Will be taking delivery of my brand new SUV in a few days.

BHPian dkaile recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I did the final PDI of the Kodiaq yesterday for final delivery on Monday. I have a few queries regarding the same, if buddies here can comment:

They did the following PDI jobs on the vehicle

The Battery was checked.

Battery Test Report. Seems OK?

The Engine Oil was checked and was up to his thumb level in the photo

Now this is the L&K kit you get FREE with the car which includes Textile Floor Carpet Mats, 2 Rear Lounge Steps, 1 Blanket, Boot Nets, First Aid Kit, and Warning Triangle; Is is OK?

And this is the 23k Accessory Pack items - All Weather Floor Mats+Mat over Tunnel, 4 Mudflaps (installed), Document Holder, USB charger and cable, car care kit, Wet tissue wipe, Microfiber cloth, Tissue Box, Car Perfume, Sling Bag, Body Cover (was a surprise as it was not mentioned initially) and 2 Pillows. Is this all OK?

They then attached the car to the laptop and some OBD wireless connectors and scanned for any updates. They said there were none. The technician removed the Transport Mode to get all normal functions going. And scanned the car, removed all previous errors due to transport mode, and scanned again, with no errors. Is that all?

The mud flaps were properly fitted. The front mud flaps instructions said to drill a hole to insert a plastic lock, which I avoided and just made a small hole with a screwdriver and drove one of the small OE nuts (that were replaced by longer ones in the kit) removed for support. Seems sturdy to me on checking.

Also changed AUTO AC profile to HIGH. It was on Medium from the factory. I think all of us should do that immediately for Indian summers. Sorry, forgot to click a picture, will post soon. The AC was chilling just like my Superb on Auto High after that.

1 important point - Now I asked the technician to switch on the Passenger Airbag. He said that it is switched on by default. But when I later checked, the Passenger Airbag OFF light was ON below the AC control knobs on the centre console, when we switched on the car. I checked the passenger door and the slider key was in the OFF position from the factory (Sorry, forgot to take a picture). I along with the Showroom Manager removed the metal key from our remote and changed it to ON position. Now on restarting the car, the Passenger Airbag light on the console switched to ON. Did we do it right? Is that OK and Normal behaviour? Does that light stay ON or go away while driving?

Anything else that needs to be done or checked during PDI?

Urgent replies will be most appreciated as we have to pick up the car on Monday. Thanks in advance.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Completed a short 1,700 KMs trip with the Kodiaq during Holi week. Did not take much pictures. Overall this is a 'superb' car. Super duper happy with the car.

BHPian LazyBoy2000 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Completed a short 1700 KMs trip with the Kodiaq during Holi week. Did not take much pictures. 

Here are a few of my observations.

1. The ODO reads around 8000 kms now and the car drives as smooth as it did at 11 kms on the first day of delivery.

2. It is very hard to spot another Kodiaq on the road, it is certainly a unique vehicle. You will find people staring specially in small towns and cities.

3. Doing triple digit speeds are not a problem at all.

4. I and my wife are sedate drivers, for us comfort >>> speed. So, the overall mileage we got was 16Km/ltr. 

5. Stability and handling at high speed is phenomenal. Nothing comes close at this price. I had to brake hard and manoeuvre hard at 90km/hr to avoid an idiot motorcyclist crossing the road and the car felt rock solid and glued to the road.

6. The car is pulling slightly to the left, will have to get wheel alignment and balancing done. This would be the first wheel alignment and balancing after the car's delivery.

7. I also hear a very minuscule rattling noise from the driver side when bass heavy music is played. I haven't been able to point out where the noise is coming from. Please let me know if I should get this checked. I do not want to get the door panel opened for a slight inconvenience. 

8. The front left parking sensor has a mind of its own. It starts to beep randomly. Since this seems to be an random issue will wait and observe.

9. DCC is a game changer. No car in this price bracket can match the comfort in "Comfort" mode.

I'm planning to get the engine oil changed at a running repair. Will update how that conversation goes with the service center.

Overall this is a "superb" car. Super duper happy with the car.

Click here to read what BHPians have to say about the Skoda Kodiaq.

I have heard that one should get a diesel variant for big SUVs and not consider diesel cars when the usage is very low.

BHPian vikeva027 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am after a pre-owned (>2019 and around 25-30L budget) automatic Volkswagen Tiguan or Skoda Kodiaq but not sure if I should go with a diesel or petrol variant.

My usage is around 1000 km per month. I have heard that one should not have a diesel car when the usage is very low. At the same time, I have heard/read that one should get a diesel variant for big SUVs.

I have not been able to get my hands on a Diesel Kodiaq or Petrol Tiguan.

My test drives so far:

• Skoda Kodiaq Petrol 2021: Good to drive
• Volkswagen Tiguan Diesel 2019: Awesome to drive. It is a little stiff and had body roll but pickup was amazing.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

Your running is just 1000 km a month, so either one will do. Plus, the diesels of those times didn't have the BS6 complexity.

Pick based on the specific car available (price, condition, which you like more).

Between the '19 Tiguan Diesel & '21 Kodiaq Petrol, I would pick the Skoda.

Reasons:

• 2.0L turbo-petrol is a jewel of a motor. Tiguan diesel's power delivery is adequate, but nowhere as fun as the 2.0L turbo-petrol.
• That Kodiaq has adaptive driving modes, where comfort does soften the suspension, and sport noticeably firms things up.
• That 3rd row of seats is small, but it can come in handy when friends & family need to be carried. Something is better than nothing.
• I find the Tiguan to be too bland from the outside, very boring from the inside, but more than anything… I'd never be able to live with that kind of stiff ride quality in a premium SUV. My sister owns it and everyone in her family hates the ride quality on broken roads (all the more so since they have a holiday home in Pawna village).

