[iliketurtles]

Where were you when you saw your first Škoda?

I remember exactly where I was. I was bunking classes, partaking of samosas and sandwiches in the college canteen, when I noticed a Professor of mine pulling up. His arrival didn’t so much set alarm bells ringing as much as his ride set my heart racing.

It was like a primeval call of the wild. No sooner than I clapped eyes on that Mark I Octavia, than I knew it was something crafted just for the likes of me. It was handsome in a bulbous and muscular way, very purposeful in the way it commanded space. It even stared back at me with those squinty eyes and bushy moustache that passes for a grille and almost asked me if I was enough to handle everything it could throw at me.

I remember remarking to the Professor that I would one day own a car just like this. I remember equally his riposte.

“To do that, you’ll have to be attending lectures and not sitting here having gupshup and chai while scoffing down samosas. Padh le thoda kuch.”

As it was in most of his lectures, his words fell on deaf ears.

I never did come close to owning that Škoda. But I was right in assuming that they were built for the discerning driver, the enthusiast as we call them in these parts. From that original Octavia to the successors it spawned, and then to so many others, like the Superb, Yeti, Fabia, Rapid, and more, Škoda’s have always been a cult favourite.

It has always been appreciated by hordes of enthusiasts, and appreciated in price after being hoarded by enthusiasts, as in the case of the Octavia VRS and Polo GTI. And while the price was nutty, the appeal of Škoda’s have been undeniable, best seen in the love showered on sales successes like the Superb, and even on sales duds like the Yeti’s.

In time, it led to Škoda having its Kodiaq moment, which brings us here. To
Team BHP’s curated first drive experience of the family friendly Czech bear, the all-new Kodiaq. To say I was delighted to have made the shortlist of Chosen Ones to Czech out the Škodiaq would be an understatement.

I mean, sure, the bear’s price is a bit grizzly. But let’s not address that half crore or so elephant in the room just yet. There’s enough time to swing the conversation around to that, just as there is a lot to like about the Kodiaq.

Wah ji (or what’s to like)

• Fun for you and the family! It’s not strictly a fun-vee, but it hits a lot of high points for the demanding enthu cutlet
• More space at the back than Bombay’s 2 BHK’s. Saheb ji’s and the family will love it
• Good sound system that will bring out your inner headbanger or ho-hummer-alonger
• Excellent ride quality that strikes a balance between plush and sporty. Who needs DCC?
• Cavernous boot that swallows everything you (or life) can throw at it
• Massive panoramic sunroof really adds a touch of luxe to the cabin

Naa ji (or what I don’t)

• Talk about acting pricey! The Škodiaq’s pricing is its Achilles heel
• Hold the press! The lack of auto park hold is a real bummer on a car of this price and class
• Control yourself! The annoying trend of cramming everything into a ginormous central screen continues
• Hard pass, maybe? Love the brown cognac (art?) leather in the cabin, but there are too many hard plastics and surfaces on show

The bottomline, for the Goldfishes

Pricey though it is, the Škodiaq is a peerless family vehicle that has no natural rival, save for the Hycross and Carnival. No, the Fortuner really isn’t a rival, even if it is in the same price bracket. If you can stretch for this, it makes a lot of sense versus the Hycross for its comparative luxe factor and driving experience. Wait for the discounts to roll in, and we’ll see more of these on our roads for sure.

Full disclosure…

No matter how much we deny it, we humans are judgemental Joes (or Janes).

Historically, I have always been averse to the idea of mommy-mobiles such as the Škodiaq, which is equally at home taking memsahib to the hairdresser, the kids to school, and then everyone along for a family getaway. It’s a bit like a restaurant dishing out Indian, Chinese, Mexican, European, Thai and more fare, all under one roof. By not having a narrow enough focus, you sometimes bite off more than you can chew.

Truthfully, I did not see the point of the Škodiaq at launch. At about 60 big ones on road, why would you not pick a Hycross for much less to do a roughly similar job, or compromise on some fronts and get either an A4, 330Li, or Q3/5 instead?

Some conversations, many courses of food, and a short(ish) drive later, let me tell you why…

...The Škodiaq is in a class of (almost) one

Each of the vehicles I mentioned above are, for one reason or another, no match for Škoda’s big bear.

The Hycross comes closest, but lacks luxury of any kind to make it feel special. That’s before you even consider the fact that driving it is quite a sanitised experience (to put it nicely).

To say the A4 and Q3 are competition is laughable. The A4 is a great family mover for 4, but it lacks the breadth of ability that the Bear has. Nor can it swallow as much luggage in one go. The Q3, on the other hand, lacks the finesse of the Škoda on the inside and has a notably smaller size.

The Q5 fixes these shortcomings to an extent, but it’s still not as family friendly and surprisingly approachable as the Bear.

The Carnival is as close to the Škodiaq as it gets in size, price, and use case, but it is maybe too large for its own good, both on the road, and on the invoice. If you do have a Carnival, you have likely heard “yeh tune kya Kia” more than once from your friends.

Make no mistake, the Škodiaq’s pricing is nuttier than a walnut fruit cake. But every automaker has lost their marbles. This is a world in which the X3’s sticker price is something in the ballpark of 90 lakhs for 2 liter engines shorn of that special sauce BMWs always added to their engines. It is a time in which GLC’s cost north of that 90 lakh barrier before any discounts. Even KIA is joining in on the fun, asking for more than 60 lakhs to allow you entry to the Carnival, all while keeping a straight face.

I also heard talk about how the BYOD Sealion could well be an alternative to this, but I’d be Lion if I said that I see it as a credible competitor. Sure, the Chinese will snag some sales from the Škodiaq, but the two are as different as Gobi Manchurian and Goulash. Those that want one, will not be looking at the other, no matter their protestations otherwise.

So those are your options. Save buckets by buying a Toyota shorn of luxe and a smidgen of joy, or pay through the nose and bring home your own grizzly bear or big German. Czech-mate, if ever there was a case for it.

So what’s the Škodiaq like to drive, and be in?

Light, easygoing, elegant and enjoyable. Like a flute of great bubbly.

Not that I advise this literally, but if you were to shut your eyes while manning the (very light) steering wheel, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Škodiaq is almost sedan-like to drive.

There's more. Where some of the German SUVs (I’m looking at you, BMW) are tuned to be too firm since they’re apparently engineered for glass roads, the Škoda strikes a great balance between firmness and pliancy. The only time I felt the suspension tune veer too soft was over a few bumps on our road, but the Bear was too civilised to throw us about. Instead, it just tossed you about lightly and apologised before settling down into its usual routine.

The Škodiaq is, first and foremost, a family car. And it is fantastic at that. Shopping runs? No problem. Airport runs? Consider them done. Weekend getaways? Piece of cake. Road trips to Goa or anywhere your heart pleases? Grab a second helping of that cake. It takes it all in its stride, and dismisses it with aplomb.

The one glaring miss I found within the first few minutes of driving it was the lack of Auto-hold in traffic. It is such a boon to have in cities that heavily traffic its denizens, like Mumbai, and takes a lot of the stress out of stop-go traffic. I missed this much more than any ADAS feature you could throw in my general direction.

Back to jibber jabber about the Škodiaq’s drive quality then. It’s not particularly joyful behind the wheel, since the steering demonstrates as much vigour and vitality as someone who’s deep in the throes of a Sunday siesta. But it’s direct enough that you won’t complain. Pressing down on the accelerator won’t quicken your heartbeat, but it is urgent enough that it is surprisingly rapid, especially in Sports mode. The exhaust even has a nice, if muted, rasp on being driven hard. This is a classy bear, after all. No uncivilised growl shall ever escape itsfinely chisesled jowl.

