2017 Skoda Kodiaq Test Drive Review

2017 Skoda Kodiaq Review

Car Tested: 2017 Skoda Kodiaq; Road Test No. 857; Test Location: Thiruvananthapuram

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 41.63 Lakhs

The Skoda Kodiaq offers the premium feel of a German SUV having stylish exteriors and comfortable tech-loaded interiors

Skoda has been a brand for enthusiasts and German car lovers since they first entered in India with the Octavia. Now when the craze of SUVs started in India, the Czech brand launched the Yeti. No doubt it was a fantastic car to drive but the Indian market didn’t accept it well. That’s because of it’s compact looks. Now Skoda is coming up with their first seven seater SUV – Kodiaq. Does this Czech machine have its SUV game strong? We drive it on the twisty roads of South India to see how it fares.

Motor Quest: The Skoda Kodiaq is based on the MQB platform which is being shared with the Volkswagen Tiguan. However, the Kodiaq is significantly longer and accommodates 7 seats unlike its VW counterpart It is currently available in India in a single diesel automatic variant.

Exteriors – Skoda’s minimalist design approach makes their cars look sharp. Same is the case with the Kodiaq. It looks stunning with the prominent lines running across the body giving an aggressive stance to the SUV. The Kodiaq gets full LED headlamps with cornering fog lamps that are placed just below the headlights. You also get sleek LED DRLs outlining the headlights. The signature Skoda grille is quite prominent. The side profile gets a neat shoulder line running from the bonnet all the way to the tail-lights. There are 18-inch multi-spoke alloys. The tail lights are all LEDs too and the C-shaped lights might remind you of the Superb as well.

Interiors – The Skoda Kodiaq’s interior gives you a typical posh German cabin feel. Everything you touch feels of great quality. The dashboard design is new and quite distinct compared to the current lineup of Skoda India. It is a layered dashboard having soft touch material on top and bottom with a fantastic glossy finish panel in the middle. There is a three-spoke steering wheel having cruise control and multimedia controls. It has paddle shifts too. The instrument cluster is clean and easy-to-read having a sizeable MID providing a ton of information.

The Kodiaq gets one of the most advanced infotainment systems

The large 8-inch infotainment system is loaded with tech and operates seamlessly with a user-friendly interface and fantastic touch quality. It comes with USB/AUX/SD Card connectivity along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink tech. You also get an in-built navigation system. Skoda is offering the Canton sound system which churns out excellent sound quality having an external amplifier, subwoofer, central speaker, tweater and mid-range loud speakers. One unique and interesting feature of the system is the Digital Enhancement system in which the driver can speak to the rear passengers via the speakers from the phone mic, which is very useful while you are playing music. The large screen also doubles up as rear view camera display and the Kodiaq comes with front and rear parking sensors along with Auto Park Assist as seen in the new Octavia which helps you park effortlessly. The Kodiaq comes with 10 different ambient lighting colour options that look beautiful in the dark.

In terms of comfort as well the Kodiaq scores high. You get leather seats with driver and front passengers seats being electrically adjustable. You get a clear view all around having a commanding driving position and yes it feels like you are driving an SUV. The second row seats get ample legroom, headroom and shoulder room but the middle passenger might feel uneasy on a long route because of the huge transmission hump. The Kodiaq comes with a 3-zone auto climate control system which is a relief in the heat for rear passengers. The panoramic sunroof is huge and opens too with one touch. You might feel it’ll attract heat to the cabin but it prevents 85% heat from the sun. The second row seats have a unique feature too which is called Power Nap Pack. A set of two blankets is provided attached on the front headrests. There are special rear headrests having a retractable side for a comfortable sleep. You also get sun roller blinds in the second row.

Now let’s talk about the third row seating. It is strictly meant for children as the under thigh support is poor and the legroom is quite tight for adults. However, the 2nd row can slide forward for practical legroom but it’s not that comfortable for long journeys. The 2nd row comes with 60:40 split while the third row has 50:50 split. The 3rd row folds down by pulling a lever but there is no electronic operation so you need to pull it back with a strap. Boot space is relatively accommodating. With all the rows up you get 270-litres of space, fold down the 3rd row to get 630-litres and if you fold down the 2nd row as well you get a huge 2005-litres of cargo capacity. The tailgate is electric and you can also open the boot by moving your foot under the rear bumper. There are multiple storage spaces including dual glovebox, lower one being cooled.