And "one should get a diesel variant for big SUVs" applies more to big, burly body-on-frame SUVs like the Fortuner, rather than car-based crossovers like the Kodiaq, Tiguan, CR-V etc.

Here's what BHPian Asoon had to say about the matter:

1000 Kms / month is not less, generally, if your usage is < 8K Kms/yr then diesel should be avoided, anything above 10K kms annual diesel comes into play. Kodiaq is large, has more utility, has better road presence compared to Tiguan.

Both engine options (petrol / diesel) are great, I would prioritise service history, vehicle condition over the choice of engines, one has to be extra careful with the evaluation, service record, past body works, or any other issues when it comes to getting preowned German cars.

Here's what BHPian AnandRed had to say about the matter:

My experience says never buy a petrol VW Tiguan. Our average mileage with the petrol 2L engine within the city is very low - 7 kmpl to a max of 8 kmpl only. The Diesel Tiguan is best, as we own both of them.

Here's what BHPian anjan_c2007 had to say about the matter:

These two models are almost CBUs and are assembled from semi-knocked-down (SKD) imported components. Hence as you are zeroing in on 2019 models of the two brands, I am sure that by now the OE must have refreshed both these. Hence, compared to those models of the same manufacturer that are manufactured here, the imported models (premium ones) are not manufactured here, due to the low sales these report. It is not good economics for the OE should they decide to manufacture these with low sales here.

It so happens that such imported components, assembled new cars/SUVs are the most contemporary ones from Germany / or from their country of origin. That's not a big advantage for those who like to buy these as used cars, many years later. The best customers for these in India are those who buy them new, use them for about five years and swap them for a new one.

The problems galore that arise when these slightly older ones are still used by owners include spares and repairs. Spares and repairs become difficult to come by for which only the ASC is to be almost fully depended upon. I know cases where such cars/SUVs were stuck up at the ASC for want of spares for a month or more.

Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe are cases in point where owners are frustrated with ASCs for the not-so-readily available spares.

Hence, I would keep a safe distance from such slightly older, but premium used cars/SUVs.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Dealer got a shipment and the sensor was not present in the shipment. Now this was really shocking.

BHPian athray9 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Skoda makes amazing cars but are backed by a poor management team. I would like to share the experiences we went through with the entire ownership of our car since the booking.

Jan 2022 - Booked the car and we were told it would get delivered in about 3 months.

April 2022 - Did not get the allocation yet.

August 2022 - Got an allocation and got it delivered in the same month.

September 2022 - Passenger Airbag was always turned off, then we came to know that it comes turned off from factory and that the technicians need to turn it on during PDI and they failed to do so, now this could've been fatal had my dad not discovered it.

23rd November 2022 - The car had been amazing during the first 3 months of ownership with about 3000 kms on the odo with a trip -> Chennai-Trichy-Namakkal-Karur-Chennai. Just when we reached home, the check engine light turns on.

24th November 2022 - The car goes to the Service center in Guindy Industrial Estate.

27th November 2022 - Technicians had run the diagnosis and sent it to Skoda India. Skoda India came back with a response that the fuel pump sensor had failed which was the reason for the check engine light. But it was a sensor failure, so Skoda India had advised the technicians to re-calibrate the sensor and that would fix the problem. The technician told me that the problem would be fixed tomorrow and that I can pick the car tomorrow morning.

28th November 2022 - I reached the showroom at about 9:30AM, the technician says they test drove the car and the check engine light came up again. Now this happened at about 11AM. So this infuriated us since they made us come all the way to pick the car up and then inform us this issue. Then they told us they can give us a loaner car which is a 1.0 Kushaq M/T. But in-order to get the approval for the loaner, I had to wait for another 4 hours. After all the wait, I finally got a Kushaq as the loaner. We were informed that the sensor would arrive in another two weeks.

14th December 2022 - Sensor was supposed to arrive today. Dealer got a shipment and the sensor was not present in the shipment. Now this was really shocking. Not sure if it was really missing or if it was some made up story.

24th December 2022 - It's been one month without a car that was just 3 months old with 3000kms and no signs of the sensor being delivered. My dad escalated the issue and the response from Skoda India was this " Sir we have provided you a with a Skoda Kushaq loaner". Really disappointed with their reply and they sensed it, so they offered us extended warranty at free of cost for what we were going through. But what is the point of having extended warranty is the car is not going to be with us, since we can't even see the sensor arriving even after a month?

27th December 2022 - Got a call from the dealer that the sensors have been delivered and then they will only come and deliver the car to our house.

28th December 2022- We got the car delivered in our house with a bill of about Rs.500 for fuel. We had given the car with about 1/4th of fuel but they had to do many test runs with the car which emptied the fuel and the person delivering the car had fueled the car and gave us the receipt. After making us go through everything for a month, they give us a recipe of Rs.500? But at least we were happy that the problem was resolved.

So we learnt a lot from this:

• Skoda cars (not the PQ or MQB AO-IN platform ones, but more of MQB and MQB EVO) are amazing and are very comparable to the big 3 luxury germans.
• If your Skoda car runs without any problems, it would be such an amazing buy without any issues and you can literally shame the big 3 luxury germans interns of equipment, performance and comfort for a lot less money, I used to find it really comparable to my X3 in many ways.
• The problem is with Skoda India management and with some Skoda dealers (not all of them).

