gate, parking sensors, and a rear view camera. A little dustbin in the door pocket, and a magnetised flashlight make for an interesting touch, and the SUV comes with nine airbags.
Seats offer good support
The power adjustable front seats with memory provide good support. The middle row gets 40:20:40 split seat. The seat can slide back and forth by as much as 180mm, and is comfortable though a little firm. Access to the third row is a bit cumbersome since the second row seat folds down but does not tumble forward. It is not removable either. Compared to the amount of space available in the front and the middle, the third row feels a bit cramped. Pushing the middle row forward helps to an extent. Good amount of storage space is created by dropping the third row.
Responsive at low speeds
The lower dash height provides a good view of the front. The 150bhp, 2-litre turbo-diesel engine is mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. The combination works well to get the SUV to offer good performance. With a kerb weight of 1.8-tonnes, the Kodiaq feels refined and provides adequate performance. Responsive at low to medium speeds, the SUV makes driving in town easy. Its size — length especially, is felt when negotiating narrow lanes and streets. On the highway, the SUV settles down to good cruising speeds. When the need to quickly overtake arrives, there’s some hesitation as the box kicks down as revs build. The engine provides good thrust in the mid range. First Skoda to have a drive mode switch, the engagement of Sports mode improves performance. A good strategy would be to tap the shifter into ‘S’ when in mood to drive aggressively, or when in need to quickly overtake.
Verdict
The light, responsive steering provides sincere feedback, and feels direct. Ride is good over a variety of surfaces and there is a firm edge to it. But the suspension has the ability to absorb bumps very well. Little road or tyre noise filters into the cabin, and the handling is quite good. An all-wheel drive, the Kodiaq feels more like a car to drive rather than an SUV. This is a big positive, and speaks highly about the capabilities of the vehicle. Available in only one model trim, the Kodiaq is priced at Rs 34.49 lakh (ex-showroom) and is costlier than the Endeavour and Fortuner.
