Item: Skoda Kodiaq
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Skoda Kodiaq

Ssangyong Rexton

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Volvo XC60

Five-seat versions of the Skoda Kodiaq (and seven-seat versions with the rearmost seats stowed away into the floor) have an enormous boot that can hold an impressive nine carry-on suitcases. But the Peugeot 5008’s boot is bigger still and able to take 10 cases, while the&nbsp;Kia Sorento’s is so much longer and wider that it can take 11.

With bums on all seven seats, the Kodiaq’s boot shrinks considerably, although there’s still space for a quick trip to the supermarket or a couple of small suitcases. The tonneau cover pulls across the whole boot area when the Kodiaq is in five-seat mode and cleverly slots away under the boot floor when all seven seats are required.

The Kodiaq’s interior is a smorgasbord of soft-touch materials and nicely damped buttons and switches; any harder plastics are kept well out of sight. It's right up there with the 5008 for quality and&nbsp;makes rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/x-trail/4x4/review/n51">Nissan X-Trail</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/review/n57">Ford Kuga</a> feel decidedly low-rent. That said, premium large SUVs, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a>, are even plusher.&nbsp;

All models get a leather-wrapped steering wheel that's a pleasure to hold. There are lots of fancy dashboard inserts available to jazz up the interior if you think the standard look is a little bland, while an optional interior light pack (standard on SE Drive) makes the Kodiaq feel that bit more special inside.

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

You sit nice and high in the Skoda Kodiaq, looking down on folk in their conventional hatchbacks and smaller SUVs, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120">Audi Q2</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/review/n111">Seat Ateca</a>. Pull up alongside a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a>, though, and you suddenly feel quite small.

The driving position is hard to fault; there's plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel to set everything up just how you like it. The only slight disappointment&nbsp;is that adjustable lumbar support doesn’t feature as standard on the entry-level SE trim.

The Kodiaq’s dashboard is logically laid out and a doddle to use. There are plenty of big, clearly labelled buttons, such as those for the climate control, that you can hit easily on the move (in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c5-aircross/hatchback/review/n18246">Citroën C5 Aircross</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a> these functions are integrated annoyingly into the touchscreen)&nbsp;while the instrument dials are crystal-clear and legible at a glance. You can upgrade to digital dials that can be set up in various&nbsp;ways to show whatever information is most useful to you.&nbsp;

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

http://example.com

1.5 TSI

15-tsi

2.0 TDI

20-tdi

2.0 TSI 190

20-tsi-190

2.0 TDI 200

20-tdi-200

2.0 TSI 245

20-tsi-245

If you really like your toys, you should have a look at the better-equipped Mazda CX-5. Focusing on the Kodiaq, though, SE trim is worth considering if you don't need five seats and are looking to keep costs down, but, if you can, stretch to pay the small premium for SE Drive trim. It's our favourite version.

For a start it brings lots of trinkets we've already mentioned, including seven seats, front lumbar adjustment, sat-nav, a rear-view camera and parking sensors all round, but on top of all that it gains you 19in alloy wheels and ambient interior lighting.&nbsp;

SE L trim is worth a look – highlights include microsuede trim, heated front seats, keyless entry and an electric tailgate – but the upper trims, Sport Line and L&amp;K, while generously equipped, are too pricey to recommend.

In the same way that most people don’t get their weekly groceries from Harrods, not everyone is in a position to go premium when they’re buying a large SUV. That’s why the Skoda Kodiaq, with its attractive starting price, could be just the ticket for big families looking for value for money.

Skoda has a reputation for building highly practical cars, but the Kodiaq is actually its first<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-large-suvs-2020/n17006"> large SUV</a> and the first model from the Czech brand to be available with seven seats. The Kodiaq shares some of its underpinnings with other VW Group models, including the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/tarraco/estate/review/n17865"> Seat Tarraco</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan-allspace/estate/review/n17379"> Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace</a>, but it's just as much a rival to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68"> Hyundai Santa Fe</a>,<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18"> Kia Sorento</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a>.

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bdd1hwedv6A"></iframe>

In addition to offering both five and seven-seat versions of the Kodiaq, Skoda lets you choose from front and four-wheel drive and a broad range of trim levels. In fact, the plusher and more powerful versions push into the price range of premium models, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Land Rover Discovery Sport</a>.&nbsp;

So, is the Kodiaq worth considering in the heat of such tough competition? Read on over the next few pages and we'll tell you how it compares with its rivals and which engines and trims you should consider.