The car is now 2.5 years old with about 15000 kms and touch wood we have not faced any issues and has been a wonderful ownership experience. I really hope your issues are fixed and you also enjoy the cars like us. Kindly demand Skoda India for extended warranty since they put you through this ordeal on a brand new car.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The only complaint I have with the service center is that they have not provided me a loaner car in the interim

BHPian jjp@chn recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Recently, I took delivery of a 2023 Skoda Kodiaq L&K 2.0 TSI AT (Graphite Grey) on 22nd Dec, 2023. Immediately the next day (23rd Dec), I took the vehicle for a 1600 KMs, 9 days long trip with my family from Chennai to Kanyakumari.

Since it has been over a month of ownership, one may be forgiven in assuming that this thread is an Ownership Review for my car or a Travelogue for my trip. Instead, I am writing to share my experience with Skoda India After Sales Support or its lack thereof.

While I have no complaints with the test drive, booking, registration and delivery experience the real horror started within 10 days of taking delivery and it is turning out to be a never-ending nightmare getting worse over the last 30 days.

Just to provide context, over the last 17 years, apart from the current vehicle, I have owned 2 other vehicles from VW/Skoda (2007 Octavia L&K and 2014 Jetta Highline AT). This is apart from multiple other cars from VW/Skoda in my extended family.

I have listed below the chronology of events to help everyone understand the lack of seriousness from Skoda India in resolving my issue and why I believe my loyalty to the brand apparently has no value. If this is how Skoda treats its customer who is loyal to the brand and has purchased its most premium product, I can only assume the situation of others.

20-Dec-2023: Test drove the vehicle and paid the booking amount of Rs.50,000/-. The sales person from Gurudev Motors, Teynampet was very prompt with all the activities, answering all my queries and I don’t have any reason to complain. Even the car loan process got completed in a day’s time. Did a quick PDI on the vehicle the next day at the yard on the 21st Dec, 2023. The VIN indicated that the vehicle was manufactured in Jun-2023. But I was not overly worried as it was an imported vehicle and there might be some delay in the shipment reaching India and getting allocated to the dealer. However, I need to point out that I got a good deal with year-end discounts.

22-Dec-2023: Registration completed and took delivery of the vehicle in the evening which was largely without any surprises. Had pleasant experience at the dealership, apart from the fact that they still haven’t corrected the spelling mistake in my name in their systems. Also, the CRM promised to call me the next day to get the registration completed on the MySkoda and MySkoda ConnectED apps.

23-Dec-2023: Started early morning for the 700 KMs long drive from Chennai to Kanyakumari. This is a regular route for us which we travel almost 3-4 times every year and all our earlier trips in this route have been in sedans (Skoda Octavia, VW Jetta) or couple of times in a hatchback (Honda Brio) and the whole family had a great time for the entire trip in the new “SUV” as it was due of my kids preference for a 3 row SUV that we bought the Kodiaq. Had a good few days travelling locally in Kanyakumari and we were all excited with the new car and in no time we clocked 980 KMs by the 30th Dec, 2023. The next day we were supposed to travel back to Chennai and we were looking forward to the drive. Meanwhile, when I followed up with the CRM on my registration on the MySkoda and MySkoda ConnectED apps, I was informed they were unable to complete it due to some system upgrade issues at Skoda India end and it would get resolved in 15 days. Since this was not a priority item for me, I was least bothered.

31-Dec-2023: Started my trip from Kanyakumari to Chennai at around 10 AM. Within few mins, realized that the cabin was not getting cooled despite having the AC switched on. While I was familiar with the VW/Skoda Climatronic controls, had a detailed discussion with the sales team for basic troubleshooting to see if I was missing anything and since they were unable to resolve the issue I was asked to bring the vehicle to the service center. That is when we came to the realization that , within 10 days of ownership and driving less than 1000 KMs, the AC had abruptly stopped working. I had to drive for 700 KMs without AC in the heat of the day to reach Chennai before I could take the car to the service center as it was a Sunday and none of the service centers along the route were open.

02-Jan-2024: Brought the car to the service center. It took the service center technicians 4 days to diagnose the issue (defective AC Control switch) and return the vehicle back to me on 05-Jan-2024 with the assurance that the defective part will be replaced on priority under warranty and the ETA for the part delivery will be informed once available.

10-Jan-2024: After multiple follow-ups to confirm parts order over the previous 4 days, I was informed by the Service Advisor that the ETA for the replacement part delivery is 17th Jan, 2024.

17-Jan-2024: On reaching out to the Service Advisor on the day the part was expected to arrive, I was informed that the part has not been delivered and there is no revised ETA. Had multiple calls with the CRM and Service Manager without any updates and despite asking for a loaner/courtesy car to use in the interim until the defective vehicle was fixed, I was not provided with one. Raised a complaint online with Skoda Customer Service regarding the issue with the car. In the meanwhile, the issue with the registration on the MySkoda and MySkoda ConnectED apps was still not resolved.

20-Jan-2024: After several follow-ups with CRM and Service Manager on 18th Jan, 2024, I was provided with a revised ETA of 23rd Jan, 2024 for part delivery. Despite the delay in part delivery, a loaner car was still not provided for the interim nor was any financial compensation offered despite my request.

