Skoda Kodiaq (2024-) Review

Introduction

When you’ve got a car that’s as successful as the Skoda Kodiaq, it must be very easy to rest on your laurels. When the time came to replace the big family SUV, Skoda could have simply taken a car that had sold more than 850,000 examples and just tweaked the lights and the grille, then let the customers roll in.

But the Czech company didn’t. Instead, the car has been almost totally overhauled with a new body, new interior and new engines. But despite all this change, Skoda claims the old car’s strengths – namely space, quality and value – remain intact or have been improved, which should make the car even more popular than ever. The question is, can Skoda deliver on its promises?

At a Glance

Skoda has changed pretty much every part of the Kodiaq, yet it’s still instantly recognisable.

Perhaps it’s a little more streamlined than before — Skoda’s official figures certainly suggest that’s the case — but the grille and sharp lines are all Skoda hallmarks these days. There’s a new roof design, too, and there’s a fresh tailgate and new rear lights, but even that can’t detract from the Kodiaqishness of it all.

Inside, however, you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in something a little more premium than a Skoda. We all know the brand has moved upmarket in recent years, but that has seldom been more apparent than in the new Kodiaq. Soft, tactile materials and a clean design characterise a cabin that feels smart, but still has plenty of space and some clever storage solutions.

As well as feeling posh and roomy, the Kodiaq also comes with a choice of great engines, including a new 1.5-litre petrol plug-in hybrid system and two 2.0-litre diesel options. The diesels are likely to be among the most popular, so it’s a good job they’re punchy, economical and surprisingly refined, which makes them a great choice.

In a way, they’re a metaphor for the Kodiaq’s driving experience, which proves to be comfortable, smooth and quiet. That means it’s perfect for longer drives, while the availability of all-wheel-drive options with genuine off-road capability only adds to the Kodiaq’s appeal.

Key Features

For many, the most appealing part of the Kodiaq will be its boot, which is nothing short of cavernous. Although the amount of space changes slightly depending on which version you choose, they all have enormous cargo bays that offer impressive load-carrying capability. And that’s before you talk about adding roof boxes or trailers to the mix.

It isn’t just boot space that’s impressive, however. The cabin is roomier than you might expect, and the third row of seats (where fitted) can take two adults, albeit with a small degree of difficulty. Tall occupants will struggle to get in and might feel pretty cramped once they’re there, which rather rules long journeys in the rearmost seats out for taller passengers. For kids, however, there’ll be more than enough space, and they’ll have ample flexibility for getting in and out. Adults, meanwhile, will be much happier in the middle row, where there’s more than enough head- and legroom.

Range & Batteries

Skoda’s new plug-in hybrid system throws out the old plug-in Kodiaq’s battery and replaces it with a shiny new one with 25.7kWh of capacity. That means, officially, the Kodiaq iV (that’s what they’re calling the plug-in version) will cover more than 62 miles on the WLTP economy test without using the petrol engine whatsoever. In the real world, that’s more likely to feel like 40-odd miles if you drive reasonably sensibly, but it’s still more than enough for a short commute, the school run or a shopping trip. Charge regularly at home, and some customers will find themselves putting very little petrol in to feed that 1.5-litre engine.

Performance & Drive

Skoda is offering the Kodiaq with a broad range of engines that kicks off with the 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine. Producing 150hp and powering the front wheels alone, it comes with a seven-speed automatic gearbox as standard (there are no manual options for the Kodiaq) and gets the car from 0-62mph in a respectable 9.7 seconds.

Alternatively, customers can choose one of the two diesel engines, which are likely to be the more popular choices. There’s a basic 2.0-litre engine with 150hp and front-wheel drive, or there’s a 193hp version of the same engine with all-wheel drive. Again, both come with a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

Naturally, the more powerful engine offers more performance, with a 0-62mph time of eight seconds flat, compared with 9.8 seconds for the equivalent 150hp version. It also provides greater off-road capability, thanks to its all-wheel-drive system and it’s better for towing, with a greater maximum trailer weight and more traction. But for those who don’t need any of that, the 150hp engine will do the job more economically.

In addition to those engines, Skoda will also offer a more potent 2.0-litre, all-wheel-drive petrol engine with 204hp and there will be the 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid Kodiaq iV, which will have 200hp.

Some may prefer the petrol engines or the hybrid for refinement reasons, and though the Kodiaq iV is very quiet, so too are all the other variants. The diesels are remarkably quiet considering their powertrains, only becoming even slightly noisy when pushed.

