Skoda Kodiaq review | Auto Express

Step up to the SE L, and you’ll get the seven-seat layout as standard, starting at just over £40,000. Along with those two powertrains mentioned above, the SE L is available with a more powerful 190bhp mild-hybrid 2.0-litre diesel engine with four-wheel drive kicking off at around £46,000. In the fullness of time, there will be a 201bhp 2.0-litre petrol, and a similarly powerful 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid model. The latter will feature a 25.7kWh battery pack that’s capable of up to 62 miles of electric driving, and it has rapid charging capability to match plug-in hybrid versions of the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

Beyond the SE, SE L and the forthcoming Sportline and VRS trim levels, Skoda also offers a range of four ‘Design Selections’. They’re taken from the Skoda Enyaq electric SUV and feature ‘coordinated colours and materials’, according to Skoda. ‘Loft’ uses grey recycled fabric seat upholstery, and ‘Lounge’ uses grey suede microfibre upholstery with a combination of wool, artificial leather, and x-shaped yellow stitching. ‘Suite black’ has perforated artificial leather with grey stitching, whereas ‘Suite Cognac’ uses leather upholstery in black with ‘x’ shaped needlework in a ‘Cognac’ brown colour.

The Kodiaq is more of a comfort-orientated large SUV that’ll get on with the job of transporting a family with the minimum of fuss, but it won’t be all that exciting to drive. To be fair, that doesn’t matter so much in this type of car, where buyers will appreciate more its refined motorway manners and soothing ride. Of the engines we’ve tried so far, the 2.0-litre diesel in 148bhp form provides all the performance you’ll need, with affordable running costs. Read more about the Skoda Kodiaq’s engine, performance and drive…

As we mentioned above, the 2.0-litre 148bhp diesel will provide the most affordable running costs, but don’t discount the similarly powerful 1.5-litre petrol, because its mild-hybrid technology means it is much more economical than its predecessor, and will make sense for those who mostly complete urban journeys. The plug-in hybrid will make the most sense for company car drivers. Read more about the Skoda Kodiaq’s MPG, C02 and running costs…

The interior of the Kodiaq continues to impress us, not just in terms of the well thought-out ‘simply clever’ features, but also in terms of its ‘Smart Dial’ system. It utilises three rotary dials that switch between controlling various frequently used functions without having to resort to diving into the touchscreen menus. This makes the Kodiaq less distracting to use on the move compared with some of its rivals. We also highly rate the material quality of the Kodiaq, which puts you in mind of a premium SUV rather than a good value family car. Read more about the Skoda Kodiaq’s interior, design and technology…

The boot of the Kodiaq is bigger than ever, providing 340 litres of space in the seven-seater version with all the seats up, rising to 910 litres when the third row is folded. Dropping the rear seats is very easy, and they lay flat, which is great for loading longer items. There’s plenty of space for anyone six-foot tall to fit in the front, and a similarly tall person can fit behind them in the second row. You get up to three ISOFIX child seat mounting points in the Kodiaq, giving families an extra degree of flexibility in where they can put child seats.  Read more about the Skoda Kodiaq’s boot space, comfort and practicality…

The latest Skoda Kodiaq scored the maximum five out of five-star rating by Euro NCAP, plus it comes as standard with lots of the latest safety assistance technology, making it a safe place to put your family. We don’t have any Driver Power data yet because this model is too new to have been included, but the previous model did well with owners, so we anticipate the latest model will continue this trend. Read more about the Skoda Kodiaq’s reliability and safety…

Should you buy a Skoda Kodiaq?

The Kodiaq’s strengths lie in its ability to cope with family needs, especially when it comes to practicality. The choice of five or seven seats remains a plus point, although the third-row seats are more suited to shorter journeys because they’re a little tight for adults. 

Families are the obvious target for the Kodiaq and Skoda expects a 60/40 per cent split between the five and seven-seater models – which shows there’s a strong appetite for the extra row of seats. A vRS model with more power will join the range, although our early experience suggests Skoda will struggle to make the performance-focused Kodiaq feel special to drive. A luxury-focused L&K model will also join the range for those looking for more kit, and that is likely to be more in keeping with the big Skoda’s underlying character than a hot-hatch rival. 

Its ability to soak up motorway miles is impressive, and will suit those who regularly use their car for long family holiday drives. The Kodiaq won’t excite keen drivers, but that’s not what a seven-seat SUV is for. Instead, the Kodiaq is easy to drive with safe and surefooted handling. The main thing is that Skoda’s effort gets all the stuff that will matter to family buyers right, which is why we think it’s the best large SUV choice.