Then, when you decide on the car for you, head over to<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals"> New Car Buying service</a>, where you can get <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/skoda/kodiaq/estate/deals">great discounts on the Kodiaq</a> and many other without the hassle of haggling.

The Skoda Kodiaq is a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/large-suv">large SUV</a>, so you’re unlikely to ever feel cramped in the front seats, even if you’re a basketball player.&nbsp;

Head room is more copious&nbsp;than it is in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a> and the front seats slide back a long way to accommodate anyone long in the legs, although the Kodiaq’s interior isn’t as broad as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>'s.

There's loads of storage space,&nbsp;including&nbsp;door pockets that are big enough to swallow a large bottle of water. There’s also a cubby under the front armrest and another in front of the gearlever that’s designed to take your mobile phone.

Large SUVs have a tendency to sway around quite a bit through corners, but less so the Skoda Kodiaq. Compared with rivals such as the C5 Aircross, X-Trail and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18"> Kia Sorento</a>, it’s actually remarkably agile. Don’t expect it to scythe through bends like a<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/review/n111"> Seat Ateca</a> or an<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120"> Audi Q2</a> (both are smaller, lower and lighter), but the Kodiaq remains fairly composed in fast direction changes and there’s plenty of grip. Four-wheel drive versions also add in more traction on slippier surfaces and some will find this an advantage over the front-wheel drive only 5008.

The only fly in the ointment is the Kodiaq’s steering. It's fine around town but too light when you get out of the city limits; you get a better sense of connection to the front wheels in a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/review/n19">Mazda CX-5</a>,<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/tarraco/estate/review/n17865"> Seat Tarraco</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/review/n17357">Volkswagen Tiguan</a>. The Driving Mode Selection system (standard on SEL trim and above; optional on the cheaper trims) allows you to add much-needed weight to the steering with its Sport mode.

Better still is the Progressive Steering system that’s standard on Sport Line models and above, but optional on everything else. It reduces power assistance at higher speeds for a greater feeling of precision, but increases assistance and quickens the steering at low speeds to help when parking.

SE and SE Drive&nbsp;models get an 8.0in touchscreen as standard. It’s easier&nbsp;to operate than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008's</a>, thanks to it having clearer, more logical menus&nbsp;and barely any delay in its response to inputs. Gadgets such as a DAB radio, Bluetooth, USB sockets and smartphone mirroring (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a>) also come as standard on all versions, while SE Drive&nbsp;trim adds built-in sat-nav.

From SE L trim you get a larger 9.2in touchscreen&nbsp;and on board wi-fi. The range-topping Laurin&nbsp;&amp; Klement trim comes with a premium Canton stereo system, but wireless phone charging isn't available on the Kodiaq, unlike many of its rivals.&nbsp;

Estate

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

KODIAQ

Not everybody wants a diesel engine these days, but the 148bhp 2.0 TDI 150 engine makes sense from a pure performance point of view. It's gutsy enough to haul up to seven people around with little drama and pulls effortlessly from low speeds, so joining fast-moving motorways is easy. If you plan on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-cars-for-towing/n15646">towing</a> with your Kodiaq and don’t want to lose any performance, you can opt for the more powerful 197bhp 2.0 TDI 200. This will easily handle pulling a caravan up a steep hill, for example, and gives the Kodiaq a useful performance boost .&nbsp;

However, looking at the bigger picture, we think the 148bhp 1.5 TSI 150 petrol makes the most sense overall. True, it lacks the low to mid-range gutsiness of the diesel, but that's only a problem when the car's filled to the gunwales with people and luggage. On those occasions you will need to rev it harder, but the rest of the time it's absolutely fine and provides more poke than a<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369"> Peugeot 5008 1.2 Puretech 130</a>. And, as we'll discuss later on in the Costs section, it's a lot cheaper.&nbsp;

The 187bhp 2.0 TSI 190 petrol adds that missing bit of performance but ramps up the price as well as the running costs.&nbsp;

One of the best seven-seat SUVs, as well as one of the most affordable

The majority of Skoda Kodiaq models are seven-seaters;&nbsp;in fact, it's only the entry-level SE trim that comes with just five seats as standard.