That fits neatly with the overall sense of calm in the Kodiaq’s cabin, and though it isn’t the most comfortable car on the planet, it’s clear Skoda’s engineers have given it a very mature, supple ride that takes the edge of most bumps in the road. No matter what happens, it always feels very settled and stable, and it’s brilliant on the motorway.

It’s pretty good on a back road, too, although it’s clearly not really set up for sportiness. A vRS model is expected to launch in 2025, though, and that will probably have a bit more joie de vivre when it comes to handling. Instead, the more conventional versions of the Kodiaq have quite numb and light steering, but it’s precise enough and body control is generally very good, so it feels nice and planted in corners. It’s as enjoyable to drive as any customer will want.

And it can cope in town, despite its size. Sure, the ride isn’t at its best there, although that probably isn’t helped by the large alloy wheels, but visibility is reasonable and driver aids are plentiful. Even off-roading is taken in the Kodiaq’s stride, as long as you have an all-wheel-drive version. With an off-road mode showing wheel positions and the like, as well as goodies such as hill descent control, you could almost be fooled into thinking it’s a Land Rover. It’ll certainly do as much off-roading as any customer will ask of it.

Charging

Unlike some plug-in hybrids, the Kodiaq iV will come with 11kW AC charging, which allows it to use domestic and commercial ‘wallbox’ charging units, and 50kW DC charging, which gives you the option of charging from a public charger. Use the full potential of the former, and you’ll fill the battery from 10% to 80% in two-and-a-half hours, while using a 50kW public charge point will achieve the same feat in 25 minutes. And given 80% of a charge is probably equal to a range of more than 30 miles, that’s pretty useful.

Running Costs & Emissions

Naturally, the figures suggest the Kodiaq iV will be the most economical option, but it isn’t quite that simple. If you can charge regularly at home and keep the majority of your journeys short, the plug-in Kodiaq will indeed offer strong economy, only really troubling the engine when you take it further afield. However, if your lifestyle doesn’t suit that technology for whatever reason – maybe you can’t charge at home or you drive longer distances – then diesel will be the answer.

The Kodiaq’s two diesel engines are both pretty efficient, but the 2.0-litre, 150hp option is the more economical of the two, returning 53.2mpg. Opt for the more powerful, all-wheel-drive option and that figure will fall to 44.1mpg, but even that isn’t bad for a car with almost 200hp, all-wheel drive and a kerb weight of almost two tonnes.

All that said, the 1.5-litre petrol option shouldn’t be discounted. With the same power output as the basic, front-drive diesel engine, the petrol option uses mild-hybrid technology and active cylinder technology (which switches off two of the four cylinders when the engine is not under load) to reduce fuel consumption, giving it similar economy to the more powerful diesel engine. In range-topping SE L trim and with seven seats, it’ll return 44.4mpg, and it’ll be even more economical in the lowlier SE guise with just five seats. For those who don’t want a diesel, the 1.5 petrol isn’t a bad option.

Interior & Technology

Just as the new Kodiaq’s exterior has been redesigned, the car’s interior has also received a major overhaul, with an all-new layout. Central to that is the subtle but important decision to move the gear selector to the steering column, which takes a little getting used to but works fairly well and frees up loads of space on the centre console. That space has been filled with storage, predominantly, and there’s ample space to put all sorts of bits and bobs.

More obviously, Skoda has given the Kodiaq the same 13-inch touchscreen as the new Superb, which is a mixed blessing. It looks really quite cool and high-tech, and it’s a lot better than some of the Volkswagen Group’s screens in recent years, but it’s still a little fiddly and some functions remain irritatingly well hidden.

Happily, the climate control settings aren’t among them, because Skoda has fitted the Kodiaq with what it calls ‘Smart Dials’. The three dials on the dash can be used as buttons as well as dials, which allows drivers to switch between different functions. The two outer dials mainly control temperature, but they can also control seat heating or ventilation, while the central dial offers a choice of four configurable functions, including fan speed, drive mode selection and navigation system zoom. It’s all quite intuitive, and way less distracting than delving into the touchscreen.

Other tech features include the digital instrument display, which is predictably clear and sharp, and the head-up display about which much the same thing could be said. However, more impressive is the quality on display, with some nice materials and even better construction ensuring the Kodiaq feels more premium than customers might expect from something wearing the Skoda badge.

That’s in spite of the fact Skoda has used recycled and sustainable materials more extensively in the new Kodiaq, using sustainable fibres for the upholstery, carpets and even features such as the ‘Simply Clever’ dustbins, ice scraper and touchscreen cleaner block. Yep, Skoda even thought to add a screen cleaner to the Kodiaq as that huge screen is now so crucial.