A special mention of the sound system. The Canton is no patch on the Burmesters and Bower and Wilkins of the world, but it is, in my ill-considered and inexpert opinion, better than most of the Harmon Kardon’s in the BMW.

I don’t know the first thing about separating mids from highs and all that jazz audiophiles spout. But it sounded good, man. Like, really good for a non-Big 3 car. And I could swear it had some kind of a function that allowed individual speakers to play different bits at different intervals, which was truthfully a treat for my senses.

The seats are well contoured at the front and back, which my back and derriere thanked Škoda for. There were acres of space left over for activities too, such as stretching out your legs and catching some beauty sleep, or simply kicking the driver’s seat and annoying the bejesus out of him (or her). And in its 5 seat configuration, there’s more boot space than anyone ever truly needs. Its size rivals that of some homes in Bombay, and there are plenty of thoughtful touches, such as the four cupholders in the back. Little things like that betray its family-first credentials, allowing you to ship around enough coffee or fizzy drinks for hum do, aur hamare do or teen.

I love the panoramic sunroof, whose shade slides by in a bare whisper as you slide a finger over its touch-sensitive controls. It bathes the cabin in sunlight or opens you up to the moodiness of grey skies as you please. It’s a must-have feature in my opinion, and one I’d rather have in a 60 lakh car over something newfangled like ADAS and what have you.

With the last row up, boot space is compromised, and you wouldn’t want to put anyone in there, unless they’re kids or your enemies. In which case, if they’re the latter, might I suggest putting up the last two seats, tying up aforementioned enemies, and simply tossing them in the boot? It’ll just be more enjoyable for you and your passengers.

Grouses? A few, for sure. I’m a reasonably quick study, but it took me more than a few minutes to wrap my head around the weird gear lever that I have literally never seen used in that way in any other vehicle.

I also don’t like how everything is now crammed into screens. Yes, there’s that one dial in the center that does a lot of heavy lifting and handles multiple functions, but you know what else does that?

Buttons. Why banish them into the void?

And while there are bits that feel good (such as the cognac leather and aluminium lashings on the doors), the plastics used, while good looking in spaces, are hard to the touch, making this a hard sell, especially as a luxe family getaround.

But those are quibbles that aren’t true dealbreakers, truth be told (even if the price will be for many). Whether you’re the Captain of the ship, or one of the passengers just tagging along for the ride, the Škodiaq has something for everything in its cave of delights.

The bizarrely named Bronx Gold looks quite fetching in the metal

Uff, teri ADAS

I’ve heard much ado about ADAS (or the lack of it) when it comes to the Škodiaq, but I don’t think it really needs it, save for Blind Spot Monitoring, perhaps. And even that I could live without. As can you, as hard as that might be to believe.

We’re living in an age where we have surrendered our common sense and general intelligence to artificial intelligence. If the brain were to be liked to a muscle, and if we were to be told to use it or lose it, we are well and truly on our way to losing it as a civilisation and species. Spectacularly.

Must this handover of our minds to computers also trickle into the cars (or SUVs) we drive? If we are to be the masters of our fate, the eternal captains of our soul, must we also not be the ultimate navigators of our steeds?

There’s also the small matter of India’s perfectly chaotic roads being quite ill-suited to a suite of ADAS functions. In an ideal scenario, the entire shebang would work exactly as intended for India. But to say our road conditions and driving sensibilities are far from ideal would be to make an understatement. How do you program bits and bytes to be aware of the several idiosyncrasies of Indian idioso's? That would take petabytes of data, which is not feasible.

Could the Škodiaq have had ADAS? Yes. Would it have driven up the price? Also yes. Would you then hear the clamouring horde cry about the inflated price tag, regardless of ADAS-sery being very present? I’m afraid that’s a hat-trick of affirmatives.

If, as we say, we Live to Drive, then drive on. Don’t wait for Blind Spot Monitors to rap you on the knuckles and cry foul, or Adaptive Cruise Control to limit your joy on the open road. There is much ado made about ADAS, but methinks it’s rabble-rousing at best. ADAS all she wrote.

Would I buy it?

In a word, no. But as with all statements, there are caveats with this one.

The Škodiaq has a breadth of personality that is very charming, and dare I say alluring. I can see it being the ride of choice for the gentleman who’s a family man by day, and a partygoer by night. It’s also packed with several clever touches, like a little thingymabob to clean the screen, a boot that reveals its innards to you when you waggle your feet below it, and (of course) an umbrella. Because what’s a Škoda without a free umbrella?

But it also has the most blink and you miss it design. I could show you the Škodiaq, ask you to shut your eyes, and then hold a gun to your head and ask you to describe the way it looks, and you’d be reduced to a blubbering mess lost for words. The wheels are a bit of an affront to design sensibilities too, and then there’s the small matter of the price.

At 60 lakhs or so on road, the Škodiaq is a very hard sell, much as it is an excellent all-rounder. It’s very Ravindra Jadeja; good at a great many things, but all-out greatness on any one front is elusive.

Yes, it’s better than a Carnival, unless you absolutely need a monster 7 seater. And if you did need one of those, why not just buy a Hycross? Me, I’d instead buy a pre-owned BMW X3 30i or 20d and call it a day, even if it is less spacious.

I have no doubt that the Škodiaq’s neutral design, fantastic comfort levels, and all-round excellence will find it many fans, as it should. It is an excellent family mover, doting and dedicated, and if not outrightly pleasurable, something that pleases. It grows on you for sure, as it did on me for the little time I had it.

As I grow older, I come to find that driving is not all thunder and rumble, but equally about quietitude and comfort. And that is where vehicles like the Škodiaq impress me with their quiet brilliance, astounding price tag aside. It’s more a tool than cool, but then the right tool makes your life so much better in so many little ways that are immeasurable. Like a Swiss Army knife.

The closest equivalent to that diminutive tool would be the Kodiaq, and that is high praise that is fully justified. I don’t own a Swiss army knife, nor aspire to. But they're both honest, versatile, and endlessly utilitarian, while being built to high standards. If you did want a tool for tooling around with the family, there are few better than the Škodiaq for the job.

A big thank you to Team-BHP and Škoda for hosting us wonderfully. In particular, to GTO, Aditya, Omkar, and Axe77, for the wonderful chat and warmth. And last, but by no means least, Sandeep Fernandes and team for putting together a brilliant event.

[t3ofil4us]

Long read ahead!

Prelude to the drive

T'was a lazy Sunday evening, after catching up on my latest food expedition in the kitchen and a nice siesta, I went about searching for something interesting to keep me occupied in the automotive treasure trove of Team-Bhp. Filling up to my hearts content catching up on the latest trends in the automotive world, catching up on the latest announcements and following up on some of my favorite subscribed threads, I got a surprise

This thread talking about the first ever team BHP drive in collaboration with Skoda India driving the Skoda Kodiaq, my heart skipped a beat in excitement as catching up on a team bhp event was a long standing plan which had not materialized till date courtesy a busy professional life and making the most of my football Fridays leaving me with just enough time to catch up on the weekly chores, aka the bane of the married man, if you catch my drift!

