[Omkar]

Skoda Kodiaq Review

The Skoda Kodiaq is on sale in India at a price of between Rs. 34.99 - 37.49 lakhs (ex-showroom, India).

Skoda Kodiaq Pros

• The ultimate “value luxury” SUV! Classy styling, solid build & superb quality
• Cabin offers space, practicality and lots of intelligent features
• Impressive 2.0L turbo-petrol is mated to a quick 7-speed DSG automatic
• Cushy ride quality in “Comfort” mode (L&K variant)
• Sorted handling & road manners in “Sport” mode. Adjustable suspension is a USP of the L&K
• 3rd-row of seats is an advantage over some 5-seater competitors
• Massive boot with 3rd seat row down. Boot is useable even with the 3rd seat row up
• Impressive kit (12-speaker Canton ICE, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, auto parking...)
• AWD available to get you out of tricky situations. Tourers will love it
• 5-star safety rating & equipment (9 airbags + a host of electronic aids)

Skoda Kodiaq Cons

• Workhorse 2.0L turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Single digit fuel economy of the turbo-petrol AT in the city. Drops drastically if you drive aggressively
• Its sibling, the VW Tiguan, is priced a couple of lakhs cheaper
• Expensive! Worse still, Skoda increased the Kodiaq’s pricing within days of the launch
• Cramped 3rd row of seats is strictly for small children. A 5+2 SUV, not a 7-seater
• Styling does look Estate-ish from some angles. Doesn't have that much street cred or presence
• We feel that the “Sportline” variant should’ve been offered with the DCC & other L&K features
• Skoda’s ill-famed dealership network & after-sales horror stories
• Skoda’s patchy long-term reliability track record (including, but not limited to, the DSG)
• Silly feature deletions from older Kodiaq (rear door sills, 1 umbrella, 1 blanket, chrome tip on power window switches, removeable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)

This review has been jointly compiled with Aditya & GTO. Thanks to them for their expert observations!

Since the Skoda Kodiaq has already been reviewed by Team-BHP, this report will only focus on changes made to the 2022 facelift. For easy reference, here are direct links to the complete Kodiaq road-test:

The Full Review

The 2019 Kodiaq Scout

[Omkar]

So, what's new on the outside?

The front styling has the cues from Skoda’s latest design language. The butterfly grille looks well-proportioned. Overall, the Kodiaq looks understated:


Not much has changed at the rear. There are just tweaks to the tail-lamps, badging and bumper:


The side profile is almost identical to the outgoing car. However, at 4,699 mm, the refreshed Kodiaq is 2 mm longer than before. Unladen ground clearance has gone up from 188 mm to 192 mm:


The all-LED headlamps are equipped with LED DRLs. The auto headlamps are self-levelling & also have coming home and leaving home functions. The Kodiaq gets AFS (Adaptive Frontlight System), which adjusts the light intensity based on the surrounding conditions - e.g. city, motorway or driving in the rain by changing the light pattern. While this new design looks great, I still prefer the old shape: (reference image):


A close look at the detailing inside the headlamp cluster:


New radiator grille has a thick chrome border and vertical slats with chrome inserts. It also houses the front camera. The detailing of the lower air dam has changed and now houses two channels at the ends for air to flow into the wheel well:


The front lip is more pronounced now and gets a couple of creases too:


The ORVM design is the same, but it now houses the camera for the 360-degree view. You also have puddle lamps like before:


The wheel-tyre combo is a direct lift from the Kodiaq Scout variant. These are dual-tone diamond-cut 18" alloys shod with 235/55 R18 MRF Markus tyres:


"Laurin & Klement" badging on the front panels looks classy:


The facelift gets a additional silver cladding on the running board:


Like we have seen on the new Octavia, the rear doors also get request sensors:


Roof-mounted spoiler gets a black extension that houses the high-mounted stop lamp (HMSL):


New "S K O D A" lettering may not be to everyone’s liking. You get the Kodiaq badge on the left and 4x4 badge on the right:


Reworked all-LED tail-lamps look sharp. There are a lot of crystalline elements and you also get dynamic turn indicators along with welcome effect:


Rear bumper houses redesigned reflectors and the lower bumper gets this new chrome outline in the shape of dual fake exhausts. You get proper dual exhausts on the RS variant in international markets:


Our test car was in this Lava Blue shade. The other shades are Moon White, Quartz Grey, Magic Black and Steel Grey depending upon the variant:

[Omkar]

So, what's new on the inside?

