Skoda Kodiaq vRS review

You sit nice and high in the Kodiaq, looking down on folk in their conventional hatchbacks and even smaller SUVs, such as the Audi Q2 and Seat Ateca. Pull up alongside a Range Rover, though, and you feel suddenly quite small.

The driving position is hard to fault, with plenty of powered adjustments to the seat and steering wheel possible, along with with memory settings so you can set everything up just how you like it. Not only are the sports seats comfortable, but they also offer lumbar adjustment and plenty of side support, to keep you braced during enthusiastic cornering.

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, while the configurable digital instruments are crystal-clear and legible at a glance.

Visibility is good all round thanks to the Kodiaq’s boxy shape, and you get front and rear parking sensors to assist during tight manoeuvres. You also get powerful LED headlights to help see in the darkest of conditions. A 360deg camera and self-parking system were optional.

Infotainment is taken care of by a crisp, clear, 8.0in touchscreen, with sat-nav as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. The menus are easy to navigate, although rotary dial-controlled systems, such as that in the Mazda CX-5, are easier to use on the move. We wouldn't bother upgrading to the premium infotainment system because, other than a bigger 9.2in screen, it adds very little of value. 

The Kodiaq’s interior is a smorgasbord of soft-touch materials and nicely damped buttons and switches; harder plastics are, for the most part, kept well out of sight. That plush feel is boosted in the vRS by its perforated leather steering wheel, leather and Alcantara suede seats and carbon-fibre effect trims. It feels way better than the rather low-rent interior of a Volkswagen T-Roc R, and a step up from a Cupra Ateca.