I promptly registered for the event and read and reread, GTO's announcement to make sure I was reading it right. A TeamBhp catchup, a late night drive and to top it all an evening in a yacht, thinking it was too good to be true, I pinched my self to believe. I couldn't contain my excitement and continued to pester my better half for the evening and my about 11 PM reluctantly she agreed to sign it off.


Building up to the 15th of May

Come Monday, Omkar confirmed the drive and I was eagerly looking forward to the D Day. Reading up on the Kodiaq because I was one of the many few who was initially smitten by the simply fascinating combination of the TDI and the simply clever SUV which had the driving dynamics of a car, not a ladder on frame SUV. Experiencing the exhilarating pull of the German engine in a well designed vehicle taming our Indian pothole ridden, obstacle friendly roads was a fantasy which was about to come true for me! Alas, it seemed like i was doomed from the get go.

Tragedy strikes in Pehalgam

All of a sudden, there was news on social media about a terror attack in Pehalgam, Kashmir and I had a sickening feeling in my gut as the details unfolded on Social Media. My job as a social Listening specialist has its ups and downs but this was so disturbing to hear, I was too stunned to speak for a few minutes as I contemplated the gravity of the situation.

As things would go with our neighboring country, I anticipated a tense and dangerous situation which may blow out into something completely crazy as Operation Sindoor happened. Coming back to the event, I wondered how something beautiful as a car lovers fantasy could come crashing over the course of just a couple of weeks and what I was dreading came to pass. Omkar messaged just on the previous night of the drive to notify that with things the way they were and the thick atmosphere of tense emotions and sensitive political climate, maybe it was unsafe for us to conduct the event and that it may be rescheduled for another time.

Nature has its own timing and when the monsoons decided to come early and cry for all of us together glumly feeling the disappointment of missing my first TeamBhp event, I was checking the thread almost daily with a faint hope that there will be an update.

In between, on a gloomy sunday morning, my mom called with panic in her voice and I had a very uncomfortable morning after church as Dad was hospitalized in Tirunelveli, my hometown while I was far away in Mumbai. As the minutes went by, the day just seemed to get longer and mid afternoon, I got some terrible news, Dad was no more.

Days passed in a daze as I travelled to my hometown for the funeral rites and the mood seemed even more downcast and I had the feeling of all happiness being sucked out of life as memories flooded me.

After what seemed like an eternity, I saw an update on this thread and it felt like there may be a glimmer of hope at last.

Et Voila! the second announcement just lit my day! Jumping on the opportunity, I registered and in a huff almost sent three messages with my details, waiting for the confirmation from the team with bated breath.

The next bombshell came in the form of the Ahmedabad on the 12th of June with AI 171 crash news piping in the morning on X(formerly Twitter) ruining the mood for the day even as things finally seemed to be turning better on the national front. Keeping my fingers crossed, praying with all my heart and hoping that at least this once, I get to experience a proper TeamBhp drive was maddening to say the least.

D Day

Wrapping up breakfast at a nearby Mcdonalds, after the morning service at church, I set off from the hinterland of the Mumbai suburbs, aka peaceful Palava towards the Taj and as it drizzled away, I was enjoying a lazy sunday drive after what felt like eons!

I felt completely in sync with Will Smith from the climax of the movie "The pursuit of Happyness!"

An atypical monsoon Sunday drive to the Taj

Over the Trans-harbour link across the Thane Creek and onward towards the Eastern Freeway, nothing could dampen by mood, not even the nasty potholes or the downpour that was unusually heavy in Chembur.

As I neared the destination, my heart was racing and I was constantly checking the phone at the signals as I seemed to be running a tad bit late but @Aditya was giving me directions on the traffic around the Taj and the extended wait time to get the car parked by the Valet.

The monumental Taj and TeamBhp x Team Skoda

It was after a really long while that I had come to the Taj and as I was slowly soaking in the wafting perfumes in the lobby, I sought directions from the staff about the gateway room, I was promptly directed to the right destination on the first floor. For some reason, time seemed to slow down and take me back as it felt like I was meant to enjoy the moment in slow motion.

The meet and greet

With the registration quickly done, I entered the gateway hall a little delayed but delighted to partake in a meetup with like minded automotive enthusiasts losing myself in the beauty of the Skoda Kodiaq. As I met @iliketurtles, @Starwar19 and @aa1997, we started conversing about our unique cars and the alternatives to the Skoda Kodiaq in the price segment of 60 lakhs and we were surprised that there were no sensible options which seemed like a value for money considering the current astronomical car pricing thanks to Nirmala tai and the wonderful Indian roads courtesy, Gadkari ji.





Presentation, Bhojanam and off we go!

Devouring the details about the Skoda as Kuba aka Jakub Musil from Skoda and Sandeep Fernandes from the PR team enlightened us about the various changes to the Skoda KodiaQ in the current form while answering a few questions from @SilverSmoke was confidence inspiring! @Omkar announced the routes and the vehicle distribution and as we pestered the Skoda team with more questions, GTO reminded us to stay hungry for the drive and park our questions for the time being so that we got ample time to review the car and enjoy the beautiful weather and the drive.

The food at the Taj, was amazing enough for me to completely miss on snapping up the Salmon and the Scallops! Prawn cocktails, Raspberry delights, bewitching deserts, fantastic service and a delicious main course down, we were ready for the drive!



Just as we were ready to leave, the Skoda team also gave a us a fabulous gift, a neat power bank with wireless charging and 99 arcade games! Some old childhood arcade games popped into mind, a delightful touch from the Skoda team again!




The route was quite straight forward and we were able to experience the beautifully mesmerizing waves around the very new coastal road, the windy rains on the Bandra Worli Sea Link, the potholes of Mumbai thrown in for good measure in and around Sewri, Bhakti park and the marvel that is the Atal Setu and back again to the Taj via the same way!

Phase 1: Coasting on The coastal road, sailing by the rough seas around the sea link and bouncing on the potholes of bhakti park with @Silversmoke

Having just left from the Taj, with our Skoda companion Mr. Sandeep Sawant who captained us till the marine drive on account of the jampacked roads around the Taj. The 360 degree camera and the parking sensors around the Skoda Kodiaq were pretty nifty as even a seasoned Bombay driver in me was relieved that I could drive leisurely and not in such a tense bumper to bumper traffic with busses, taxis and people just stuffed like sardines on the narrow old Mumbai roads. Seeing the camera and the sensors neatly tuned to give an amazing set of additional eyes for a driver in such a congested space was astonishing.



As we took in the details of the features, the buttons, the tactile knobs on the dashboard, the knurled AC vent controls, the tightly packed spaces to hold the phone behind the driver and passenger seats, enjoying the various modes on the massager and trying to get to terms with the apple car play which refused to connect without the vehicle being stationary and decided no maps for us, the Kodiaq kept growing on us.



The interiors felt great to the touch and the cognac finish was perfectly in line with Indian requirements especially although using plastics instead of leather was confusing for this segment. Initially as we struggled to seat 3 on the middle row, finally deciding to stop and switch drivers.

We promptly switched drivers with @Silversmoke taking the wheel and our Skoda companion moving to the third row. I don't understand why vehicles are designed with third row seats if there is no possibility of an adult being seated there. The Kodiaq is simply a 5 seater with some extra boot space in my opinion as the third row seats are 'Harakiri' for an adult if you ask me.

The seatbelts ding was constantly on initially as the second and third row passengers were not bucked in, with a visual indicator on the digital driver display. Initially annoying, but after the seatbelt was properly plugged in, it went away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ-KWlBNy5w

A digital display is the norm lately but I find a few elements on the display quite distracting, sticking to the odometer, tachometer, essential information like temperature, fuel levels and speedometer is what I like.