The facelift brings in quite a few changes on the inside. For starters, the dashboard gets a piano black finish for the upper glove box instead of the black veneer finish (reference image):


The new Skoda leather-wrapped, two-spoke steering wheel is ergonomic and nice to hold. Steering-mounted buttons and horn pad are easily reachable and you can use the knurled knobs to navigate through the various MID fields:


"Laurin & Klement" badge at the bottom is a nice touch:


Skoda's virtual cockpit is a 10.25-inch screen that displays loads of information and the graphics are top-notch. Here’s a look at all the customizable displays that you can have while driving. The coolant temperature gauge is displayed on the left and the fuel gauge is on the right. I love the look & styling of this digital cluster. Excellent attention to detail:


You can have a quick look at any system warning:


Changes to the doorpad include the addition of a speaker. The circular speaker with a chrome ring is new. The elbow rest area now gets stitching, which looks nice:


The window switches are the same as before, but they miss out on the chrome tips (reference image):


Another omission is an umbrella. Yes, you only get one umbrella now instead of two:


The door open warning light from the previous car has been replaced with a simple reflector (reference image):


Instead, you get a classy "SKODA" projection on the ground when you open the doors:


While the lighting system knob is the same, the front fog lamp symbol has been changed. Also, the "Auto" mode is no longer backlit in green (reference image):


The nifty storage space near the headlamp controls loses the felt lining on the base (reference image). Was this cost-cutting really necessary, Skoda?


Super comfy seats get beige upholstery and more importantly, they are ventilated now. This feature is such a boon in Indian climatic conditions:


The "Laurin & Klement" inscription on the seats looks classy. Note the perforations for the seat ventilation below:


The top part of the dashboard is soft touch and gets this contrast white stitching:


8-inch touchscreen infotainment head-unit has a new layout:


You can change the virtual cockpit displays from the touchscreen and access the vehicle settings among other options. There’s also inbuilt navigation and you can also use wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay to connect your phone’s navigation:


The off-road mode displays the steering angle, compass and altimeter. Note the downhill assist symbol at the bottom of the first image. There are over 6 drive modes to choose from (more about this in the driving post). You can even configure various settings individually:


One significant change on the sound front is the addition of 2 speakers. The Canton sound system now has 12 speakers & a subwoofer with 625W output. You also get a Dolby Pro Logic II mode. One feature that has been discontinued is the voice enhancement feature that transmits the voice of the front passengers to the rear passengers through all the speakers. It was a cool party trick:


360-degree camera is a very useful feature while parking in tight spaces:


No dummy buttons - a pleasant sight. The switches for the seat ventilation functions sit at the top along with those for the other AC modes. Another addition is the Auto Start/Stop feature that switches off the engine while idling. A handy feature when you want to maximise the fuel efficiency:


A lot has changed since the Kodiaq was first launched in 2017 and so, as per today’s trend, you have wireless charging and 2 Type-C USB charging ports:


The gear lever and buttons below that are a straight lift from the Scout variant. You have the (from L-R) the Off-Road mode, traction control, parking brake, auto hold and drive mode selector:


The storage net in the passenger side footwell has been omitted (reference image):


A look at the new upholstery of the rear seats. A point to note is that the earlier L&K variant used to get the "Laurin & Klement" inscription on the rear backrest, which has been dropped in this facelift:


You no longer get a "Kodiaq" scuff plate at the rear (reference image):


Also, you get only one blanket now instead of two:


In the pre-facelift Kodiaq, the rear footwells were lit by plain white LED lamps. You now get the car’s ambient lighting to light up the footwells for the rear passengers. Nice!