The second-row seats slide back and forth, but not (all three) individually as they do in the Peugeot 5008. With the seats&nbsp;set fully back, to maximise leg room rather than boot space, there’s a decent amount of space for taller adults. Head room is excellent, but there’s not as much knee room as there is in a Peugeot 5008 or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Land Rover Discovery Sport</a>, and if you need something really huge, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/santa-fe/4x4/review/n68">Hyundai Santa Fe</a>&nbsp;and Kia Sorento are bigger still. Both the 5008 and Sorento have wider interiors as well, so they’re better for seating three adults side by side.

The Kodiaq’s third-row seats are a lot less roomy than those in the 5008 and certainly the Sorento; teenagers and adults will have to duck to keep their heads from brushing the roof. Leg room is reasonable, as long as those sitting in the middle row don’t slide their seats too far back.

The 2.0 TDI 150 diesel engine is pleasantly muted, especially compared with the diesel units in the Sorento and X-Trail, but the TDI 200 sounds noisier when you put your foot down and continues to emit a constant grumbly hum at motorway cruising speed. The 1.5 and 2.0 TSI petrols are even smoother and quieter than the diesels, but sound more strained than an equivalent C5 Aircross or 5008 Puretech petrol when pushed.&nbsp;

You don’t feel many vibrations filtering into the interior with any of the engines, and there’s&nbsp;little in the way of road noise on the motorway. You will&nbsp;hear the wind whipping around the Kodiaq’s door mirrors, though.&nbsp;

The six-speed manual gearbox has a precise, satisfying action, and with its defined clutch bite and progressive brakes, it’s easy to drive the Kodiaq smoothly. Meanwhile, the optional seven-speed<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/which-type-of-automatic-gearbox-should-i-buy/n17022"> dual-clutch automatic gearbox</a> is slick and swift to change on the move, but can be jerky at parking speeds.

In the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey-large-suvs/n20066"> 2020 What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, the Kodiaq finished an impressive third in its class, beating rivals such as the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/x-trail/4x4/review/n51"> Nissan X-Trail</a> and Kia Sorento. Skoda as a brand also performed admirably, finishing in fifth place (out of 31 brands), just ahead of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/kia">Kia</a>, and markedly outperforming <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/nissan">Nissan</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/land-rover">Land Rover</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/peugeot">Peugeot</a>.

What’s more, most of the Kodiaq’s oily bits are shared with other cars in Skoda’s line-up, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/hatchback/review/n93">Superb</a>, so they are tried and tested. If anything does go wrong, you’re covered by a three-year/60,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty; that's okay but nowhere near as comprehensive as Hyundai's five-year warranty or Kia’s seven-year cover.

The Kodiaq’s ride isn't as pillowy soft as the five-seat only <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c5-aircross/hatchback/review/n18246">Citroën C5 Aircross</a>, but the up side is that it doesn't sway about as much. It's far less jarring over bumps than the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/x-trail/4x4/review/n51"> Nissan X-Trail</a>, too. Indeed, if you resist the temptation to go for Sport Line models fitted as standard with 20in alloy wheels, you'll enjoy a generally comfortable ride. True, Peugeot 5008 is more cushioning over broken town roads than the Kodiaq, but when you find yourself on faster A-roads and motorways, the Skoda is all but a match for the Peugeot's relaxed gait.

The optional adaptive suspension, called Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), is available on four-wheel drive models from SE L trim and above. It lets you stiffen or soften the ride at the touch of a button, but while it does improve the Kodiaq's ride in the softest setting, it's still not brilliant on patchy roads. And boy is it expensive, so we'd suggest it’s not worth the extra.&nbsp;

We said in the introduction that the Skoda Kodiaq offers good value for&nbsp;large families, and that's particularly true&nbsp;if you go for our favourite 1.5 TSI 150 petrol engine;&nbsp;the diesels are quite a bit&nbsp;pricier.&nbsp;More generally, the Kodiaq is similar money to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/5008/estate/review/n17369">Peugeot 5008</a>, a&nbsp;cheaper cash buy than the recommendable versions of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>,&nbsp;and much more affordable than premium models, such as&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Land Rover Discovery Sport</a>. However, if you're on a budget and need only five seats, you'll save quite a bit by looking instead at the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c5-aircross/hatchback/review/n18246">Citroën C5 Aircross</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/hs/hatchback/review/n20298">MG HS</a>.&nbsp;