We had our first jump scare as the car almost braked on its own while reversing (Multi-Collision Brake) and we were reassured that nothing happened to the vehicle as it was pre-emptive and was just the safety measures kicking in to avoid a collision with an intelligent vehicle almost touching us from behind as we were reversing.

It was great to know that such thought went into the details of implementing a core value for Skoda, "Simply Clever!"

The ride on the 2nd row felt quite abnormal for a vehicle of this cadre as we could feel almost all the undulations on the brand new Coastal Road, maybe the low speeds or maybe the suspension, I couldn't put a finger on it but it felt very un Skoda like. Once we reached the sea Link though the ride kind of smoothened and felt plush. While Accelerating or decelerating, we never lost a sense of control and the car felt very planted like any other Skoda which is surprising for me considering this SUV behaved like a three box sedan!

On the Sea Link




The ride comfort for a vehicle of this segment does leave something to be desired at lower speeds though I am sure it could be something like the VW/Skoda vehicles which usually come with a firmer suspension leaving us less exhausted at the end. I also felt the second row could do with a tad bit better lumbar support. The buttons to adjust the AC on the middle row were also interesting with the fabulous AC adjustment Knurled buttons.



The door cards had a beautiful finish to them and the door handles were exceptionally integrated with the door fascia! The section above the door handles could have me hypnotized half the way. I liked the small stitched details on the door handles as well.



There are somethings which are better on the Jeep Meridian my colleague owns though, especially the plush leather on the door cards and the interiors make you feel like a king in comparison which is a difference from the Kodiaq. Simply put, interiors are good, not mind blowing.

The third row access is not easy at all and a simple tumble down seat like in vehicles of the ilk of Ertiga, Mobilio, etc. do this much better than this. The seat has to be puled forward, a tag on the side or a lever on top of the seat have to be pulled with a significant amount of effort to get access to the third row. Feels like a pleb, to have to go to that much effort to get in. A Value-Luxury grade vehicle like this can definitely do better. Even the Jeep Meridian gets this done without too much of a huff

Phase 2 @StarWar19 takes over control at the end of the Bandra Worli Sea Link, bounce some more and I get mesmerized by the Atal Setu with the June drizzles

While on the Bandra Worli Sea Link, we pulled back the shades on the panoramic sunroof and boy did that light up the cabin. It feel so much more roomier and bright, plus the constant slow drizzle felt amazing to drive in, talk about feeling premium, I felt like it was almost drizzling on my and I was mesmerized by how a simple day could be almost transformed with just a simple touch.

Video on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSCfJk_1DSQ

The Space behind the driver seat to neatly hold your smart phone (Both my my phones fit quite snugly) was quite elegantly done!





The mood lighting varies on the driving mode and felt uniquely spunky!



The delightful, window blinds were easy to use and got the sun off our views quite conveniently.

Bravo, Skoda gets the brief on Understated yet Classy!

As we continued onward with the second stage of the route, there were quite a few potholes on the roads leading to Sewri/Bhakti park as we got off the BKC connector and made a U-turn, I took over. The first feeling that I had was how comfortable the drivers seat was in comparison with the 2nd row. The Kodiaq even absorbed the jump over one of those invisible unmarked speed breakers (courtesy BMC) and did not discomfort the passengers too much.

As it started drizzling, I instinctively went for a single swipe of the wiper with the control stalk but it was not intuitively easy. The numerous controls on the single stalk with wiper on low speed auto and high speed auto seemed weird in my opinion. Any well designed vehicle is planned with the intention of minimal driver discomfort/fatigue, while the KodiaQ gets most of these right, I have some gripes related to the placement of the driver digital cockpit.

I am a strong believer of the "Simple is Best!" philosophy (Washijo sensei is absolutely bang on, reference from Haikyuu). Some things which we use on a regular basis like the headlights, wipers, turn indicators, etc. should be simple and uncomplicated. The removal of the rotary switch for the headlights on a Skoda felt even more weird having been used to the entire generation of VW/Skoda group sticking to the switch earlier. Replacing them with a push button type switches feels like we lost that tactile feel, although the headlights are automatic, it still feels like that phantom feeling of control is lost on me.

Adjusting the rear view mirrors was easy and they kind of cover the rear view amply enough but the tapered design while aerodynamic seems odd to me.

The left sided indicator stalks and Wiper controls took a little while to get accustomed to, but the transmission controls on the right hand side felt weird and @Praveen789 had a point, for people who was like the left hand resting on the centre console to shift to Park in traffic, this will definitely look and feel like an Italian waving his hands about mid conversation, exasperating!

Other wise, the cockpit is quite well laid out, the tactile feel of the knurled knobs with the silver finish, the fantastic Cognac interiors felt premium. The AC vents felt purpose built and well designed without standing out too much, understated, yet classy!

The dead pedal is very well placed and the driver seat gets much better lower thigh support. The Sound deadening was spot on without letting too much of the engine noise enter the cabin. I was happy with how the NVH was handled for such a huge vehicle.

Once we made it to the Atal Setu though, the tarmac was just eaten up like a glutton by the car. It powers ahead with ease and overtaking was a breeze without ever feeling like I was not in control. I feel Super Smooth power delivery with the DSG, a powerful engine capable of managing a comfortable cruise is her USP.

The only gripe I had was that the tires seemed a tad bit noisy and the expansion joints could kind of make their presence felt but otherwise it was an uneventful drive on the Atal Setu.

As we got down at the end of the Atal Setu to admire her in full beauty, everyone had minute observations about the nifty little features that Skoda has packed in.

Front Fender & Alloys



Front Lower Angle with the slats for better economy



What stood out for me was that the vehicle is very driver focused and seems like passengers in the 2nd row don't get as much care.

Case in point, the second row headrests lack the adjustable side bolsters from the previous gen, the door pockets are lined up with more sound deadening materials on the driver and passenger sides compared to the second row doors.

Driver Side Doors with padding



2nd row Doors without padding



The window controls, boot switch in their usual places was a familiar touch and they were adequate without standing out, functional and out of the way but convenient to use.

Tail gate with auto close is quite useful



The rear camera resolution seemed a bit poorer in comparison to the front camera for some reason as the images were a bit grainy, probably due to the cloudy weather whereas the front cameras was fantastic in comparison.




As a personal choice, I was not a big fan of the alloy wheels or the connected Tail Lamps. The swooping design looks fabulous though, and you can keep gazing at it time and again. She doesnt feel overly butch or masculine without losing the appeal of an SUV!

Phase 3 @Praveen789 takes a U turn back on the Atal Setu towards Bhakti Park


An uneventful drive back on the Atal Setu as we crossed the sea back to Mumbai on a beautiful sunday evening, with the sun playing hide and seek with the clouds and intermittent drizzles! I am a hopeless romantic for such climates to drive in and quite evidently, I was silently enjoying this in the 2nd row.


Phase 4 Making our way back to the Taj with @StarWar19 testing the pothole ridden bylanes and soaking in the evening sun on a windy drizzling evening

The Skoda ate up the potholes without much complaining and even on the uneven pockmarks below the freeway left by our generous BMC coverups, the vehicle did not feel out of control or lurch beyond expectations.

