New Skoda Kodiaq vRS review

Like pineapple on pizza, the Skoda Kodiaq vRS split opinion in first-gen form. On one hand it was practical, comfy and pretty quick, lapping Germany’s fearsome Nürburgring circuit faster than any other seven-seat SUV. On the other, some (including us) felt that it failed to excite and entertain like a sports SUV should.

This is the new, second-generation Kodiaq vRS and it’s based on the latest Skoda Kodiaq seven-seater. It uses the same turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine as the previous version but with an extra dose of power. 

So has that added oomph transformed the Kodiaq vRS into a thrilling yet practical SUV that's a match for sporty seven-seaters such as the Volkswagen Tayron 2.0 TSI 265 and Volvo XC90 B5?

And how does it fare against five-seat rivals, including the closely related Cupra Terramar 2.0 TSI 265 and the sharp-handling Porsche Macan?

Read on as we rate the new Skoda Kodiaq vRS against the best sports SUVs...

The Skoda Kodiaq vRS has a 2.0-litre engine with 261bhp – 19bhp more than the previous generation’s output. That increase has cut 0.2 seconds off the 0-60mph time, which is now 6.4 seconds.

Generally speaking, that’s a pretty sprightly figure. And once you get past some initial hesitation from the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, the vRS springs into action and accelerates with enthusiasm.

Power stays strong throughout the rev range and the four-wheel-drive system puts it down on to the road well.  

The problem is that other sports SUVs are even more ravenous when you plant your right foot – and have quicker acceleration times to back it up. 

In 2.0 TSI 265 form, the Cupra Terramar and VW Tayron are slightly quicker (5.9 and 6.1 seconds respectively). The entry-level Porsche Macan (6.1 seconds) is a similar story, while the Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI 300 is a fair bit quicker (4.9).

Four-cylinder petrols don’t always sound particularly tuneful, so Skoda has given the Kodiaq vRS something called Dynamic Sound Boost, which augments the car's natural exhaust note with an artificial soundtrack through a speaker under the car.

The result is a low grumble more reminiscent of a five-cylinder engine that gets more aggressive when you switch from Normal to Sport driving mode. It’s one of the more convincing fake noises we’ve heard, but the loudness can get irritating on motorways. Fortunately you can switch it off by using a mode called Individual.

The vRS's 20in wheels don’t generate much more road noise inside than in a regular Kodiaq and wind noise is still limited to around the door mirrors.

This is a big SUV, but in Sport mode the standard-fit DCC adaptive suspension helps control all of its heft respectably well. The four-wheel-drive system also deserves a lot of credit for helping the car maintain good grip in tight corners. The vRS almost feels like an inflated Volkswagen Golf R. 

That said, the Kodiaq vRS will soon push wide of your desired line if you’re overzealous. On a twisty road, the Cupra Ateca proves a sharper handler and the Ford Puma ST is a much more agile and playful one.

The Porsche Macan is far superior too: it has more precise steering, along with a level of composure and body control that the larger, heavier vRS can’t come close to matching.

On the other hand, in Normal mode the vRS suspension relaxes noticeably, turning it into an admirable long-distance cruiser. The ride becomes compliant and forgiving over all but the harshest of bumps.

The Ateca and Macan are similarly comfortable, while the ride of the stiffly set up Puma ST is much busier.

“I took the vRS on a family holiday and the four of us appreciated the space and comfort. The decent performance and burbling exhaust note acted as cherries on top rather than defining features.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

You sit high up in the Skoda Kodiaq vRS and the driving position is hard to fault, with plenty of powered adjustments for the seat, plus lots of movement in the steering wheel.

The sports seats are comfortable, but also offer four-way lumbar adjustment and plenty of side support to keep you braced during enthusiastic cornering. Skoda gives you memory settings so once you've found the right position it's easy to go back to it after someone else has been at the wheel.

The Kodiaq vRS’s dashboard is logically laid out and a doddle to use. There are plenty of big, clearly labelled buttons and the configurable 10.3in digital driver’s display is crystal-clear and legible at a glance.

Unlike the Cupra Terramar and VW Tayron – with their touch-sensitive climate controls – the vRS (like a regular Kodiaq) has physical dials for the climate controls. The dials (one for the driver, another for the front passenger) are easy to use while driving but do feel quite flimsy.