The boot space with the third row folded is the same at 630 litres that can be extended to 2005 litres:


The "Simply Clever" boot lamp cum LED torch has been skipped. The lamp even had a magnetic base for sticking it on the fender while changing a tyre at night (reference image):


The beige roofliner has been replaced with a black unit:

[Omkar]

Driving the Skoda Kodiaq 2.0L Turbo Petrol Automatic

The biggest change in the Kodiaq is under the bonnet. The 2.0L TDI diesel engine has been replaced by a 2.0L TSI petrol engine, which produces 187 BHP @ 4,200 - 6,000 rpm and 320 Nm @ 1,500 - 4,100 rpm. It is mated to a 7-speed DSG transmission with an AWD system. The Kodiaq’s ARAI fuel efficiency rating = 12.78 km/l:


This 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine along with the 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox is the only powertrain on offer in the 2022 Kodiaq. The combination is shared with the Volkswagen Tiguan, Skoda Octavia, Skoda Superb, Audi A4 etc. The performance of this engine is strong with 187 BHP and 320 Nm on tap. With the torque available from low revs, the 2.0 is quite tractable and enjoyable at all speeds. That said, it is disappointing that Skoda hasn't bothered to make its durable, efficient & powerful 2.0 TDI engine BS6-compliant. That puts the Kodiaq at a disadvantage as there are many diesel lovers in the premium segments. Plus, that 2.0 diesel was a workhorse for high-mileage customers in a way that the 2.0 TSI can never be. Petrol has now crossed 100 bucks a litre and there is a significant operating cost difference between 6 - 10 city km/l and 12 - 15 km/l for the heavy runners. Turbo-petrols are also very sensitive to throttle input and if you drive it hard, you'll see the FE drop alarmingly. Important to note that all crossovers & SUVs in this price band (except the Tiguan) offer a diesel.

In the city, the 2.0 motor's healthy bottom end helps you get around effortlessly. Throttle response is good and the Kodiaq moves smoothly. Add to that, the direct injection and turbocharger ensure that the engine isn't lethargic at low RPMs. There's always more than enough power on tap to accelerate or overtake quickly. The minimal turbo lag just makes it that much more responsive. While the DSG gearbox is super smooth 99% of the time, it can get jerky at crawling speeds in bumper-to-bumper traffic (an unfortunate DSG trait). Tip: Use the super convenient auto-hold function in traffic.

Drive with a light foot and the gearbox moves up the ratios pretty quickly. It is eager to reach higher gears and you will see it upshift under 2,000 rpm. Impressively though, you won't feel these shifts as the transition is very smooth. The Kodiaq's steering is light at city speeds and the car doesn't feel as big as its dimensions suggest. The Kodiaq is a breeze to drive & you will enjoy driving it in the city.

Out on the highway is when things go from good to great! This is a fun-to-drive crossover in a way that the big body-on-frame SUVs (Fortuner, Gloster) can never be. You'll find yourself addicted to flooring the throttle whenever there's an empty stretch of road. Outright performance is good and the strong mid-range takes care of all the overtaking you need to do (not as sprightly as the lighter Octavia 2.0 TSI though). The downshifts are quick and the gearbox responds well to throttle inputs, especially in "Sport" mode. The engine revs beautifully to ~6,200 rpm and importantly, sounds lovely and sporty while doing so. While this is enjoyable, we would have liked to see 6,500 - 6,700 rpm to play with as this rpm level is way too low (some diesels rev to 5,500 rpm!). In terms of cruisability, the Kodiaq can run at triple-digit speeds all day long without breaking into a sweat. The engine spins at a relaxed ~1,700 rpm at 100 km/h and ~2,000 rpm at 120 km/h. And touring you must do - this car is built for long-distance road trips. In summary, the 2.0 TSI is a jewel of a motor that will keep you happy at low revs & high, and in the city as well as on the highway.