High tea and power networking

Once back at the taj, we exchanged contacts, caught up with a few old friends like @vwallstar and networked with some senior TeamBhpians like @vigsom and @newtown over a hot cappuccino coffee! The valet taking time gave us some time to catch up with @maky, @gaurav__300ad, @aa1997 as well. Finally it was time to head home.

Adios!

It was a blast of a time with the team, and while returning, I had another pleasant drive on the Eastern freeway as I headed home.

Special Thanks to @Aditya for guiding me to the Taj especially with parking and massively appreciate @GTO for the invite.

No amount of appreciation is sufficient to thank the team BHP team for organizing this meet and executing this without a hitch, seasoned professionals and well lubricated operations left a smile on our faces at the end!

Genuinely felt like an extra special day and I came back with a lot of stories and loads of memories like GTO said.

Until next time, Toodoloo!

[Dr.Vikas]

Kudos to everyone involved in making this unique 'Škodiaq' Drive event a resounding success and thanks fellas for the detailed reports !
Happy to know that the event after being postponed due to geopolitical reasons, finally took place with impeccable execution in collaboration between TeamBHP, Cars24 and ŠkodaIndia. No doubt the drive event must have been an exhilarating experience for all and I'm sure the participants had a blast putting the KODIAQ through its paces!

To my surprise, this specific track chosen for the drive ventured the area, namely Ulwe node falling just after the Atal Setu, where I once had started my private practice as a Medical Practitioner. Obviously I have loads of nostalgic memories from that pre-developing era of the '90s ! It's really fascinating how places can hold such significance and evoke memories from different phases of life.

Having gone through all the reports here, overflowing with praise for the TEAM and for the star of the show: the all-new ŠkodaKODIAQ SUV, I can almost picture the electric atmosphere, buzzing with enthusiasm and eagerness to experience the vehicle's finesse.
Major props to the entire TEAM for pulling it off flawlessly!

Though I wasn't one of the lucky participants for this first-of-its-kind event curated by TeamBHP, I still could visualize the entire show distantly. Lately, I had the special honour to unveil the all-new ŠkodaKODIAQ at a local dealer launch event here at Kolhapur, but honestly that couldn't justify the feelings of an enthusiast, getting behind the steering wheel and hitting the road.

Let's pray for many such events be organized by TeamBHP in future also to allow our fellow BHPians to have cordial meet-ups, enriching interactions and great experiences altogether to create some unforgettable memories for the lifetime.

Cheers

[VWAllstar]

Firstly, it is undeniable that Team BHP has gone 3 steps ahead of what already felt like an automotive trove. Special appreciation to Omkar and Aditya for their exceptional coordination and effective communication. Even professional event management companies would fall short of the meticulous arrangements, coordination and especially the personalized communications they could achieve. It was well backed up and under guidance of GTO, for who we thank for bringing likeminded automotive aficionados together. Not to forget the Skoda Team, who knew what a Team BHPian would expect and hence getting the Product and PR Heads for the event itself corroborates their efforts and motivation. The partnership with Cars24 also made their presence felt and important.

There has been much written, discussed and supported with images and videos on the 2025 Skoda Kodiaq by my fellow BHPians. Again, the kind of detailed observation, ability to describe it in a rather fun read, speaks highly of how Team BHP has moulded us. With the worry of being repetitive, I shall keep my post short and precise.

Location:

(+) Most Team BHPians enjoy the finest of fine things in Life. So, what better place than the Taj Mahal Hotel itself, to bring these minds together?
(-) Though personally, would have preferred a stand alone fine dine restaurant/ banquet which would have allowed us to have our discussions with the Kodiaqs around. Imagine, the Skoda Product Head and Skoda PR Head walking us through the Kodiaq in flesh than over a PPT





Food:

(+) The presentation, the choice of menu and quality was unquestionable
(+) Desserts were really well thought of
(-) My lamb was half cooked. Knowing of the hospitality industry closely, I thought of mentioning the same to the Order Taker however I got distracted by talks about a vintage (or not so) Gurkha by the Buzzy Boy! Regret? No, discussions with BHPians were sumptuous






Drive:

(+) The planning of routes, allotment and communication by Omkar and Aditya. The brief by GTO, sensitizing the importance of respecting the Car, fellow BHPians and enjoying the drive in such a pleasant Mumbai Weather
(-) With the location, came the normal challenges of traffic and crowd. There was a bit of chaos while getting into the car. The team had planned a proper flag off event however it was understandably difficult to execute
 
The Real John Travolta of the Face Off. The 2025 Skoda Kodiaq!

(+) Building on the strengths of the outgoing model, the new Kodiaq is positioned as a premium SUV which brings a sense of indulgence, shriller aesthetics and very Skoda like astute features. It caters to both, a family seeking a 7-seater for comfortable long journeys or an urban adventurer in need of flexibility with offroad capabilities
(+) Subtle evolvement in the longer wheelbase, colour pallet, wider front grill with a well-designed DRL and headlights
(+) The engine is very EV like and quite comfortable even when driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic
(+) I personally experienced all massage functions sitting at the passenger seat as well as driver seat. Though not a very impressive function for me, it is a good to have feature. Would have traded this with the deleted DCC



(+) Like most Germans, the UI of the infotainment system is very easy to use. Without much of pre read knowledge, I could manage navigating the functions with relative ease
(+) The sound system, I have personally never heard of any better than this. Crisp and clear even at higher volumes. No distortion, well balanced and just too good for a Car
(+) Rear seat comfort is as good as the front seat. However, the third row occupants will surely complain of the ride quality
(-) The miss of adaptive suspensions (DCC) in the 2025 has been talked about quite negatively
(-) The third row is a compromise. The adjustments to get inside and outside are way too cumbersome than an MG Comet
(-) There was evident road noise when you switch off the music. Not a pleasant noise for such a premium SUV
(-) The stalks for wiper operation and cruise control are too close to each other. Many a times all three of us, Vigsom, Sinharishi and I had to take our eyes off the road to operate either the cruise control or the wiper operation



(+/-) Suspensions are tuned more towards comfort. Most owners will buy the Kodiaq to be chauffer driven hence it can either be a positive or a negative
(+/-) The Gear Selection knob will take time to get used to. Especially switching from D to S. However, not a deal breaker as the driver should get used to it within a couple of days
(+/-) Though a personal choice, the position of the dashboard, seat mounts and height of the dashboard made me feel like sitting on top of the SUV than being cushioned inside
(+/-) At 60 Lakhs on road Mumbai, personally I feel it is overpriced by 5-8 Lakhs. Especially with most buyers in the segment prioritizing status more than the product. If I had to put my 50-60 Lakhs on a SUV, then I would have gone straight to the Skoda Showroom to book the 2025 Kodiaq and make my own fortune!

[sachin_cs]

Few lines dedicated to TeamBHP x Skoda

Discussions rich in torque and spec, reviewers keep each claim in check.
From DSG tales to diesel’s grunt, Each post reflects a truth upfront.

When I got the confirmation for the Kodiaq drive event, the first thing that came to my mind was, if I should travel all the way to Mumbai "just for an event", I'm glad I did, because it turned out to be "The Event" which I'm going to cherish for rest of my life. I met the guys who are running the biggest automotive forum of India, the founder of Cars24, the wonderful BHPians whom I only knew by the handle/profile picture, and of course, the ever-so-courteous team at Skoda, all under one roof. For the fellow BHPians who could not make it to the event, fasten your seatbelts for some story time-

D-Day:

I took an early morning flight from Raipur to Mumbai and made it to the historic Taj Mahal Palace, it's an iconic, iconic piece of history and architecture. For the history aficionado, the fact that Mountbatten gave the farewell speech for India's Independence from the steps of the Taj Mahal Palace, made me hell excited. I can go on & on about how this was the most luxurious hotel on the East of Suez Canal but I would like to remind myself that we are talking TeamBHP x Skoda here.

