Farewell VW Jetta, Hello Skoda Kodiaq: My Hunt for the Perfect SUV

The Kodiaq, ticked all the right boxes. AWD, turbo-petrol, familiar solid European build, and enough space to make every journey comfortable—it simply felt like the most well-rounded choice.

BHPian vinayrathore recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

The intro

For the past 11 years and 1.85 lakh km, my 2014 VW Jetta TDI DSG has been nothing short of a rock-solid companion. Never skipped a beat, never stranded me, and delivered that addictive surge of diesel torque every time I put my foot down. I have seen almost all of India with it. Through highways, city streets, and winding roads, the Jetta remained a perfect blend of German engineering and everyday usability—mature, composed, and effortlessly efficient. Still gives that wide grin as you push the paddle while consistently delivering 14-18 kmpl.

During one of our many beautiful trips.

Even after all these years, it still drives with the same poise as the day I took delivery. No major breakdowns, no tantrums—just the understated brilliance of a well-built German machine doing what it does best. I always wanted to write a dedicated thread about the Jetta, a tribute to its reliability and charm, but life’s grind never spared enough time.

And then, life threw another googly. A new venture took me to the foothills of Uttarakhand, where the terrain demands more than just a low-slung German sedan. The call for all-wheel drive, ground clearance, and sheer versatility became impossible to ignore. I needed something that could tackle winding mountain roads, occasional rough patches, and unpredictable weather—all while delivering the kind of driving pleasure I refuse to compromise on. As an avid adventure traveller, that frequent itch to run to the mountains at the next opportunity, coupled with the infamous 10-year rule in NCR meant that I needed a new car, a petrol one at that.

So began the hunt for the perfect upgrade. The obvious name that rang a bell was the Tiguan. I was this close to finalizing it, a solid choice, but then, for just a little more money, the Kodiaq offered a 7-seater layout, more space, and a significantly larger footprint—a no-brainer in terms of value. The Kodiaq was well within my budget, but I still went ahead and test-drove the Mercedes-Benz GLA, GLC, and BMW X1, a used example of the X3 even though they stretched beyond what I had planned to spend, however, they all were technically a downgrade so to speak in terms of size and space. Also, to satisfy my head, I considered the Toyota Innova Hybrid, Hyundai Tucson, and Alcazar—but none of them truly spoke to my heart.

The Kodiaq, however, ticked all the right boxes. AWD, turbo-petrol, familiar solid European build, and enough space to make every journey comfortable—it simply felt like the most well-rounded choice. The only hitch was whether to wait for the next generation that is about to be launched or go for the current one. After all the news, pictures, and details about the next-gen Kodiaq came post the Auto Expo, I did not feel too much of a difference or value being added. ADAS is something I am actually okay without. So all in all it was the clear choice to get more value for money, current gen, than to wait and get a more expensive next gen. As they say, "They do not make those cars anymore" and this probably would be the last one of "Those" cars. And with that, the decision was made.

On its first family outing post-delivery.

The Buying Experience – A Chase Across Cities

As we all know, the Kodiaq wasn’t readily available, I found myself making calls to almost every major Skoda dealership across the country. Especially dealerships around UK, UP, Haryana/NCR, Punjab, and Rajasthan apart from a few calls to Dealerships in Bengaluru and Chennai. A week into the hunt, the first lead I got was at Ring Road Skoda, Delhi, but just as I was negotiating, someone else booked it. Gone in a flash!

Then came an enticing offer from the Haldwani dealer—a demo car with only 5,000 km on the odometer, offered at an irresistible ₹34 lakh on-road. The deal was tempting, but the thought of owning a demo car kept me in two minds. And before I could make up my mind, that too slipped away. All within a few hours.

Just when I thought I’d have to go for the upcoming model or start looking for a Tiguan, I found two units in Guwahati. With my in-laws based there, things instantly became easier. My brother-in-law took charge of the booking, PDI (Of course with the help of the Kodiaq Thread here on the forum), and delivery process, making the entire experience far smoother than it could have been. The car was booked on 2nd February, but what followed next was a battle with the bank, leading to multiple back-and-forths. Finally, after clearing the paperwork, I took delivery on 18th February, missing the plan to make it a Valentine’s Day gift for my wife.

The plan was to transport the car via a professional car carrier that return empty for the Maruti Plant in Manesar. It took another week to arrange logistics, and finally, on 1st March, after an entire month of anticipation, I laid my hands on the Kodiaq.

Getting unloaded at Manesar.

A long wait, a frantic search, and a few heartbreaks later, the Kodiaq was home.

The day it was home.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.