23-Jan-2024: On follow-up with the CRM on the day of expected part delivery, I was informed that the part was not delivered as per ETA given and the revised ETA for the parts delivery is now 08th Feb, 2024, which is a further delay of 16 days as the part is being shipped from Germany. This update comes after I have been in possession of a defective vehicle 25 days and I am expected to wait for another 16 days without any compensation from Skoda and/or Gurudev Motors either for selling me a defective product or for the multiple delays in getting the issue fixed. This is the 3rd time a revised ETA has been given to me. While the CRM mentioned that they are trying to expedite the part delivery, I have no confidence on whether this commitment will be adhered to given the historical evidence. Also, had a heated discussion with the sales CRM regarding the registration on the MySkoda and MySkoda ConnectED apps and after more than a month they were able to get the registration done for MySkoda ConnectED app. However, the MySkoda app registration is still open.

25-Jan-2024: I was informed that the part has been invoiced in Germany on the 22nd Jan, 2024 and would either reach Pune on 4th Feb, 2024 or Bangalore on 8th Feb, 2024. Meanwhile, the Skoda India parts team was check with other dealers in India if anyone has it in stock to be delivered faster.

27-Jan-2024: Received confirmation that the part is not available with any of the dealers in India as it is supposedly a very rare part to fail and hence is not readily available in stock. Awaiting for the next update!

At this point, I don’t believe the delay in parts delivery is due to the Service center. While the service center might not have anticipated this delay when they initially committed the dates with me, at least I get a sense that they are trying to help. However, I am not getting that comfort feeling with Skoda India Customer Support – they just pass the buck back to the service center and let them face the heat from the customer. Since the part has already been invoiced on 22nd Jan, 2024 at Germany, why should it take more than 2 weeks to reach India. If Skoda really wanted to expedite, they would have shipped it through air and I believe that the delay is because Skoda is unwilling to pay additional for shipment through air and routing these parts for delivery through sea.

The only complaint I have with the service center is that they have not provided me a loaner car in the interim as all their 4 cars are not available citing reasons which include 2 cars totalled due to flood, 1 car met with accident and under repairs and 1 car is already with a customer. As a customer, why should I be worried about the reason for the service center not having a loaner car?

Overall, I don’t see any real interest on Skoda’s side to prioritize the repair of the defective vehicle and I have had to raise the issue multiple times. I see a real lack of customer empathy and I am worried about the below aspects in general with respect to my future ownership.

Product Quality: Given the lacklustre response from Skoda, I have to assume that I been sold a defective vehicle which could not perform as per design for even 10 days or 1000 KMs and replacement parts not readily available leading me to question the overall product quality, even for an imported vehicle despite it being their top of the line product.

Service Assurance: Despite purchasing the top variant of Skoda’s top model in India (presumably worldwide), it is taking Skoda more than 1 month to deliver a defective part order with ETA changing 3 times till now over the last 3 weeks. It is pathetic that Skoda is unable to accurately provide an ETA for the part delivery and is not showing any interest to expedite delivery of the parts, especially given the circumstance relating to a new vehicle which malfunctioned within 10 days and 1000 KMs. Also, given the historical evidence with respect to the changing ETAs, I have no confidence that the revised ETA will be adhered to as well. Should I factor 45 days lead time for any future repairs that requires parts replacements?

Customer Service: I have not received any support from Skoda Customer Service for the complaint that I have raised apart from informing me that the service center will get in touch with me. While I have written to Skoda customer support and included Piyush Arora, Petr Solc, Majed Ali, Petr Janeba and Klaus Zellmer (using email ids which I gathered from internet searches, not sure if they are correct), I am yet to receive any revert from either Skoda India customer support or anyone else in loop from Skoda. Only the service center folks are connected with me and at least respond back to me over phone despite having had multiple heated conversations with them from my end.

Furthermore, even after 1 month, the dealer has not even been able to help me to register in the MySkoda app citing issues with Skoda systems and software making me wonder if this is Skoda’s commitment to its customers in India that is takes more than a month to resolve system issues to even register the details in their systems. Even now, I get the below error when trying to connect.

I know, this is not the ideal start to any car ownership, and the events of the last 30 days have seriously dented my confidence to consider a Skoda/VW vehicle for myself or recommend to family/friends in future. Also, all this back and forth with Skoda India and Gurudev Motors have caused me significant anguish and mental hardship, apart from the financial loss of having to pay EMIs for a defective vehicle which I am unable to use as per design. I can only hope to put this behind me once I am able to get my issue resolved.

Thought of sharing this experience with the larger group for awareness. Also, if anyone has further suggestions on what can be done additionally, I am open to ideas.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Other SUVs in this comparison include the Mini Countryman, VW Tiguan, Skoda Kodiaq, Jeep Meridian, Citroen C5 Aircross and Hyundai Tucson.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA Facelift

What you'll like:

• Good looking mini-SUV with a solid build quality
• Premium interiors, sorted ergonomics and supportive seats
• Diesel engine is fast (0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds) and fuel-efficient too (18.9 km/l - ARAI)
• 8-speed DCT is smooth and quick. 4Matic AWD system will help you get out of some tricky situations
• AMG Line is fun to drive! Good handling, well-calibrated steering & excellent high-speed manners
• Loaded with features such as 360-degree camera, driver assistance, latest-gen MBUX, hands-free tailgate & lots more
• 5-star NCAP rating, top-notch safety kit & a suite of electronic aids to keep you safe

What you won't:

• Pricey! Top-end GLA 220d 4Matic AMG line would be ~67L on-road in Delhi
• Suspension has a firm edge to it. Also, the AMG line's 19-inch wheels further stiffen the ride quality
• Petrol engine only offered in a single variant and no AWD
• Back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child. Not 3 healthy adults
• 425-litre boot - although adequate - is the smallest in the segment
• Missing features such as cooled seats, rear sunshade, head-up display, Level 2 ADAS, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre) etc.
• Heavier adults will find the front seats too snug