What about its residuals? Well, the Kodiaq is pretty good at <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">holding onto its value</a> after three years. It’s predicted to retain a bigger percentage of its list price relative to&nbsp;the C5 Aircross and 5008; holds up just as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan-allspace/estate/review/n17379">Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace</a> is predicted to; but for the lowest depreciation in the class, have a look at the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/review/n19">Mazda CX-5</a> and Discovery Sport. Good resale values help <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/pcp-or-hp-which-car-finance-option-makes-most-sense/n1163">keep PCP finance costs low</a>, and the Kodiaq is normally competitive on finance, but check out our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">deals pages</a> to see what the current best prices are.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Kodiaq’s<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213"> official fuel economy and CO2 emissions</a> are beaten by the equivalent Peugeot 5008 or C5 Aircross. Although All diesels are now <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/company-car-tax-glossary/n22655">RDE2 compliant</a> and thus&nbsp; avoid the extra 4% diesel surcharge, the most powerful petrol and diesel engines occupy the top <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/company-car-tax-bands/n1255">company car tax</a> bracket. Business users are best to stick with our recommended 1.5 TSI 150 petrol; it’s much cheaper than the least expensive 2.0 TDI 150 diesel, substantially lowering the P11D value on which tax is calculated. There's no plug-in hybrid Kodiaq, so for the cheapest company car tax in the large SUV class check out plug-ins, such as the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/review/n57"> Ford Kuga PHEV</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.whatcar.com/truempg/my-true-mpg">Use our True MPG calculator and see what your car really does to the gallon</a>

Safety body <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">Euro NCAP</a> awarded the Skoda Kodiaq five stars (out of five)&nbsp;in 2017. It scored worse&nbsp;for adult protection than the Mazda CX-5, but beat it slightly for child protection, and that trend of trading points in different areas is the same when you compare it with&nbsp;the Peugeot 5008 and Citroën C5 Aircross, too. True, standard safety features are sparse compared with the CX-5, but they still include <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking</a>, which looks out for cars and pedestrians, and&nbsp;Isofix mounts on the middle row of seats.&nbsp;For a small premium you can add those to the front passenger seat as well.&nbsp;

The optional Driver Assistance Package adds&nbsp;lane-keeping assistance, blind spot detection, traffic jam assistance&nbsp;and rear cross traffic alert, while some of those features are standard on the high-end trims.&nbsp;Other safety options to consider are rear side airbags, a driver fatigue sensor&nbsp;and Travel Assist, which&nbsp;reads speed limit signs and shows them&nbsp;on the dashboard.

Th security experts at Thatcham Research awarded the Kodiaq a four-out-of-five rating for resisting being broken into and the full five stars for resisting being stolen.

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As we touched on above, the Kodiaq's three middle-row seats&nbsp;don’t all slide back and forth individually as they do in the 5008; instead, they slide in a 60/40 split. That said, you&nbsp;can recline all three&nbsp;backrests in the Kodiaq independently – handy when one of your passengers fancies a snooze – and when you need more luggage space they fold down in a useful 40/20/40 arrangement.

The third-row seats&nbsp;stow away into the boot floor when they’re not required and are reasonably simple to put up or down.

SE L

se-l

Sport Line

sport-line

Laurin + Klement

laurin-klement

The Skoda Kodiaq is one of life's great all rounders. It offers good amounts of space for up to seven people, a plush interior, strong engines, decent comfort and it's not too pricey. So we'd definitely recommend you add the Kodiaq to your shopping list but, if you're looking for value for money and can live with five seats, try instead the superbly equipped Mazda CX-5 or cheaper Citroën C5 Aircross. Or, if you want even more practicality and one of the best SUVs on sale, then you must check out the superb Peugeot 5008. 

Because the Skoda Kodiaq is fairly boxy, it’s generally easy to see out of. Your view of the road ahead, and sideways when pulling out of junctions, is largely unobstructed, and even over-the-shoulder visibility isn’t too bad. The third row of seats (if fitted) get in the way a bit when in use, though.

Rear parking sensors come as standard on entry-level SE trim, and from&nbsp;SE Drive trim you get front&nbsp;parking sensors as well. SE Drive also adds a rear-view camera, which, oddly, isn't standard on some of the more expensive trims.&nbsp;A&nbsp;surround-view camera system, which displays a bird’s-eye view of the car on the touchscreen,&nbsp;is&nbsp;also available as an option. If you’re still nervous about parking, a semi-automated parking system, which takes care of the steering, is also available.

From SE L trim&nbsp;you get LED headlights that do a superb job of lighting your way at night and can adapt their light so they won’t dazzle oncoming drivers when you have full beam&nbsp;on.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Skoda Kodiaq review

Introduction

What Car? says...