Hot on the heels of launching the powerful and sporty Octavia vRS, Czech car-maker Skoda is back with yet another all-new model for India, the Kodiaq. Unveiled late last year, the Kodiaq is the brand’s latest flagship, aiming to take advantage of the craze for high-riding SUVs and crossovers globally.
In India, Skoda has launched the Kodiaq in just one trim level - Style, priced at INR 34.49 Lakhs across the country. That puts it well above the Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen Tiguan, two similar-sized monocoque 5-seater SUVs and the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour, two big-selling body-on-frame 7-seater SUVs.
Powering the Kodiaq is the popular 2.0-liter TDI diesel engine that also does duty in a host of other cars in the Volkswagen Group. In this application, the engine churns out 148 horsepower and a substantial 340 Nm of torque delivered from as low as 1,750 rpm. Paired to the mill is a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. With five driving modes to choose from and standard All Wheel Drive system, the Kodiaq can take those occasional off-road jaunts in its stride.
Clean, crisp styling has now become a Skoda trait and the Kodiaq is no exception. A bigger and bolder butterfly grille up front is flanked by twin lights on either sides, a design trait Skoda has used in the Octavia as well. The tall hood with prominent central ridges give the Kodiaq an imposing stance which is carried on to the profile through the recessed shoulder line and flared, squared-off wheel arches adequately filled with 18-inch wheels. The rear is pleasing to the eye with the contoured tailgate and Skoda’s signature crystalline taillight clusters particularly impressive.
In typical Skoda fashion, the Kodiaq’s cabin eschews flashy styling for a simple yet functional layout with top-notch fit and finish. The dual-tone beige and grey cabin feature fake wood-like inserts, which adds a bit of flair and proves to be a nice contrast. Three rows of seats mean the Kodiaq is a 7-seater, albeit with restricted legroom and headroom for the two occupants in the third row.
Skoda has equipped the Kodiaq with a full suite of safety features that include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control, ‘IBUZZ’ Fatigue Detection System, ‘PARKTRONIC’ hands-free parking assist, all-round parking sensors with rear view camera and a total of nine airbags. Kudos Skoda, that's as comprehensive as it could get!
Befitting its status as the brand’s flagship, the Kodiaq gets features like three-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, electrically-controlled hands-free tailgate, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 10-speaker Canton sound system, Ambient Lighting offering 10 colour options, powered front seats with memory function, roller blinds for the rear windows and ‘Power Nap Package’ for the rear passengers.
That's not all, there's more.
What’s a Skoda without those nifty ‘Simply Clever’ features? The Kodiaq has a few up its sleeve like the umbrella holders in front doors with in-built drain function, the door edge protectors that pop out to protect the doors from damage when opening in congested parking lots and the magnetized LED torchlight that can come in handy while changing tyres in the dark and recharge automatically while the engine is running.
With such an extensive equipment list, space for seven and proven ride and handling Skodas are known for, the Kodiaq could be that one car that serves all the needs of a typical, well-heeled Indian family. But, has Skoda positioned the Kodiaq optimistically, thus hurting its chances? They have, we're afraid! Let's see if the market decides otherwise.
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