The flagship SUV overtook Octavia and Superb with sales of 267 units and helped the brand to achieve 75 percent YoY growth
Skoda unveiled the Kodiaq SUV in Berlin late last year and it comes as the flagship SUV from the Czech auto manufacturer. The car was first previewed through the Skoda Vision S Concept showcased at Geneva Motor Show previously. It takes inspiration from the Bohemian crystals and therefore looks pretty sharp.
The first seven-seat SUV from Skoda India hit the market finally back in October and it is positioned well above the Yeti. In November 267 units of Kodiaq were sold and it now the second bestselling car for the brand behind the Rapid sedan. Kodiaq has been named after an Alaskan bear named Kodiak, and the size and build represent the thinking behind the naming as well.
It is the first new global SUV from the Czech auto major which comes with both five seater and seven seater options, and also it marks the beginning of company’s extensive SUV campaign. Skoda plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid variant of this large sized SUV by 2019 as confirmed by brand’s chief Bernhard Maier.
It will likely adopt powertrain from the Passat GTE which is also slated for India. The Superb is reported to get a PHEV around 2019 and thus expect both models to reach our markets sometime in the beginning of next decade as Volkswagen Group embarks on expanding its electrification strategy.
The Skoda Kodiaq looks not only large and muscular in size, it also comes with a premium appearance inside the cabin with loads of interesting features. With the arrival of VW Tiguan, the competition in the premium SUV segment has now got really tough. In terms of power and performance, the SUV is strapped with a tried and tested diesel engine to deliver a superior performance. Here we take a look into the details of the new Skoda Kodiaq that is based on the same MQB platform as the Tiguan:
Skoda Kodiaq SUV India Price
| Skoda Kodiaq Price | Rs. 34.49 Lakh |
The seven-seater Skoda Kodiaq is priced at Rs. 34.49 lakh (ex-showroom) and has single engine and transmission option. Deliveries began from November onwards across all Skoda dealerships in India. The premium SUV has already been launched in several European markets and around the world as well and has received tremendous appreciation. It has entered India right after the debut of the performance-based Octavia RS recently.
Skoda Kodiaq SUV Engine Specifications
| Displacement | 2.0 TDI four-cylinder DQ 500 diesel engine |
| Power Output | 150 PS |
| Peak Torque | 340 Nm |
| Transmission | Seven-speed DSG automatic Only |
At the initial reveal, Skoda said 2 TDI and 3 TSI engines with power outputs ranging between 125 hp and 190 hp will be used for India. The cylinder capacities would range from 1.4 to 2.0 litres and they will be directly injected featuring turbocharger for better driveability and efficiency. The Euro 6 compliant engines will also have automatic start/stop tech and brake energy recovery system.
However at the launch only the familiar 2.0L TDI diesel making 150 PS and 340 Nm is present mated to a seven-speed DSG as a petrol motor is expected to arrive later. The Skoda Kodiaq is available with a range of powertrains including both the TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines internationally. There are three TSI petrol engines with displacements between 1.4 litre to 2.0 litre, while the TDI diesel engines will include differently tuned 2.0 litre units. The 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine mated to a six speed manual transmission churns out 125 PS of peak power and 200 Nm of peak torque; and it comes with a front wheel drive configuration.
There is another variant with the same 1.4 litre unit combined with Active Cylinder Technology (ACT), which comes producing 150 PS of peak power and 250 Nm of peak torque. Transmission duty in this car is done by a six speed manual transmission; while there will be a six speed DSG automatic transmission as well. It gets both the front wheel drive and All Wheel Drive (AWD) options.
The largest TSI petrol engine is a 2.0 litre unit paired with a seven speed DSG automatic transmission, generating 180 PS of peak power and 320 Nm of peak torque and it comes with an All Wheel Drive configuration. On the diesel front the car sports a 2.0 litre TDI engine which comes in two different tunes of power outputs.
While the base diesel Kodiaq kicks out 150 PS of peak power and 340 Nm of peak torque, the other model pumps out 190 PS of peak power and 400 Nm of peak torque. In foreign soil, the base diesel model comes with six speed manual transmission and seven speed DSG automatic transmission options as well, while the car gets both front wheel drive and AWD. The other model gets a seven speed DSG automatic transmission and an All Wheel Drive configuration only.