• The idea was to reach the gateway room @Taj - resgister yourself - say hi to fellow BHPians - attend the briefing - have lunch - drive your heart out - return the car - go home with memories & stories to tell.
• Met Rush, Omkar, Aditya at the venue & I must say they are very down to earth & great hosts, they made everyone feel at home, considering that 90% of the participants were seeing each other for the 1st time.
• It's always a pleasure meeting Mr. Sandeep from Skoda and his team, these guys work really hard to keep the momentum going
• The whole event was meticulously planned, right from the menu to the route to the main event, everything went like clockwork. Kudos to the team at Skoda & TeamBHP for making this happen.
• Big thanks to the Media team for beautiful pictures

Loved the colonial architecture




"The" registration table












GTO


Sandeep Fernandes, head of PR & Communication




Yours truly


One with Mr. Omkar


Mr. Vigsom everyone.... the one who reviews cars, buses, trains.. you name it


Our first interaction


The big guys in one frame


L to R- Omkar, Mudit & Aditya




I came in a black shirt, but something was amiss


Special event needs special Tee






The weather was to die for






Just look at the attention to details man...


Straight out of a fairytale




Paradise for people with OCD


Continued...

[sachin_cs]

• Here are some shots taken by the media team, it captures the energy and bonhomie very well

L-R Sandeep, Abhi_tjet & Gajendra (Cars24 co-founder)


Gajendra & Jakub Musil (Head of product at SAVWIPL)






























If you find photos to be great, thanks to this guy & team









I think the smiles explain the camaraderie at TeamBHP


Continued...

[sachin_cs]

The food deserves a special mention:







If I say this pic is straight from the 1980s, no one will deny












Coffee & the Arabian sea in the background

Now let's address the Eleph.... Siberian Bear in the room:

What is it? The all-new Skoda Kodiaq global facelift is here guys, in the CKD form, Kodiaq was already a fantastic product from Skoda & TeamBHP has established that it's one car which surely punches above it's weight. So what do you do in a facelift? Pick your strong points and improve on that, you don't mess up what's already great.

What's new?

• A more refined and slightly more powerful 2.0 TSI heart
• Fancy Cognac leather interior in the L&K (I love the black-brown combination) & Alcantara interior in the Sportline
• Seats are extremely comfortable, the extendable thigh support is a game changer.... oh, they also have a massage function
• Wraparound ambient lighting, the implementation is classy
• The gear selector has now moved to the RHS stalk, just like the Mercedes
• Whosoever has worked on the gearbox, kudos to you guys, that inherent DSG jerk is surprisingly gone
• New interior & exterior bits, new colours, etc

What does it compete with? It's a difficult question to answer, the 50L price bracket has a lot of players and I surprisingly find no direct rivals to Kodiaq. Allow me to explain, the one who wants a Fortuner will go for Fortuner, the one who wants just the snob value will go for puny 1.5s, 1.3s of the big Germans, the cost sensitives will go for the Hycross or the 700. But someone who wants a complete family car, predictable handling, good quality interiors, supple yet German ride quality, clever practicality bits, doesn't want to show that I have a lot of money but also doesn't want to go mass market, wants an understated elegant car, who's happy to be a boy racer & a responsible family guy/gal, want's to do cross country drives in safety and comfort would be the one who will go for the Kodiaq. It's a kind of car which you will never regret buying. I know a lot of Kodiaq owners who are thoroughly satisfied with their purchase.

What is it like to drive? The good bits:

• It Shrinks- Yeah you heard that right, I was in the car with BHPian Abhi_tjet & Centreofgravity, we all agreed that the car doesn't feel intimidating to drive, 5 mins in the drive and the car shrinks around you, you don't feel the size and it has got that easy going vibes to it, it feels very relaxed
• Handling- As expected from a Skoda, it does what you want it to do, I'm yet to drive a bad handling car from Skoda
• Comfort-It's a car for your friends and foes, you keep the friends in 1st two rows and throw your foes in the last row. Front two rows are extremely comfortable, ergonomics is great, it should be a good mile muncher.
• Practicality-You can stow away the parcel shelf when not in use, umbrellas, touchscreen wipe, seats fold flat, soft door lining in the bottle holders to keep rattles away, sliding & reclining second row, shades, etc etc you get the jist right
• Engine-The 2.0 TSI is surprisingly frugal, we were driving in the Mumbai traffic or pushing it on the highway, despite that, we got a respectable 10.4 kmpl mileage with 4 on board for a heavy car like Kodiaq
• DSG-The last time I drove a Kodiaq, it had that DSG jerkiness at slower speeds, but this new car has been tuned so well that you don't feel the D2-D1, D1-D2 jerks
• Physical Buttons-In a world obsessed with touch screens, thank you Skoda for retaining the smart physical controls for HVAC & drive modes, I can't tell you how intuitive it is to use. Every car manufacturer should retain physical buttons wherever it is necessary
• Screen-Initially, I was sceptical if the screen was going to be intrusive, but surprisingly, I didn't notice it much while driving
• Clever bits-Only Skoda can think of small details like door protector, nets, hooks in the boot, removable storage bins, etc
• I had a small 6 month stint with a JLR retailer & I got to drive many luxury cars in that brief period, so, if you have driven entry level luxury cars like Evoque, Discovery Sport, X1, GLA etc then the Kodiaq is right up there except the badge.

Not so good bits:

• With time, the Kodiaq has gotten expensive, and so has the market
• What's up with those aero flaps on L&K, I tried removing it and trust me, it looks good without the aero cover. I saw videos from the UK & they had removed the aero cap, and also it had the centre Skoda cap, it looked so much better
• I absolutely loved the gear selector, but I'm not so sure about the wiper & indicator stalk, it will take time getting used to
• Why don't we get the diesels, They're available in EU countries, why not India? There are people like me who are still diesel heads
• I'm not a big fan of the rear design, especially that connected light thingy, here the previous gen looked so much cleaner
• I might be wrong here, but I tried really hard looking for a cooled glove box or compartment but I couldn't find one, if its there, someone can point it out, but if it's not there, then it would be a surprising omission
• I can't think of much to be honest, if I say something more, I will be nitpicking

Time for some photos:

Looks majestic in white


A modern car with a retro background


Let me cross first


I would choose black any day




It has got that presence of its own


I love those Thor's hammer like DRL, has some resemblance to Volvo DRLs




Best colours to pick in L&K


My partners in crime i.e. The Kodiaq, young Centreofgravity & my friend Abhi_tjet


I had to do this, the moment I saw the review of the Kodiaq, I had this in my mind to just remove it








I'm not a big fan of connected lights but I liked the implementation here, they are subtle and not in your face


Dear Skoda, always keep the badge in front, we Indians love it


Continued...

[sachin_cs]

Let's talk interiors:

Kodiaq is a great place to be in




Typical European cabin, should age well


I'm watching you


See, what I did there...


Rear seat is very comfortable with good support, good legroom, adjustable recline angle and slide function


Feels good to hold, of all the generations of keys available, this is the best iteration, started with Octavia


Touch-obsessed manufacturers, please learn something


Cabin feels rich


Bhpian Centreofgravity behind the wheel


Initially, I was not sure about the SKODA lettering, I have grown to love it now




The car feels nimble to potter around town, surprising for such a big car


Good car, good people & good roads, What else do you need?