There’s a third dial between them that can be used to control the fan speed, drive modes or the volume of the stereo (the vRS has a premium Canton audio system).

The Kodiaq vRS's boxy shape means visibility is good all round. You get front and rear parking sensors to assist during tight manoeuvres, and powerful LED headlights to help you in dark conditions. A 360-degree camera system isn’t available but you can have a self-parking system as an option.

Infotainment is taken care of by a crisp, clear 13in touchscreen with sat-nav, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. The screen is positioned high up on the dashboard, making it easy to read at a glance. It’s also responsive and intuitively laid-out, with icons that are pretty big and easy to prod while you’re driving.

The vRS's interior houses lots of soft-touch materials and there’s some sporty Alcantara trim on the dashboard. Hard, scratchy plastics are present, but fortunately they're mainly low down and out of sight.

Overall, the Kodiaq vRS feels much plusher inside than the rather low-rent Ford Puma ST. It also feels a step up from the Cupra Ateca and Cupra Terramar. If you’re after a really premium interior you’ll want a Porsche Macan or – if you need seven seats – a Volvo XC90.

“I really like the dials. Yes, they feel cheaper than they look, but their ease of use proved refreshing after having experienced so many set-ups that rely on fiddly touch-sensitive controls.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Despite the vRS's sporty makeover, it's just as practical as any other seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq. In fact, you’ll find it more practical than pretty much every other sports SUV including the Cupra Ateca and Porsche Macan.

Up front, there’s plenty of space, and the middle row of seats – which slide and reclines in a 60/40 split – gives you much more room than those rivals.

The two third-row seats are fine for children but quite cramped for adults – certainly next to a Hyundai Santa Fe or Volvo XC90. You can fit seven six-footers in the Kodiaq (as you can in the VW Tayron) but they’ll be very snug.

There’s lots of space up front, plenty of oddment storage in big door bins, a deep cubby space under the central armrest and more space either side of the cupholders. Middle-row passengers have a folding central armrest with cupholders and rear-seat passengers get storage either side of the seats.

The Kodiaq vRS has a big boot. Even with all three rows of seats in use there’s 340 litres available – not far off the five-seat VW T-Roc R (392 litres). With the third row down and the middle row slid all the way forward that rises to a whopping 845 litres. For reference, the Cupra Terramar offers 642 litres.

We’ve yet to do our suitcase test on the vRS's boot specifically, but there’s no reason for it to swallow less than the nine carry-on suitcases we managed to fit in a regular seven-seat Kodiaq.

“Even with the middle row slid forward to accommodate some extra luggage, my passengers were comfortable and had plenty of room.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

If you look at the Skoda Kodiaq vRS next to other seven-seat SUVs with an edge in the performance department, it looks like a bit of a bargain. The vRS is much less expensive than an Audi Q7 or BMW X5 for example.

However, next to some sports SUVs, such as the Cupra Ateca 2.0 TSI 300 and Cupra Terramar 2.0 TSI 265, the vRS is the more expensive option. The list price almost reaches into Porsche Macan territory.

Official average fuel economy is 33.4mpg – slightly more than the Ateca 2.0 TSI 300 averages (31.4mpg). In the real world, you’ll need a gentle motorway cruise to see much more than 30mpg.

As standard, the Kodiaq vRS comes with a good amount of kit, including power-folding door mirrors, interior ambient lighting, keyless entry and heated front seats. You’ll need to pay extra to get heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel (as part of the Winter Pack).

The latest Kodiaq did not feature in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey but Skoda as a brand came 13th out of 31 manufacturers – a fairly confidence-inspiring result.

It's covered by a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. That’s generally par for the course, but Hyundai gives you five years, Kia seven and Toyota 10 (if you service your car with an official Toyota dealer every year).

In 2024, the Kodiaq was awarded the full five stars out of five for safety after being assessed by Euro NCAP. Its highest scores were for Adult Occupant and Child Occupant protection – those areas scored 89% and 83% respectively.

The vRS comes with plenty of airbags, and driver aids including automatic emergency braking (AEB), front and rear cross-traffic alert, lane assist, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition and driver fatigue alert.

There are Isofix child seat mounts on the front passenger seat and outer middle row of seats – just not the third row.

“If you have no need for seven seats and a big boot, I’d point you towards cheaper, more thrilling sports SUVs instead.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

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