Facelift Review Link

BMW X1

What you'll like:

• Solid build & top-notch quality, inside out. Looks smart too
• Modern and well-appointed interior feels good
• Refined and competent diesel engine mated to a smooth, responsive 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
• Excellent high-speed stability coupled with sorted handling and a precise steering. Mature ride quality at speed
• Accommodating 476-litre boot and multiple storage spaces in the cabin
• Loaded with features such as adaptive headlamps, electric front seats with extendable seat bases and massage function, 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, sliding & reclining rear seats, handsfree tailgate, panoramic sunroof, driving modes, etc.
• 5-star NCAP rating, top-notch safety kit and some ADAS features
• BMW's relatively strong reliability record along with decent after-sales service and maintenance packages

What you won't:

• Expensive! On-road price ranges between 55 - 63 lakhs
• 18-inch wheels give the ride a firm edge on bad roads at low speeds. It's totally liveable though
• The 3-cylinder 134 BHP petrol engine is a misfit in this segment
• Diesel motor offers just 148 BHP, which is even lesser than the older car. At this price, 190 - 200 BHP is a must! Furthermore, Diesel is available just in the M Sport variant (no AWD)
• No physical buttons for the climate control and idling start / stop systems is a useability failure
• Aggressively tuned idling start / stop system. Even if you slow down and stop at a traffic junction for a second, the engine switches off
• Back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child. Not 3 healthy adults
• Missing features such as ventilated seats, head-up display, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre), 360-degree camera, rear sunshade etc.

Review Link

Audi Q3

What you'll like:

• Evolved sporty styling, matched with solid build quality
• Increased cabin space, practicality and boot capacity (530 litres)
• Incredibly fun-to-drive 2.0L turbo-petrol with a quick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
• Quattro all-wheel drive provides loads of grip & will help you get out of tricky situations (sand, mud etc.)
• Good road manners with sorted ride quality
• Well-equipped (panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, virtual cockpit & more)
• 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating and equipment

What you won't:

• Efficient & punchy 2.0 turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Same 187 horses as the Kodiaq & Tiguan. We would've preferred a higher state of tune on a more expensive Audi
• Pricey! The Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan are ~10-15 lakhs cheaper on-road
• Just two variants. No cheaper FWD entry-level variant available
• Should’ve gotten adaptive dampers, at least on the top-end 'Technology' variant
• Cabin is best suited for 4 adults, not 5
• Missing features like a 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, driving assist tech, auto-hold, connected car gizmos etc.

Review Link

Mini Countryman

Ownership Review

Volkswagen Tiguan

Facelift Launch Review

Skoda Kodiaq

What you'll like:

• 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)

What you won't:

• 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, removable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)

Review Link

Jeep Meridian

What you'll like:

• Handsome unmistakably-Jeep styling & loads of character
• Robust build quality. Feels very solid, just as a Jeep should
• Classy cabin now boasts a versatile 5+2 seating configuration and better accommodation when compared to the Compass
• Competent 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, quick on the open road
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available, with 214 mm of ground clearance
• Feature packed: electric front seats (driver memory), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, powered tailgate, LED projector headlights…
• Topnotch safety kit: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags

What you won't:

• Cabin has limited width, can feel snug for larger passengers. 5th passenger (in the 2nd row) will feel unwelcome
• 3rd row is strictly for children and small adults
• Should’ve had more power for the price. Same 2.0L diesel available in SUVs from a segment below
• No petrol engine in a market that is moving to petrols in a big way. Delhiites will be disappointed
• 9-speed Automatic gearbox is competent, but not brilliant
• We’d have liked to see front parking sensors, paddle shifters, gearbox ‘sport’ mode, a sliding middle row, more connected tech features (it’s very basic currently)
• At low speeds, the firm ride quality always keeps you aware of the road quality you’re driving on
• Jeep India’s dealer & service network coverage is still limited

Review Link

Citroen C5 Aircross

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered & properly premium crossover
• Very stylish exteriors & interiors! We love the design. It's matched to solid build quality
• Good quality cabin with comfortable seats, lots of storage & fantastic insulation
• 2.0L diesel engine is quick, efficient & extremely refined
• Smooth 8-speed AT gearbox impresses
• Excellent ride comfort and mature road manners. High speed behaviour is sorted too
• Large, well-shaped 580 liter boot gobbles up holiday / airport luggage
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, handsfree tailgate opening, customisable instrument cluster, double laminated front windows, terrain modes...
• 4-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring system, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control and more

What you won't:

• Very expensive! We wish Citroen had priced-it-to-sell-it (aka penetration pricing)
• Rear legroom is strictly adequate. Two 5’10" adults can sit behind each other, but not two 6-footers
• No turbo-petrol engine (big miss), no AWD for tourers & no manual gearbox for MT fans
• Not really sporty to drive. Cars like the Compass & Tiguan are more fun
• Missing some features we expect today (connected car tech, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable passenger seat, ADAS, 360-degree camera, subwoofer…)
• The bolstering of the 3 individual rear seats is suitable for slim passengers, not heavier ones
• Audio sound quality is alright, but nothing special as you’d expect in a 40-lakh car
• Many competing crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats, which the C5 Aircross doesn't have
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are still big unknowns

Review Link

Hyundai Tucson

What you'll like:

• A futuristic-looking, well-engineered premium SUV
• Complete urban package with comfortable suspension, light steering and a smooth automatic
• 2.0L diesel engine is not just refined, but punchy too
• 540 litres of boot space is enough to haul holiday luggage
• ADAS safety features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor and lane-keep assist are cool & work reasonably well
• Loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, multi-air mode AC, ventilated and heated front seats, connected car tech, wireless charging, boss control for the front seat etc.
• 5-star Euro NCAP rating. 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, downhill brake control, TPMS, 360-degree camera & more

