Item: Used Skoda Kodiaq 2016-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/used-review/n811">Kia Sorento</a> is a large seven-seater that comes from new with a transferable seven-year warranty. It’s spacious and practical, with plenty of room for seven. The 2.2-litre diesel engine is particularly strong.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/used-review/n856">Land Rover Discovery Sport</a> is a premium product that handles well, has a smart interior and has room for seven. The ride can be fidgety and the reliability of the used cars has a question mark over it but it certainly cuts a dash on the school run.

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<h3>Too little engine torque at low speed</h3>

A software update is&nbsp;required on examples made between 12&nbsp;October&nbsp;2018 and 27 June&nbsp;2019 in order to increase&nbsp;the amount of torque the engine provides at low speeds to improve drivability.&nbsp;

<h3>Cracks in the&nbsp;front left seat frame</h3>

The front left (front passenger)&nbsp;seat frame&nbsp;could be cracked and affects a small number of Kodiaqs&nbsp;manufactured&nbsp;between 1&nbsp;and 5&nbsp;February 2019, so contact your dealer for further information. Your car will need a new frame if it is affected.

<h3>Airbag not inflating quickly enough</h3>

The driver's airbag might not inflate quickly enough in examples built from 8 January to 28 February 2018 to protect the occupant correctly. Any Kodiaq affected by this recall will need to have the airbag replaced at a Skoda dealer.

<h3>Second-row seat frame</h3>

Some of the nuts that hold the second-row seat frame down on examples constructed between 17-21 December 2018 could be missing. This will need to be checked over by a Skoda technician who'll replace any missing nuts for you.

The good news is that the Kodiaq seems to be reliable, especially diesel ones. These finished in sixth place, while petrols were in 12th out of 22 cars in the large SUV class in our sister title What Car?’s most recent reliability survey. Skoda as a brand finished 12th out of 30 manufacturers.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> pages for more information.

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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

The practical Skoda Kodiaq is one of the very best seven-seat SUVs, as well as one of the most affordable to buy used

Used Skoda Kodiaq 2016-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

The most economical engine is the 2.0 TDI 150 diesel, which, when equipped with a DSG automatic gearbox, returns&nbsp;a combined&nbsp;fuel consumption of 56.5mpg under the older NEDC tests, and 46.3mpg under the newer and more realistic WLTP tests. The most economical petrol is the 1.4 TSI 125 with a figure&nbsp;of 46.3mpg NEDC, just ahead of the more powerful 1.4 TSI 150 with a claimed 44.8mpg (when specified with the DSG gearbox). However, the later 1.5-engined car under the WLTP tests records an official 37.7mpg as a seven-seater.&nbsp;

<h3>Car tax (VED)</h3>

All examples will have been&nbsp;registered after April 2017, and unless you're buying a vRS version, all will have to&nbsp;the same flat rate of annual car tax. This is currently £155 a year. To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Servicing and insurance</h3>

Insurance groups range from a reasonable 12 for the early 1.4 TSI 125 cars up to 23 for some of the more powerful diesel models. Servicing costs for Skodas tend to be a fraction cheaper than for other cars in the Volkswagen Group, and a number of service plans are available for spreading the costs on older models.

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The practical Skoda Kodiaq is one of the very best seven-seat SUVs, as well as one of the most affordable to buy used


About £15,000 to £17,000 should get you into the driver’s seat of a Kodiaq from 2016 or 2017, though it may have a higher than average mileage. Spend between £18,000 and £21,000 on a good one from 2018, and around £21,000 to £25,000 to find good 2019 and 2020 models, a little more for 2021 cars.

Check the value of a used Skoda Kodiaq&nbsp;with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/">What Car? Valuations</a>

<h3>Engine</h3>

If getting the ultimate economy is&nbsp;your lifestyle, the 2.0 TDI 150 engine gives the Kodiaq enough performance. However, we prefer the smoothness and vigour of&nbsp;either the 1.4 or&nbsp;1.5 TSI 150 petrol engine, so we'd look for one of those.&nbsp;

<h3>Specification</h3>

SE trim is the best value trim and is handsomely equipped, as well as giving you access to seven-seat models, so we’d seek out one of these.

Our favourite Skoda Kodiaq:&nbsp;1.4 or 1.5 TSI 150&nbsp;SE

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<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;

Large SUV

The Kodiaq is a large car that will have been used in tight spaces, such as supermarket car parks and urban rat runs, so check the front and rear of the car carefully for any scuffs or dents. Also check the alloy wheels for kerb damage. It’s worth checking the electrical operation of the powered tailgate, too, if this is fitted.

Reported problems on the Kodia so far are remarkably few.&nbsp;Any niggles tend to centre around non-engine electrics, with faulty sat-navs and problems with the climate control.

The Skoda Kodiaq is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/skoda">Czech firm’s</a> first <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/large-suv">large SUV</a> and its first stab at a seven-seater. For&nbsp;families on a small budget, it might just be the ideal transport, promising Skoda’s legendary value for money while delivering the practicality and flexibility needed by many used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/large-suv">SUV</a> buyers.

There’s a good range of petrol and diesel engines on offer that are&nbsp;all shared with other Volkswagen Group models. Most buyers so far have opted for the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel, which is gutsy enough to haul around seven people with little drama and more economical (on paper) when fitted with the DSG automatic gearbox than it is when specified as a six-speed manual. For those that need a little extra poke, Skoda offers the Kodiaq with a 188bhp version of the same 2.0-litre diesel engine, called the 2.0 TDI 190.

There are some petrol options, too, beginning with the entry-level 123bhp 1.4 TSI 125 petrol engine that&nbsp;actually copes reasonably well in a vehicle this big. But if you intend to drive long distances or frequently travel fully loaded with people and paraphernalia, the 148bhp 1.4 TSI 150 petrol is a better bet. In 2018, the 1.4 engine was replaced by a 1.5 TSI 150 engine with lower emissions that provides similarly&nbsp;eager performance and good economy. The 2.0 TSI is the strongest petrol option, but it’s a rare sight on UK roads.

Trims start with entry-level S, which is a little sparsely equipped and available with only five seats, rather than seven. Next-up SE trim makes more sense, because it provides dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, a decent infotainment system and cruise control. The SE L trim above that adds sat-nav and adaptive LED headlights, Alcantara seats, keyless entry and start and a powered tailgate. The upper trims, SE Tech and Edition, while fulsomely equipped, are a little pricey on the used car forecourts, so are best avoided.

The Kodiaq handles well, with a surprising amount of agility for something so commodious, and it has plenty of grip. The steering is a little light at higher speeds, but this at least makes short work of lower speed urban motoring. It rides well, too, although there is a slightly unsettled nature to the car around town, over potholes and across road imperfections. It’s also pleasingly refined, regardless of which engine you choose. Wind and road noise are low around town but can be&nbsp;a touch too much&nbsp;at higher speeds.

But it's inside where the Kodiaq starts to flex its muscles. The driving position is excellent, with good visibility, and the dashboard and all the surrounding areas are full of soft-touch materials and well-damped switches, making it a pleasant place to spend time. There’s also a logical and easy-to-use 8.0in touchscreen infotainment system that comes with smartphone mirroring.

Space up front is excellent, too, with plenty of room for the tallest of people, while the second row of seats will happily accommodate three passengers. The rearmost row has&nbsp;enough space for two children that don't require child seats, but&nbsp;adults will only be comfortable for very short journeys. These seats fold away easily for increased boot space, and the boot becomes cavernous with all the rear seats folded down. Boot space, with the second-row in place, is good, even though some of the Kodiaq's larger rivals offer a little more capacity.

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