Abhi_tjet on the wheel, while I'm trying to fiddle with the controls


We went to this area called Ulwe, where the new airport is coming up, I loved that area, good roads, a lot of greenery, less traffic


Finally, we got back to the hotel, we handed over the car, were the last ones to reach . Had a nice chat with Mr Sandeep and we were well past our scheduled time, bid bye to everyone and left with memories to cherish and stories to tell.

I went around & explored the hotel a bit once everyone left, saw this in front of the swimming pool lobby.


It looks even more beautiful in the night


Called my School friend from Kota days, went to Bade Miyaan for a sumptuous dinner & headed back to Raipur via a late-night connecting flight.



Closing notes:

• Again, a big thanks to GTO, Omkar, Aditya and the Skoda team for making this happen
• If I have to buy a Kodiaq, it will be in Velvet Red Sportline, it looks much prettier to my eyes with black-red contrasts, and it hides the rear connected light thing the best, plus it has got better alloys
• Shoutout to my car buddies Abhi_tjet & Centreofgravity, thanks for being the best car mates, as much as I enjoyed driving the car, I equally loved being with you guys
• I personally own a Skoda from the last 6 years, & I have done 1.2L km now on the dreaded DQ200, the car has been fairly reliable for me. For all the fence sitters worried about the reliability & maintenance, just keep buying extended warranties, service packs and keep enjoying your car, life is too short to drive boring cars in the name of reliability. For records, my car is still under warranty & has a service pack
• Why should Bombay have all the fun? I'm sure this format of meetup will be held in other cities too

Cheers!

[adneo]

I have just one question for Skoda, with so much feedback around the sorely missed DCC leading to subpar ride comfort, will they have any plans to introduce a variant with the currently missing DCC?

[somersault]

Hello to all who have tried the Kodiaq. Pardon my ignorance if I missed this answer in the tons of reports in this thread.
Can anyone comment, if the headlights of the new Kodiaq and the last Kodiaq are same/similar or they are different in technology. I am not asking for the comparison in the performance as it can be done only when apples to apples comparison is made. Just let us know on the technology comparison. e.g. Matrix vs non matrix, or projector vs LED or reflector etc.

[swarnava.ch]

So I got late with my submission on this thread. It has been a crazy week at office and at home but here is my brief summary of the experience at the Meetup.

The Team-BHP Meetup experience:
I have a habit of starting my day at around 9 am everyday with a quick glance of New posts on TBhp before I get into the office stuff. So lo and behold - I see a post inviting Team BHPians to the Mumbai event. Without waiting or thinking through, I just put in my nomination. Honestly didn't expect to get a call back.

Few days pass and I get an email in my inbox and a WhatsApp msg informing that I have been selected. Now the problem is I have to seek approval post facto from Home ministry for a days travel to Mumbai. Anyways flights are booked and I am all set for the Sunday event. It was a hectic week - Wife had to travel for work on Friday, Saturday had an office event but nothing could stop me from looking forward to the Sunday event. I was up at 4:00 am and out on a taxi at 4:30 am. Landed in Mumbai at around 10:10 with a Back pack in hand.

I caught hold of a Taxi straight away and headed to the Taj Palace Colaba where the Venue was set for the day. Now obviously I was the first one - after Mode Omkar who was already there at the Venue and looking into the arrangements. Pleasantries exchanged and then met GTO who was next. Next in was Vigsom - who I realized had also travelled from Bangalore on the same flight as mine - a treasure trove of information to learn from him, specially his astute observation skills, passion and attention to details. I was now feeling a bit more comfortable that I am not the only crazy one in the room. More and more BHPians had now started to settle in the room. Got my Name Tags for the day.

Reflection - I am a introvert, walking into a room full of new faces is difficult and to strike up a conversation is even more so. But a room full of BHPians is different. Every one of the members would ask your handle, your name, which car you drive and then the rest of the conversations just automatically continued from there. Great Food, Great conversation and Great time.

Skoda Team and their Cars:
Skoda team and the TBhp Admin team did a great job with the venue and the arrangements, specially with the Product details. I am not familiar with Skoda cars, have never driven them but I know of two aspects - either Skoda car owners love driving their cars and swear by them or they are troubled by the Skoda service experience. So this was a good chance to see it first hand and ask questions to the Skoda team on what are their plans, how do they see Indian market. Multiple members were eager to ask their Product Head tough and technical questions. Some of the members were existing Kodiaq owners and their unique perspective was good to learn from. I wanted to clarify a few points specially like Kodiaq Vs Fortuner rivalry in the 50 Lakhs segment. Skoda team was very clear that there are completely different segments for these cars and they are not targeting the Fortuner owners.
This is important for any product to succeed - who is it target for and what does it do well . We will come back to this point again later in the Kodiaq review. So there ware some slides shown to take us through the Kodiaq car features, what was the plan for the day etc. We finished our lunch and then out on our way tot he cars which were waiting for us downstairs.

The New Gen Kodiaq -
There were four of us in the car and there was a beautiful drive planned ahead with perfect way plans and driver change overs planned.

For reference I drive a Hycross today so some of the Comparisions would be based on my current ride and experience. Additionally, I have been driving a 7-seater for the last 8 years - Ertiga, Hexa, Crysta and now Hycross so I need the last seats for the family. Does that make me in their Target group I wonder ?

Ok so the Pros and Cons as observed by me:
Pros:
1. The car masks its length well, when you are sitting in the driver seat, you don't feel like you are driving a long / big car in the traffic.
2. The First and Second row seats are great. If you love driving, Driver's seat is your place. If you want to be chauffeured around, Second row of seats will keep you comfy. The message function for the front two seats came with big praises from the occupants.
3. The petrol engine is well tuned. Didn't realize until much later that the Drive mode was in Normal. Never felt we needed Sports mode. The engine could sputter comfortably at around 1700 / 1800 rpm at speeds of 100 for a relaxed drive. No wonder people love the driving experience of Skoda cars. Put your foot down and the car leaps forward after a second or two of hesitation.
4. A huge Pano sunroof made the cabin airy on a beautiful rainy day in Mumbai. In the hot summers of North India, this may be a challenge. However these days its a must have in cars and pretty high on peoples feature list.
5. The cabin material used in the car was nice. Vegan Faux leather, the materials on the Door panels and everything else. It all seems to come together to make the Cabin airy and bright and beautiful to touch and feel all around. The plastic pieces were also not bad. Attention to details was great, at least in this aspect. The driver's left side armrest and the clean storage space had great utility. Two wireless phone chargers. Fit and finish was good inside, no squeaks and everything was just where it should be in the layout within grasp.
6. A big screen 12.9 inch touch screen display at the center with tons of options and customizations, great 360 view (better than my Hycross) accompanied with good sound setup. I am not an audiophile but the music quality was great for me. The digital cockpit experience in the Instrument cluster with maps and music info, clear read outs etc was a great experience. I loved the rotary buttons in the middle of the dash to access most of the useful functions. The three zone climate control system worked well with four of us in the car.
7. Nice and chunky steering wheel with lots of options and busy stalk buttons (more on this later). Good to hold and great to drive. Breaks worked as expected with a smooth action.
8. The Tyre design was a bit weird for an ICE cars. As everyone else explained earlier, they felt like EV Tyres. 18 inch Tyres with small sidewalls and firm suspensions. The ride was firm (like my Hycross) and not plush as I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, there was nothing to complaint, but I had heard so much on the last gen model having DCC that I was hoping even after removing the same, may be the ride quality would still be better that other cars.
9. No ADAS. We now have ADAS features coming up in cars which are upwards of 15L across segments. For skoda to not have at least Level 1 ADAS is not cool. I felt may be the hardware is already there but it was just that Skoda has not homologated / tested / calibrated it yet for India conditions. However this is my guess and I have no confirmation of this what so ever.