The Kodiaq uses a 7-speed DSG gearbox, which belongs to the DQ381 family and has a wet clutch setup. The DQ381 has been around for a couple of years internationally and online customer complaints are fewer in number than VW's older DSGs. Still, we have serious reservations regarding the long-term reliability of any VW / Skoda DSG and strongly recommend getting that extended warranty.

Cruising around in D mode, one won't even notice the gears being shifted. They are damn smooth. The kickdown response time is quick and you will never feel that the gearbox is hunting for gears either. It's in the right ratio almost all the time. When you are in the mood to drive the car aggressively, engage 'Sport' mode. This puts the car in 'high alert' mode and its senses are heightened. The DSG holds onto gears longer before upshifting and you'll also notice that the gearbox is eager to downshift at the slightest of throttle inputs. People with a heavy foot will love S mode for sure. However, in the city where the traffic is heavy, S mode can get jerky.

Paddle shifters have been provided and you will enjoy using them with this turbo-petrol. The response time is quick and they are fun to use on a twisty section of road. Tap the left paddle for a downshift and you'll notice the ECU blipping the throttle to match the revs, which is quite satisfying & addictive. There's a good amount of engine braking available too. But again, with such a combination, the paddle shifters would've been a lot more fun if the engine offered 500 - 1,000 more revs to play with.

The Kodiaq's DSG features an "S" mode that changes the gearbox's shift points. The gearbox holds onto gear longer too. One can engage the manual Tiptronic mode by moving the gear lever to the left into the Tiptronic gate, or by clicking on any of the plastic paddles. Tiptronic works in both "D" & "S" modes. The response time in Tiptronic is decent and the DSG holds on to gears. One can use this mode to keep the engine in its powerband, which can be useful for overtaking manoeuvres.

Apart from the gearbox's "S" mode, the Kodiaq has a host of driving modes, which change the parameters of the dynamic chassis control, engine, gearbox, steering, ESP, adaptive lights and air-con. There are a total of six drive modes to choose from – Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Snow and Individual. The Kodiaq gets a dedicated ‘Mode’ button below the gear lever to select the drive mode. The default mode is the "Normal" mode. Each mode changes the engine's characteristics, suspension settings, gearbox shift points, air-con operation, steering weight etc.

• Comfort mode: As the name suggests, everything is in the most comfortable setting in this mode - the suspension, engine map, steering etc. The suspension tune in comfort mode is the most absorbent and I found it just perfect for Mumbai roads. Use this for everyday driving in your city.

• Sport mode: Engage Sport mode and you'll feel the throttle to be sharper. The engine feels more responsive in Sport mode for sure. The suspension firms up noticeably. This is the mode for when you're in the 'mood' for fun, but not for everyday driving or on bad roads where it can get bumpy. For regular city driving, this mode can feel peaky. The steering feels heavier than the other modes & the headlights adjust more dynamically here.

• Eco mode: The climate control doesn't work as hard in Eco mode - it still cools the cabin sufficiently though. Power delivery is lazier, with the throttle response dulled a bit. Overall, because the engine is reasonably powerful, Eco mode is still useable. It doesn't feel too sluggish and there is sufficient grunt on tap to keep you cruising at higher speeds. When it comes to quick overtaking, you will need Normal or Sport modes.

• Individual mode: The driver can choose to adjust the individual parameters such as the damper settings (DCC), steering, air-conditioning etc according to his/her preferences.

• Snow: This should be engaged on icy or snow-covered roads. It provides better accelerator sensitivity in these conditions.

The Kodiaq comes with a convenient 'auto hold' feature which owners will love in the city. While the vehicle is waiting at a signal, the driver can lift his foot off the brake pedal and the vehicle will stay in place. No need to keep the brake pedal continuously pressed.