What you won't:

• Edgy looks & funky styling may not be to everyone's liking
• At ~43 lakhs on road for the top-end variant, the Tucson is expensive!
• Not as engaging to drive as the Kodiaq or Tiguan
• Naturally-aspirated petrol isn't as punchy as the competitors' turbo-petrol units
• Other crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats. Tucson is a 5-seater only
• Some missing features such as paddle shifters, rear sunblinds...
• Hyundai badge lacks the snob value that many 40-lakh rupee customers are looking for

Review Link

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

Wouldn't buy any of the entry-level crossovers from the German marques. They suffer too many compromises, whether space or engine or features...

Among new cars, it would be a close call between the Tucson & Kodiaq. I love the Kodiaq, but it's now feeling old & outdated.

With 50 - 60 lakhs in my pocket, what I would really do is either get a high-end EV (e.g. Ioniq 5, BYD Seal) or go the pre-worshipped route for a really fast German sedan or SUV. That's really the only way to get some value for your 60 big ones. Everything new is grossly overpriced in that price band.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say about the matter:

Reducing this consideration set to "petrol only", it comes down to the Countryman vs the Kodiaq for me.

Between those two, I'd likely pick the Kodiaq (L&K for the dynamic suspension). Handsome, well-built car, extremely spacious, comparably powerful as the entry-level big Germans and a whole lot cheaper than the Germans, which are also half a size smaller.

Great to drive, great to be chauffeured and a huge boot. It's the perfect all-rounder workhorse.

Here's what BHPian sjain2054 had to say about the matter:

I am sure I will be the only one voting for the C5 Aircross. So the "1" against that car will be me! haha!

I have driven only a few cars from this list and I found C5 Aircross perfect for Indian conditions. I voted for C5 Aircross for the following reasons:

• The fact that it drowns out all the street noise. Indian cities are loud.
• It gives the best comfort on Indian road conditions and that is good enough for me to choose it over others (I have a bad lower back... that darn L4-L5)
• The beautiful engine and transmission is obviously a major advantage of the Aircross
• For me, the icing on the cake is the after-sales service stories from owners. It's good to be treated like a prestigious owner of a great car. I remember a story where the fellow and his family got stranded in Leh due to some fault in the car and the company not only repaired the car and delivered it to their home in Mumbai but also paid for the entire family's air tickets to Mumbai. I mean c'mon, that is just fantastic.
• I always like to stand out in terms of owning a rare car. In a big group, there might be 7 Hyundai cars, 5 BMWs, 4 Mercs and maybe 3 Audis but there will only be 1 Citroen. Why? because no one buys it.., haha.
• Discounts. I would save money on C5 Aircross and purchase a sexy EV - Nexon/Punch for city use with the spare money from the total budget of 60 lacs or so.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Euro cars like the Kodiaq I felt are mostly designed with a focus on drive comfort, internal dimensions, giving more space inside giving a roomy feeling

BHPian kurups recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Skoda Kodiaq (MY23 Vehicle) – My expectations from the car, competition analysis, accessories, niggles.

Its been 8 months driving the Skoda Kodiaq and hence thought to share my decision making process to select the Kodiaq among other similarly capable or priced cars and my driving experience covering 6000+ Kms on the bear. The inspiration to write has obviously been the numerous auto enthusiast in this TeamBHP forum who have already shared their views on the vehicle which has somewhat helped me shape up my opinions as well. So a big thank you to all of them and I feel few of my thoughts mentioned below might also be useful to someone.

• Requirements that I sought in the car

• Competition Analyzed before selecting the Kodiaq – Fortuner/Jeep Meridian/X1/GLA/Q3 and few others
• Why I chose the Kodiaq and buying experience from Raja Skoda, Bangalore
• Accessories added and maintenance items bought
• Niggles with the Kodiaq

Requirements that I sought in the car:

The quest for the perfect ride began with a desire for a powerful petrol SUV, a good-looking car, a monocoque chassis which would be good to be used within city and on highways and the flexibility of a 7-seater. These became the four fundamental requirements. A search which started with a budget of 20-30 Lakhs pre-covid, somehow ended up with the Kodiaq in 2023. Have driven the Hyundai Santro – dad used it mostly since 2006, a Tata Indigo CS that I drove since 2008 and a Nissan Micra – wife’s’ car - driven since 2017. Once the Indigo CS was sold and Micra came home, we decided to drive it for few years before choosing a car for me to replace the Indigo CS. Ours is basically a family of 4 - me, spouse and 2 kids. Occasionally parents/brother with his family/cousins join in. Of course, travelling in two cars has been the norm when we go out as a family, but a 7-seater for occasional travel would be more spacious for people / extra luggage when required or otherwise use it as a 5 seater was the whole thought process.

Competition Analyzed before selecting Kodiaq – Fortuner/X1/GLA/Q3/Jeep Meridian:

During the covid days the need of a car drastically reduced with work from home setting in and outstation trips reduced to almost nil and hence the requirement of a new car just died down. The Micra itself clocked lesser kms and served the purpose in those days mainly restricted to city drives. By the end of 2021, the evaluation kickstarted again. Kodiaq was re-launched in India in Jan 2022 and it immediately caught the attention – first for the simple reason that I felt it was designed to look great from all angles and it did meet rest of my requirements as well.