Skoda Kodiaq India Mileage
| Skoda Kodiaq Mileage | 16.25 kmpl for TDI diesel |
Skoda Kodiaq is ARAI certified to deliver 16.25 kmpl mileage from the 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine.
Skoda Kodiaq SUV Dimensions
| Overall Length | 4,697 mm |
| Width | 1,882 mm |
| Height | 1,676 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,791 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 63 litres |
Dimensionally, the Skoda Kodiaq measures 4,697 mm in length, 1,882 mm in width, 1,676 mm in height and the wheelbase stands at 2,791 mm. The Kodiaq is only 40 mm longer than the Octavia on paper, but the Kodiaq’s interior have been designed to offer a very roomy experience to the occupants. It offers a boot space of only 270 litres due to the third row seat, but it can be extended up to 2,005 litres.
Skoda Kodiaq SUV Ground Clearance
| Skoda Kodiaq Ground Clearance | 160 mm |
The ground clearance is 160 mm, and it would have been better, if the ground clearance came a bit higher.
Skoda Kodiaq SUV Exterior
On the design front the Skoda Kodiaq looks very sharp and the design was first previewed through the Skoda Vision S Concept, which was displayed at Geneva Motor Show earlier in 2015. The Czech auto manufacturer describes the design has been inspired by the Bohemian glass crystals, which is why the Kodiaq looks sharp and edgy.
The SUV bears the design language, which will be available in the future Skoda SUVs as well. The front fascia sports sharp LED headlamp clusters with integrated LED daytime running lights, vertically slated aggressive looking front grille with sleek chrome garnishing. The fog lamps come unusual looking and positioned just below the headlamps, unlike any other cars. The front bumper looks massive with a wide and large air intake sporting hexagonal mesh and a horizontal slat at the middle.
The side profile comes bearing the same masculine appeal and beefy. It features sharp cuts and creases, aggressive alloy wheels, a bit squarish wheel arches, side body cladding, sloping roofline, sporty roof rails and large 18-inch wheels. The glass area is blackened out and the ORVMs come sporting turn indicator lights, and they are designed in such a manner, which Skoda claims, helps in air flow toward the back.
The rear fascia gets a roof spoiler with high mounted stop lamp, deep cut between the sharp and wide wrap around C shaped LED taillights, a beefy bumper and twin exhaust vents. So far, the entire car looks very masculine and large. No wonder, it will come with its own road presence and grab eyeballs quickly even in the middle of dense traffic condition.
Skoda Kodiaq SUV Interior and Features
Skoda Kodiaq comes with a very upmarket interior offering comfortable journey experience for every occupant. The car comes in both five seater and seven seater layouts in international markets but we only get the preferred seven seat configuration. The interior takes the design cue from the all new Skoda Superb, with some distinctive characteristics though. Up front the sporty black themed interior features a three spoke multifunction steering wheel with silver trims. The instrument cluster gets both analog and digital display and looks pretty informative.
The centre console looks different than the Skoda Superb. It features an eight-inch touchscreen Swing infotainment system flanked by the control buttons and vertically positioned HVAC vents. The infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto, Skoda SmartLink and Mirror Link. The steering wheel and the seat covers and upholstery comes wrapped with premium quality leather and double needle stitching.
In terms of interior space, the Skoda Kodiaq comes with an interior length of 1,793 mm, elbow room of 1,527 mm at front and 1,510 mm at rear. The 1,020 mm of headroom is very impressive at the front, while the rear gets 1,014 mm of headroom. It also offers a 104 mm of leg space. The cabin gets an electrically operational panoramic sunroof, which enhances the premium appeal of the car.
Other important features are inbuilt navigation, umbrella in door pockets, panoramic sunroof, hands-free parking assistance, ambient lighting, Sleep Package equipping the rear seats with two flaps on headrests and can be moved to use as head support along with a set of blankets.
Skoda Kodiaq SUV Safety Features
The Safety features of the Skoda Kodiaq sports ABS, EBD, ESP, Hill Assist Control and multiple airbags as standard.
Skoda Kodiaq SUV India Rivals
The brand new Skoda Kodiaq will lock horn with the rivals like Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Isuzu MU-X, new VW Tiguan, upcoming Nissan X-Trail, and Hyundai Santa Fe.
Skoda Kodiaq SUV India Images