Skoda has equipped the Kodiaq with an all-wheel-drive system. As is usually the case with such crossovers, in normal conditions, the system sends power to the front wheels only. If road conditions require more traction, it will send the necessary amount of torque to the rear wheels. The system monitors which of the four wheels has the most traction and is able to send torque to those wheels. If slippery roads make a wheel lose traction, the system hits the brake on that wheel and transfers the remaining power to the other wheels. The AWD will help you when touring remote parts of the country and over the likes of slush, muck & sand. It's no offroader like the Fortuner though.

Like in the old Kodiaq Scout, you get an Off-Road button. In this mode, accelerator sensitivity is adjusted for rough terrain and unpaved roads. Engine braking is always available and hill start assist + hill descent control are switched on. Acceleration is restricted while driving downhill and it is not possible to shift to "S" mode.

Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH)

As you would expect in a premium SUV like this, refinement levels are overall satisfactory. The engine idles softly and you'd barely notice it while driving around sedately. Rev the 2.0 TSI and a nice, sporty note is audible in the cabin. Wind noise is well controlled even when driving at 120 km/h.

Mileage & Fuel Economy

The Kodiaq 2.0 TSI engine with the DSG automatic has an ARAI rating of 12.78 km/l. We would expect 7 - 9 km/l in the city, depending on traffic density. Do note that turbo-petrols are very sensitive to throttle input and if you drive it hard (which you will), the fuel gauge will drop much faster and you'll see 5 - 6 kmpl. The Kodiaq's fuel tank capacity is 58 litres.

[Omkar]

Ride Comfort

An extremely important addition to the 2022 Kodiaq is Skoda’s Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). In essence, DCC alters the suspension tune by changing the damper settings (aka adaptive dampers). The shock absorbers get an electromagnetic valve that controls the flow of oil within, depending on the driving situation and the selected driving mode. This lets you alter between a softer or stiffer suspension setup by simply switching the drive mode.

The adaptive dampers give the Kodiaq added flexibility when it comes to ride comfort. The two modes - Comfort and Sport - are especially important in India where road surface quality greatly varies. You can have your cake and eat it too. Choose Comfort when you want to cruise, and Sport when you are in the mood for some fun. This DCC is a crucial selling point for the Kodiaq in a sea of unwieldy body-on-frame SUVs whose ride & handling package is a mixed bag. Even the Kodiaq's sibling - the Tiguan - cannot touch the Skoda's ride quality in "Comfort" mode.

Driving in Comfort mode at low speeds and on broken roads, the suspension soaks up all the potholes quite nicely. It's soft & cushy. This is the mode you'll use the most within the city. The suspension works silently throughout, with only the big potholes registering themselves in the cabin with a loud ‘thud’. Sport mode does noticeably firm things up and there is a big difference from Comfort. The difference is so much that on typically imperfect Mumbai city roads, in Comfort mode, we’ll give the suspension’s cushiness a 9 /10, but in Sport mode, it becomes a 6 / 10 (you feel everything in Sport mode). Do keep in mind that this convenience comes at a price. A suspension overhaul including the DCC will cost you more than that of a conventional suspension setup.

Tip = If you want to experience the difference that the DCC makes, switch directly from Comfort <-> Sport, without bringing 'Normal' mode into the picture (as Normal is a balance between the two).

The Kodiaq rides on 18" rims shod with 235/55 profile tyres, which is the same size as the Tiguan. However, they have a recommended pressure of 35 PSI all-round, which is 1 PSI lesser than the VW.

Handling & Dynamics

A look at the electromagnetic valve that controls the oil flow in the shock absorber depending on the selected driving mode:


The overall suspension tune gives the Kodiaq good high-speed manners, especially in Normal & Sport modes (Comfort makes things too soft for aggressive driving). The car feels solid and very planted. Especially with this 2.0 TSI, you could have a lot of fun with the car in a way that you could never do with the 2.0 TDI because its power rating was a relatively low 148 BHP. High-speed stability is excellent and it feels damn composed at triple-digit speeds. The Kodiaq masks silly speeds with ease in Sport & Normal modes.