Cons:
1. Right of the bat, we realized that the car had auto hold active and we had just started from the crowded Colaba section. It became a bit of a bother but even after fiddling with Touch Screen options and buttons, we could not find how to turn it off. As embarrassing it is for the 4 of us that we could not figure it out, this brings me to the larger issue of critical functions not available directly as buttons but rather menu within another menu in the touchscreen. For a regular owner may be they will understand and get used to it. Anyways I am a propagator of buttons which are easier for the driver to navigate without fiddling with screens and taking their view away from the road.
2. The button less theme extends further in the cabin for example to the panoramic sunroof controls as well which are again touch only. This is the same issue for the driver to operate them, he needs to move his eyes away from the road.
3. Throughout our drive, I could see single digit fuel economy on the ICE. Wonder what it would be like for city driving, car weight with all the 4*4 hardware, people + luggage.
4. Like I said earlier, I usually prefer an occasional 7 seater specially if the extended family is travelling with us. Last row of seats was not really meant for adults. Getting in and out of there was also not easy.
5. It was disappointing to note that DCC is now removed in the newer version specially while speaking to an existing owner who has it. He mentioned that its a Great feature which is often useful for long trips.
6. I felt the NVH levels were same as my Hycross - nothing of the soundproof types. Not sure if I should count it as a con.

Summary:
Now the million dollar questions is Who is the car meant for and Will I buy one if I were in the market in the 50 Lacs range ?
There are not many 7 seater, turbo petrol 4*4 cars in the market so specially in markets like Delhi where Diesel cars are not the taste of the season, there is scope for owners in the higher end to go for Kodiaq - specially the chauffer driven ones. Now someone who is shopping in the 50L segment - would look for luxury. If you looks past the 3 German luxury trio - Merc, BMW, Audi, the Kodiaq has a lot of potential on its own. If you are not the Fortuner guy, then this car offers some unique proposition. However there are two key dealbreakers for me:
I want a fuss free ownership. Skoda has still a lot of horror stories from the DQ 200 fiasco. I cannot have this. Skoda needs to work more hard to shake off the gremlins here. I am sure seeing positive changes on their part - Skoda team informed us that they plan to have 1.5 times sales and service touchpoints in different parts of India specially in the Tier 1/2 cities where there is a market for their cars.
Features which are must for me in this segment - ADAS, May be a Hybrid, Physical buttons In the Dash etc

Some pics of the car

[sarathlal]

Originally Posted by somersault

Can anyone comment, if the headlights of the new Kodiaq and the last Kodiaq are same/similar or they are different in technology. I am not asking for the comparison in the performance as it can be done only when apples to apples comparison is made. Just let us know on the technology comparison. e.g. Matrix vs non matrix, or projector vs LED or reflector etc.

Its same technology, but some setup changes.

From @SilverSmoke review that does an old to new comparison.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...ml#post5987699 (Skoda Kodiaq Test-Drive Event for Team-BHPians | Mumbai on Sunday, 15th June 2025)

[Omkar]

It was an action-packed Sunday indeed! Thank you to everyone who attended the event and put up such excellent reports. Had amazing conversations with some BHPians about their experience and their cars. Unfortunately, I couldn’t meet everyone, but hey, there’s always a next time.

Just a note to all the BHPians - When compiling your report, don’t worry about repeating what someone else has said in their report - It’s totally cool. ALL your observations are unique & important. More importantly, we want to read them. In true Team-BHP style, make your reports as detailed as possible.

A lot of the stuff was handled by the event management team and we were there to assist:


Aditya and I are usually the guests at media drive events and it was the first time that we were behind the registration desk:


Discussing with the team how to make events even more special for BHPians:

[sinharishi]

A little late to the party here but as they say better late than never. I was one of the lucky BHPians who were selected for the Skoda X TeamBHP Meet + Drive even held on the 15th June. It was indeed one of a kind experience for me, a big shoutout to TeamBHP and Skoda.

I drove straight from Pune to the event, returning from a week long vacation from Goa. Aditya, Omkar and GTO made sure everything was smooth - right from registration, to presentation, to the 5-course meal, the drive, the evening refreshments and the dispersal. As planned, we were done by 7pm! Had only read about GTO’s management skills on the forum but got to experience it first hand.

A lot has been covered about the event already, I will jump right to the car and my observations.

• I was in Car. no. 1 along with BHPians Vigsom and VWAllstar. We had the L&K in black colour. Personally, I find the new Kodiaq better looking overall than the outgoing one. It has a station-wagonish appearance. The front grill and the DRLs resembles a lot with the Slavia.
  
  
• We spent enough time in the car shuffling seats, so got the opportunity to ride at the back and shotgun and ofcourse at the driver’s seat. The quality of materials is top notch, as expected. The reclining seats at the back, with 3-zone AC and spacious legroom (I am 5’11) will attract many chauffer driven buyers.
  
  
• There is full length storage tray at the back, not sure if it was removable but will surely make the 3rd passenger unwelcome. You get 2x USB-C ports at the back along with 12V socket in the centre console at the back. The storage tray has space for 2x bottle and enough space to keep you mobile. If I have to nitpick, the AC vent control knobs at the back felt flimsy.
  
  
• The suspension is tuned for comfort and was very evident at the back.
  
  
• The boot gets a flat floor. I would personally throw off the sliding tray on long drives and let my passengers carry all the luggage they want. The boot is electronically operated.
  
  
• The big screen is very smooth to operate (in comparison to my Slavia). Tons of options in there, especially the massage seats and all the modes it gets. Sunroof gets touch controls, not a big fan of touch controls here, took us sometime to figure out the gestures to open the sunroof and the protective layer underneath.
  
  
• I was the last one to drive, from Bhakti Park to BWSL navigating through Sunday evening Marine Drive traffic to Taj. The seats were extremely comfortable, loved the under thigh support. You get a very clean view of the bonet and give you that SUVish feeling in the driver’s seat.
  
  
• The stalk controls on the left comprises of wipers, indicators, to make things are bit complicated, there is a seprate stalk for Cruise control right below. On the right you get the DSG controls.
  
  
• It took me while to get used to the gear stick behind the wheel. Like If you’re in D and want to go to S, you rotate upwards, likewise from S to D you again rotate upwards and not in the opposite direction.
  
  
• I did put the car in S mode and floored the accelerator (till speed limit) after the BWSL toll and took the curve before easing out. What stood out for me was how it took the curve, planted, composed and that precise steering. This one is going to be a FUN mile muncher out on the highways, enough power and amazing stability to keep the enthusiast happy in you.

Starting the ride, seated at the back



Rear AC vents + controls



Massage seat functions



Boot with 3rd row down



Spare tyre: 145/85R18 with speed limit of 80 KMPH



Front Center Console



Skoda going Tata way? Our Slavia has the same steering design



Digital Cockpit



Our Car



BHPian Vigsom at the wheel



Random shots





Different shades of Kodiaq