Then the obvious question before deciding to get it, was that if I am spending on a Kodiaq, why not have a serious thought on the 3 German badged cars in that price range (X1, GLA or the Q3). Thought over it for over a long period. The 7-seaters from these brands were more than a crore and clearly out of sight & budget. The closest that came under the radar was Mercs GLB 7-seater which was launched in the US at an awesome price, but post covid as all prices went up, by the time it got launched in India, it was launched on road in Bangalore at 75+. Removing GLB from the radar, went ahead evaluating the Fortuner, Jeep Meridian, X1, GLA, Q3 and the Kodiaq.

The Fortuner from a road presence perspective scores great and had a good high seating position giving great visibility and commanding position, but it looked really bland from inside. The infotainment systems looked pre-historic from what we see today. Its time Toyota spends some time and energy on this. The ladder frame chassis, upon which the Fortuner is constructed, prioritizes off-road capabilities, a feature that may be relevant to may be 5% of a vehicle's overall usage life. Felt a lot of body roll on winding roads (An Innova’s ride quality felt better). The Fortuner lacked the sophistication found in the Kodiaq, both in terms of interior and exterior aspects. Despite its rugged and robust road presence, the Fortuner fell short when compared with the Kodiaq, whose charm overshadowed the Fortuner's tough exterior aesthetics, especially up close. Beauty, however, is subjective and personal preferences may vary and since the macho butch looks weren’t on my priority list, added to the fact that the Fortuner's interiors appeared outdated and lacking in updates along with the ladder frame construction deterred my interest on this vehicle.

X1/Q3/GLA - A comparison with the 3 badged cars in the same price range – these were not 7 seaters, but still costs almost similar, if not more. The truth is also that none of the top end variants of these German entry level cars comes under 50 lakhs, neither did the top end variants of these cars had features as the Kodiaq L&K had. In summary I felt shopping for less space & lesser features at a higher price and only for an aspirational badge value associated with these models.

Anyway, here are some other observations:- The X1 looked good from an exterior design perspective and was fun to drive, but comfort wise Kodiaq wins any day as the X1 I found was tuned to be on the stiffer side. It felt a bit outdated and lacked the features that BMW offers on its X3/X5. The drive with all these 3 cars were peppy and not much to complain, they were quick on the road and maneuvering felt great – courtesy the almost similar torque figures and the smaller size of the car compared to other full size SUVs. The BMW X1 back then was at the end of its life and was the final release for its generation. The latest X1 as we speak has now come with only 150bhp. Among the 3 German cars, the BMW X1 looks appealing to the eyes.

GLA looked very premium from inside, again a very peppy driving machine, but the exterior dimensions and a glorified hatch back look with just the logo to feel proud about, didn’t enthuse me to take that aspirational plunge.

Q3 drives a bit better among all the three but didn't find the premium it demands worth for that few moments in time when I would really feel that difference in drive and didn't feel going for a 5 seater vehicle paying a premium compared to the plushness, space & DCC offered by Skoda's premium 7 seater. The Kodiaq practically has 2nd row space similar to a Q7, much more than the space in a Q5, leave alone the comparison with Q3. No wireless android auto on Audis, I felt was a big disappointment.

The 3 German entry level cars are basically the respective company’s entry level products, lacks equipment comparatively and feels overpriced to what they offer. I did not pursue the Jeep Meridian much as it was available only in the diesel variant. The Jeep’s Compass to me was well built & looked much better in its proportions and was a nimble sporty vehicle, the Meridian felt like a stretched out Compass with the exact same engine spec as the Compass. Wished Meridian was given a bit more curves than the boxy feeling that it has today.

If 7-seater was not a requirement, the Tiguan was an extremely good choice. Outside of India, there is not much difference in the Tiguan pricing and these German cars. For some reason, the Indian variants of X1/GLA/Q3 post covid have been crazily overprized compared to a Tiguan. A Tiguan has more internal space and is plush inside and is comparable to some of these German cars, having similar engine & gearbox specs.

Why I chose the Kodiaq and buying experience from Raja Skoda, Bangalore:

Now, coming to the Kodiaq. Air Suspension is not a feature that the Kodiaq has, but if you don’t want to spend on a BMW 7 series, Audi Q7 or a Mercedes GLE, and still want to get close to an air suspension drive quality then the best possible option is to get a Kodiaq at half the price and experience a glide-like feeling in its comfort mode.

This was January 2022 when the test drive was requested and Raja Skoda team at Bangalore readily came up for the test drive in just one call. Had told them that I will have to drive it on some long stretches and I need to evaluate all possible driving conditions, seating positions and will test out every other nuance of the Kodiaq. The sales team got approvals for an extended test drive.

The Euro cars like the Kodiaq I felt are mostly designed with a focus on drive comfort, internal dimensions, giving more space inside giving a roomy feeling and not focused much on the yesteryear American external butch and macho looks. The monocoque chassis of the Kodiaq gave a feeling of a sturdy well-built machine, was able to contain the body roll on curvy roads, giving excellent drive comfort as I took it for a spin. The (DCC) Dynamic Chassis Control - basically adaptive suspensions, and the drive modes – sports/comfort etc – really made a difference on the road. I initially had a feeling that this would be more of a software gimmick and felt that I may not be able to see much difference on the road. But unlike my belief, a shift from the comfort mode to sports mode for example hardened the steering movements and the car was quicker to accelerate. I feel this must have been the default mode of the Kodiaq. The comfort mode on the other hand, cushioned the drive on the Bangalore potholes like a charm. A three-zone climate control – separate adjustable temperatures for the driver seat, the co-passenger and the rear seat passengers, features like ventilated - heated & cooled seats and hands-free parking adds to the feature list of the Kodiaq. There were too many features to evaluate or understand in a test drive.