The Kodiaq is very car-like to drive, unlike the bulky Fortuner & Gloster. You could drive it just like you do a sedan. Reason = its monocoque construction versus the body-on-frame build of the Toyota & MG. The Kodiaq is a sorted handler, although we do remember the Tiguan feeling more agile. On twisty roads, the car won't feel unstable at any point of time. There is some body roll considering the weight & dimensions of the car, but it's nothing unsettling. The overall behaviour is typically German and there are times when you won't realize that you are driving a 7-seater crossover. Make sure to switch to Sport mode when you’re just about to hit the mountain roads. The firmer suspension setting makes a lot of difference in the way the Kodiaq behaves in the corners. The Kodiaq holds its line well without much drama. The MRF Markus tyres provide a fair deal of grip, but are not excellent.

The Kodiaq is loaded with all-round disc brakes & lots of electronic aids. As you would expect, the brakes are top class. The car had no problems stopping in a straight line, even when we slammed on the brake pedal at speed. The pedal feel is progressive which makes stopping this SUV very predictable.

[GTO]

Great review, guys. Thanks for sharing.

Always loved the older Kodiaq & this 2022 version takes the game higher with the adjustable suspension which is such a BOON on our roads (a USP for sure), better sound system, ventilated seats & more. I enjoyed the cushiness of "comfort" mode, as well as the overall firming up in "Sport" mode. As mentioned, one must switch directly between Comfort <-> Sport to observe the difference (i.e. without engaging "Normal" mode in between).

That 2.0 turbo-petrol motor is superb and makes the Kodiaq fun-to-drive in a way that the 2.0 TDI could never be (its power was just enough, although 170 BHP remaps are easy). On the other hand, the 2.0 TDI was a fuel-efficient workhorse, while the 2.0 TSI guzzles like crazy if you have a heavy right foot. Those driving 2000+ km / month will be disappointed at the lack of a diesel alternative. Heck, even @ 1500 km / month, there is a huge difference in the running costs of 6 - 7 kmpl (TSI) vs 11 - 12 kmpl (TDI). Drive aggressively and you'll see 4 - 5 kmpl, where the TDI would still give an acceptable 10 kmpl.

A crossover that punches above its weight and how. The Kodiaq is expensive, but the fact is, there is nothing like it in the segment. I also consider it to be way superior to the likes of the X1, GLA, Q3 etc. and it does match the 60-70 lakh SUVs on many parameters. Similar to the Superb vs say, an A4. Value luxury, indeed. You'll be hard-pressed to find an unhappy Kodiaq owner on the forum or off it.

Have already recommended the Kodiaq to many people, as long as they are okay with the usual headaches & risks of long-term Skoda ownership. Must say, it was pretty cheap of Skoda to increase the prices within 3 - 4 days of launch. How opportunistic! The company somehow always gets its pricing wrong in India. The Kushaq & Octavia enjoyed just moderate success because of over-pricing. The Kushaq, especially, has so much more potential than just 2000 - 3000 units / month. And if that's the case when it's new, imagine how difficult things will get as the product ages.

Big shoutout to Vid6639 who, as a Kodiaq owner, listed out many changes on the facelift .

[CEF_Beasts]

Excellent review, I would always recommend the Kodiaq to anyone looking at the entry-level Germans like the X1, GLA and Q2 just because it offers a lot more bang for the buck!

Although I must say I'm a bit surprised to see that some 'Simply Clever' bits have been deleted from the car, it was these nifty bits that uplifted the package as a whole and made it feel special.

- Storage space near the headlamp controls loses the felt lining on the base.
- You get only one blanket now instead of two
- You only get one umbrella now instead of two
- You no longer get a "Kodiaq" scuff plate at the rear
- Boot lamp cum LED torch has been skipped
- Storage net in the passenger side footwell has been omitted
- The "Auto" mode is no longer backlit in green
- The window switches are the same as before, but they miss out on the chrome tips
- The door open warning light from the previous car has been replaced with a simple reflector

Now how much did Skoda really save with these deletions? Just adding a 360 deg camera would've been more expensive than all these deleted bits combined. Although not denying the fact that the features they have added are definitely worthy like DCC, Ventilated seats, added speakers to the Canton Sound system, and 360 deg camera.

