Skoda Kodiaq SUV (2024 - ) review

Skoda is always strong on value and the latest Kodiaq is no different. Keeping the starting price well under £40,000 is a good start and means cheaper VED (or ‘road tax’ in the parlance) for the first five years of ownership for SE models, the seven-seater option another £900 but still scoring this benefit. Think carefully before going up a grade on the basis VED will cost an additional £310 a year! Engine-wise Skoda expects the 1.5 litre petrol mild hybrid to be its most popular option and, given it will comfortably do over 40mpg, running costs should be reasonable. It is a similar story with the all-wheel drive diesel, while the diesel two-wheel drive version should do just under 50mpg on a good run. For those running a Kodiaq as a company car it’s worth waiting for the plug-in hybrid, this being the first time the model has offered the tech and saving a packet on Benefit In Kind, although the all-electric Enyaq would minimise this further if you don’t need seven seats.

As part of the wider Volkswagen group, Skoda has a solid reputation for reliability. The previous Kodiaq scored well in owner reliability surveys, coming seventh in the family car category of the Driver Power survey last year. Though it’s too early to know for sure about the new model, it’s certainly a good indication. All new Skodas come with a three-year warranty up to 60,000 miles, although you can pay extra for a New Car Warranty when ordering your Kodiaq to extend the cover until the car is up to five years old. Failing that, Extended Warranties are also an option to offer peace of mind.

Like all new cars, the Kodiaq has many safety features, helped by some improved radar sensors. Most notably blindspot monitoring is included as standard and can now alert over a greater distance. There are some all-new assistance functions for this generation too, with Turn Assist preventing collisions at junctions, Collision Avoidance Assist helping you steer out of trouble, Crossroad Assist warning of crossing traffic and Exit Warnings notifying you oncoming traffic when you open the door. The Sportline trim will be available soon and comes with fancy LED Matrix beam headlights improving visibility when driving at night. However, you’ll have to add several cost packages to benefit from all the safety tech on offer and we’ve reflected this in our safety score. The Driving Assistance Plus Package adds adaptive cruise control capable of automatically adjusting to changes in speed limits, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera and lane keeping assistance all taking the strain out of driving. Meanwhile, you’ll need the Simply Clever Family Package to get the maximum nine airbags.

The new Kodiaq is even more spacious than the outgoing model. Being slightly longer, it offers room for an extra medium-size suitcase in the boot and more headroom in the third row of seats. There’s loads of storage throughout, especially now the gear selector is behind the steering wheel, freeing up space for four cup holders between the front seats. From now on all Kodiaqs will be automatic, so whichever option you choose it’ll be easy and relaxing to drive. However, the most serene driving experience can be found in the plug-in hybrid when it’s running in EV mode. Initially the Kodiaq will be offered with two trim options, SE and SE L, with a Sportline trim to follow. The interior feels plush and has been designed to reflect a living room environment. Starting with Loft, this can be upgraded to Lounge, or top-of-the-range Suite, depending on the level of trim you choose. Each has its own combination of recycled fabrics, textures and stitching which look increasingly swish as you move through the levels. To reduce the environmental impact of the leather used, Skoda has even been growing its own coffee beans and using the by-product in the tanning process. Settling into the seats is easy, particularly if you opt for electrically adjustable driver’s seats or you could add the Convenience Plus Package to get massage seats with memory function, keyless entry, and variable boot floor. The rearmost seats are rather awkward to access making them best suited to smaller children, but the second row of seats is very roomy, offering plenty of space for up to three people. Integrated sun blinds and additional storage can be specified to give passengers a limousine-like experience.

The features of the Kodiaq are characteristically Skoda, designed to help you avoid life’s little dramas. There’s the umbrella in the door for ready for unexpected downpours and an ice scraper behind the fuel filler cap too. These remain practical and are now made of more sustainable materials. Additionally, the new Kodiaq can be equipped with pop-out edge protectors on its doors to act as a cushion between your car and any obstacles. For those behind the wheel, there’s an optional head-up display projecting essential info onto the windscreen so you can keep your eyes on the road. Rather than searching through the settings to adjust the display’s position, we tried asking ‘Laura’, the built in AI companion. While many AI features feel like a gimmick, ‘Laura’ was pretty helpful, finding the menu for us immediately. The 13-inch infotainment system felt intuitive too, aided by the smart dials to control things like temperature, volume and driving modes. You simply press them to move from one feature to another and then turn them according to your preference, a clever balance between digital and physical controls and a real relief compared to using the screen to control everything. We were also grateful for the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for maps given the built-in sat-nav seemed so intent on taking us along unmade tracks rather than roads!

The engine line-up has been updated for the new Kodiaq. The 1.5-litre petrol from the previous model is now a mild hybrid to increase efficiency. It coped admirably, feeling stable as it weaved its way over Spanish hills on our test drive, but it had to try hard to pick up pace and never felt quick. Skoda will also be offering the Kodiaq as a plug-in hybrid, providing up to 62 miles on battery power alone. We enjoyed the smooth acceleration from the EV mode, hardly experiencing the engine kick in on our short test route, so we look forward to trying one in the UK to see what real world range we can achieve. Alternatively, you can still have a diesel Kodiaq with either two- or four-wheel drive. These options will be preferrable if you are regularly transporting large families and all the luggage that comes with them. We tried the 4x4 diesel which, although more powerful, didn’t seem noticeably quicker than the mild hybrid. Finally, there’s a range topping 2.0-litre petrol which is only available as a four-wheel drive and we haven’t driven it yet. While none of the current variations are excessively powerful, they offer enough for day-to-day needs, however a faster vRS version is expected to arrive in December for those after a family car that packs a little more punch.