Skoda Kodiaq long-term test

The car Skoda Kodiaq 1.5 TSI 150 e-Tec DSG SE L Run by John Bradshaw, chief photographer

Why it’s here To see if Skoda's seven-seater can provide a winning blend of comfort, practicality and economy 

Needs to Tackle long trips with ease, carry bulky loads and be frugal at the pumps

Mileage 14,530 List price £41,700 Best Price £38,383 Price as tested £43,005 Official fuel economy 44.5mpg Test fuel economy 40.1mpg Dealer price now £34,350 Private price now £28,990 Running costs (excl. depreciation) Fuel £2065

5 August 2025 – Skoda hits the mark

In my first report, I spoke of how we sometimes find ourselves revisiting favourite holiday destinations, staying in the same hotels, using the same airline, all because we know what to expect and are unlikely to be disappointed. Well, after six months with my Skoda Kodiaq, I rather wish I didn’t have to hand back the key. It’s been much more than just a holiday romance.

The Kodiaq was my second car from the brand, back-to-back; I previously ran a Skoda Kamiq, and I was very impressed by how grown-up and capable it seems for what is a small SUV. As What Car?’s senior photographer, I quickly got used to how to fit the tools of my trade in the boot and rear seats, even if it took a bit of discipline to pack lighter than I’ve needed to in bigger cars prior.

With the Kodiaq, though, there were no compromises. It’s one of the bigger family SUVs out there, with seats for seven, and I don’t think I’ve ever run a more flexible, more versatile car. It’s just so well thought out; there’s even somewhere under the boot floor to store the luggage compartment parcel shelf when it’s not in use. 

Right from the beginning, I’ve been impressed by the sheer common sense that the Kodiaq displays. From thoughtful features like the ice scraper behind the petrol filler flap (this saw a lot of use during that February cold snap), to the ticket holder next to the windscreen (why don’t all cars have this?) and the built-in screenwash funnel. And, unlike several models I’ve driven recently, proper ventilation controls.

There are three rotary dials on the centre console, the outer two look after the passenger and driver’s temperature zones, and – at a press – their heated seats. The dial in the middle, meanwhile, looks after audio volume and drive mode (including hill descent control), as well as zooming into the sat-nav map. All of these operations are much, much easier with a twist and a press of a physical dial than wading through infotainment menus when you’re on the move. Okay, they feel a little plasticky to operate, but they don’t feel fragile, and I’m very glad they’re there.

Having convenient controls helps with relaxation behind the wheel, and the same is true of the Kodiaq’s cruising manners. I’ve been making a lot of short, urban journeys of late, but a long motorway trip to deepest Herefordshire (for the day of archery that my sisters and I spend together annually) reminded me just what a capable mile muncher it is. My car doesn’t have the optional adaptive suspension system, with its comfort and sports settings, and nor did it need it. The standard suspension was unfazed by the majority of road imperfections it encountered, and even the worst urban crevasses jolted but never jarred.

Not that the Kodiaq limited me to driving on the Tarmac. There have been several occasions this year when work has taken me off the beaten track, and my car’s impressive ground clearance meant it could traverse scrubby, tufty terrain with ease. Of course, with front-wheel drive only, it’s never going to follow a Land Rover Defender into the jungle, but it’ll have no problem taking folk to an idyllic rural campsite or getting close to the action for outdoor pursuits.

Not long ago, my Kodiaq met its closely related rival, the recently launched Volkswagen Tayron, in a What Car? twin test, and I was on photographic duty for the occasion. That meant I got to look at the Tayron side by side with the Kodiaq. What struck me was that the former felt a little plusher inside than my car, particularly the surfaces at the tops of the doors. I wouldn’t have swapped it for my car, though. In fact, our twin-test verdict named the Kodiaq as victorious, citing its slightly more spacious interior and more confidence-inspiring steering among its winning attributes. And that tallies with my experience.

After my Kamiq, the Kodiaq obviously felt like a much bigger machine, but never an unwieldy one. I can imagine large families finding it a perfect fit, with even the rearmost seats suitable for a pair of grown-ups. And the Kodiaq’s broad appeal seems borne out by strong resale values. There’ll always be a customer standing by when it comes time for you to sell it on.

I wish I could say the same about my archery skills, but Skoda was bang on target when it created the Kodiaq.

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