Practicality & Boot Space

Obviously, big family cars live and die on their interior space, and that was one of the big draws of the old Kodiaq. The new model, however, is even more spacious, with Skoda intentionally tweaking the rear passenger space to create 15mm more rear headroom. That’s useful whether you choose the five- or seven-seat versions of the Kodiaq, although which one you pick will likely depend on what engine you want or whether you prioritise boot or passenger space.

Opt for a basic 1.5-litre petrol five-seater, and the Kodiaq has a massive 910 litres of luggage space behind the rear seats, and that’s only if you load up to the window line. Fold the rear bench down and load to the roof and there’s a van-esque 2,105 litres of carrying capacity.

Alternatively, if you choose the seven-seater, you get 340 litres of carrying space behind the two rearmost seats, which is still almost as much as you get in a VW Polo with five seats in use, and that expands to 845 litres with the sixth and seventh seats folded away. Drop the middle row as well and it grows to 2,035 litres.

Unsurprisingly, given the massive battery under the boot floor, the Kodiaq iV is only available in five-seat form, and it has the smallest boot of any car in the range, but everything is relative. The 745-litre cargo space is still massive and it grows to 1,945 litres when the back seats are tucked away.

If you’re more interested in carrying passengers, the third row of seats is just about big enough for adults, although tall ones will find it very cramped, and most will struggle to clamber in. The space is made more useful by the fact the middle row of seats slides fore and aft, but there’s a bit of a trade-off when it comes to legroom for middle-row passengers. Still, there’s plenty of that to play with, and there’s no reason you couldn’t carry five kids in the back in comfort, or take seven adults on a short journey.

Safety

The new Kodiaq hasn’t been crash-tested by Euro NCAP just yet, but we’re expecting it to achieve the same high standards as its predecessor. The old Kodiaq received a five-star rating when it was tested, achieving a particularly commendable 92% score for adult occupant protection. And though the test has moved with the times since then, we’ve every reason to expect the same safety from the new model.

If nothing else, it comes with plenty of kit to help reduce the chances of accidents happening in the first place. Standard equipment includes all the usual stuff such as autonomous emergency braking to help slow or stop the car if the driver doesn’t respond to a hazard, but Skoda also includes blind-spot monitoring as standard, while a reversing camera is thrown in with every model.

Options

Kodiaq customers get a relatively simple choice of two different trim levels, with the basic SE model joined by the more upmarket SE L. The SE comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, the 13-inch touchscreen and a choice of five or seven seats, while the SE L is only available with seven seats and gets 19-inch alloys and keyless entry as standard.

In fairness, both versions are quite well equipped — even the cheapest car gets a reversing camera, cruise control and three-zone climate control — but the SE L adds a bit more luxury. It also comes with a wider choice of engines, including the 2.0-litre, all-wheel-drive powertrains.

In the fullness of time, Skoda will also introduce a Sportline model with a slightly more motorsport-derived design, and there’ll be a ‘full-fat’ vRS model with a specific and more performance-orientated engine as standard. What exactly those variants will come with remains to be seen.

What we do know, however, is that customers will be able to choose a range of colours for their Kodiaq, including the new Bronx Gold Metallic, which might be somewhat divisive. To be honest, the Energy Blue that comes as standard is pretty smart, although the Race Blue Metallic paint that’s available as an option is our favourite.

Rival Cars

The Kodiaq’s rivals appear to be getting more numerous and more varied as manufacturers rush to create ever more SUVs for keen customers. Now, the Skoda has to compete with its predecessor’s sister car, the Seat Tarraco, which is a brilliant SUV and matches the Kodiaq in pretty much every area, as well as the Nissan X-Trail, which majors on hybrid tech and Nissan quality as much as it does on space.

But rivals are now coming from all angles, such as the Kia Sorento that’s a little larger, but also offers customers a comfy seven-seat option. Then there’s the Hyundai Santa Fe, which is a sibling of the Kia and offers much the same thing with a little more focus on luxury.

And if you want to get premium (and why not, when leasing makes it more affordable?), then you could look at the Mercedes-Benz GLB, which is a bit more compact but still quite cool in its boxy way, or the Land Rover Discovery Sport, which has oodles of off-road capability and a beautifully upmarket interior.

Verdict & Next Steps

Although Skoda might have made numerous changes to the Kodiaq, it’s still every bit as good as its predecessor, if not a little better. Improvements have largely come from the right places, save for the slightly messy touchscreen, and there’s plenty to like about the way the car drives. More importantly, it offers even more practicality than the old car, and it comes with the same impressive level of quality and capability. It’s unquestionably one of the best family SUVs you can lease today.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Skoda Kodiaq.

**Correct as of 09/05/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £3,703.23 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.