But then the manufacturer says the product is sold out for 4 months?! Not to forget they increased prices by 4% as well within a week of launch (who would not feel cheated).

No denying that Skoda products are at the top-level in terms of features, driving pleasure, punching over their weights in their respective categories but the manufacturer is the one that is holding these brilliant products back.

[Shreyas_H]

Great review!

This is truly a value luxury car. It has an understated elegance and good road presence.
DCC should be a game changer in this segment, a way to have the best of both worlds!

I saw an L&K Kodiaq yesterday and everything from the colour to the fit & finish to the interors screamed quality. I agree with GTO - if the badge is not impportant to you, this is a superior car to the german entry level crossovers.

[sunikkat]

Great review
Purely from a fun to drive (engine, handling, high speed stability) perspective which will be the best? Compass Diesel vs. X1 Diesel vs. Tiguan vs. Kodiaq?

[Jangra]

Thanks for the great review of such a good looking car. Many of us have been waiting for this day. It sure is feature loaded and tech loaded.
Congratulations to those who had booked the car on or before 11th Jan where the launch price will be honored. It ironic and not many times we have seen the full drive review here without knowing the ex-showroom.

[drjaygoyal]

https://youtu.be/TvltwSp6E6E

Disappointed the way Autocar is trying to justify the 3rd row.

It is not even practical for small children. I would rather keep it folded all the time and increase the boot space.

Very good 5 seater car loaded with features. But 5+2 seats is up for a debate.

[Rajeevraj]

The Kodiaq has always been one of my favorite cars ever since it launched and now I can safely say it is my current favorite car. I hope to upgrade next year and in my mind I have already fixed on the Kodiaq. The Engine + Gearbox, the car like drive, the utility of the additional seats, usable luggage space even as a 7 seater, the tons of features, driving modes and now even DCC. Perfect for my needs.

On the downside, it is definitely pricey and not very imposing to look at.

Great Review!

[kedar_GT]

Originally Posted by drjaygoyal

https://Youtu.be/TvltwSp6E6E

Disappointed the way Autocar is trying to justify the 3rd row.

It is not even practical for small children. I would rather keep it folded all the time and increase the boot space.

Very good 5 seater car loaded with features. But 5+2 seats is up for a debate.

I think we should just consider it a fallback option for those once-in-a-while occasions where having these 2 extra seats allows us that wee bit of flexibility and reassurance (allows for some fun times where a larger group can travel together which is just not the same vs traveling in 2 vehicles). Whether this merits paying that extra 7-8L over the Tiguan is an individual choice. (personally, this does not make sense to me considering the Kodiaq pricing)

[novice]

The review that I have been waiting for. Great review as always. I think I can now go ahead with my purchase with confidence.

But one thing that worries me is the stain on the beige seats as seen in the pictures. Someone else also commented that the TD car he drove had dirty looking seats. Is that something to be worried about?

[sunikkat]

Originally Posted by novice

The review that I have been waiting for. Great review as always. I think I can now go ahead with my purchase with confidence.

But one thing that worries me is the stain on the beige seats as seen in the pictures. Someone else also commented that the TD car he drove had dirty looking seats. Is that something to be worried about?

Nothing much to worry about. You surely need to maintain and clean interiors with good products once a month atleast. Thing is that stain will be there in Black interiors too, but its just that we live with it considering its less visible.
Test drive cars are bound to be dirty considering many a times they keep the window open and dont clean regularly. In last few of the test drives that I had of different brands, the seat belt left a dirt mark on my t-shirt.

Infact over a period you develop OCD for cleanliness maintaining an interior like that, atleast I have