The questionable aspect of this 7-seater were the rear seats. Me, my wife could get on the rear seat, and we drove with each of us sitting in the 3rd row for more than 20-30 minutes and to be frank I did not have any great concerns to point out. Just to give some reference - I am for example 5 ft 9 and around 75 kgs. Getting in/coming out of the 3rd row - you might need to be a bit flexible – that’s one negative I felt, but this is across the industry with no cars having thought of any genius idea to overcome this entry/exit to the 3rd row seating. I had come across many reviews of the Kodiaq where the 3rd row seating was repeatedly called out as “only for kids”. This, I feel is purely subjective on who is reviewing or trying to sit at the rear seat. In my case, the plan was to put kids who were 11 and 6 back then to the 3rd rows. But then when I and my wife tried sitting, it was not bad and can’t be classified as only for kids. For those who are still in a deciding phase, I would recommend that you try this out and make people sit & experience it while driving and then take a call. A frank suggestion for someone similar in a body frame as mine - it’s good to go. More on the 3rd row with our recent trip on the Kodiaq– Bangalore to Goa with two families – the 4x4 taking 4 adults + 4 Kids - detailed in the next post below.

The internal quality of leather, choice of colors, soft plastics, space for water bottles, mobile wireless charging, adaptive suspensions, adequate luggage space 270 liters (or call it 320 liters with some modifications) with all three row up, 12 way adjustable seating adjustments, sliding 2nd rows, ability to fold both 3rd row and 2nd row parallel to the ground creating 2000+ liters space with optimal use of chrome gives the interiors a pretty luxurious feeling. Pen holder, parking slip holder, cup holder in the rear seat, the nap package, sufficient hooks inside the cabin and in the boot, 2nd row rear seatbelt holders – to avoid unnecessary sound while its dangling free, well though through 3rd row seat belt holders, power sources in all three rows, external door protectors in MY23 model and so many more simple & clever additions in the Kodiaq makes it a feel good vehicle.

So compared to the other vehicles test driven the Kodiaq was coming out as a clear winner ticking the basic requirements – 7-seater, Petrol SUV with monocoque chassis and it drove well in the city and the drive quality where I tried – the Hebbal-Bangalore Airport Road was just awesome. It definitely looked like a proper SUV with a sedan like driving comfort. Overall, to get these features that are present in the Kodiaq, I feel one will have to pay atleast 10-15 lakhs extra to get a comparable car.

The back of the mind requirement of a 7-seater, being less keen to have ownership of one of the 3 badged German cars and looking for value and more practicality finally ended up with me siding with the Kodiaq.

After all the test drives in Jan 2022, by the time I decided to go for the Kodiaq (Feb end, 2022), even the test drive vehicles were sold out by all Skoda dealers in Bangalore, much so that they stopped taking bookings across India. Had to wait for another 6 months for Skoda India for re-introducing the Kodiaq and in August 2022 booked the Kodiaq L&K lava blue as soon as it was made available to book. A long wait time and come March 2023, the dealer shared the VIN details, payment done and took delivery of this beauty in April 2023, a MY23 vehicle and come December 2023, ended up clocking 6000+Kms.

Accessories that I ended up adding and the maintenance items bought:

A Dashcam – 70mai A800S with a 128GB SD giving almost 12-14 Hrs of recording.

Ceramic Coating – Ceramic/PPF confusion ended with Ceramic. Before taking the deliver, got WURTH ceramic coating done from the Skoda Service Center itself with a contract with Skoda that they will do a touchup treatment every 6 months for the next 3 years. This to me now looks like a good decision as the car is swanky shiny at most times and its easy to dust off as it accumulates lesser dust.

Jopasu Duster – This duster with waxed microfiber lining + the ceramic coating has ensured the car is kept neat and shining throughout. This duster does not involve to & fro rubbing as the duster picks up dust as we slide it once over the body. Bought a duster rejuvenator from Amazon after 6 months of using this duster and the now its back in action.

3M CR70 film on the windshield, all window glasses & the 3M CR90 for the sunroof – Had taken the Kodiaq for a drive in the summer of April month and felt that a heat protective film would be a good addition and having done the CR70 coating on my Nissan Micra, I felt a remarkable change with reduction of heat on hot sunny days. This addition has made a sea change in the Kodiaq as well, keeping the AC Temp nominal, especially with 7 members in the car, its better to get this done for AC to be effectively till the last rows. Its advisable to switch ON the internal circulation for the AC to be effective in the Kodiaq as the by-default setting is it to be kept OFF. 3M Koramangala guys were courteous enough and give a free PPF covering for the side view mirrors, the door handles and the B & C pillars.

Kagu 3D Mats – This has been a life saver compared to the mats that came default with the Kodiaq. It’s pretty easy to clean and maintain. Did not take the rubber mats that was offered by Skoda as accessories. Kagu 3D mats were not available online but could find a dealer in Chennai who delivered the Mats at Bangalore. Some pics of the mat:

Some pics with Kagu 3D Mats laid in the Kodiaq:

Cleaning and Maintenance Accessories:

The Wruth Plastic & Rubber care spray is extremely useful to maintain the black color of the rubber parts especially the front rubber & plastic parts and the rear hexagonal plastic mesh type structure. The spray ensures the liquid enters the places where its difficult to maintain manually.

Added up a fire extinguisher and a car shampoo to be used with a Water Jet spray machine to clean up the car occasionally, 3M Tyre dresser and 3M Dashboard dresser and a Leather cleaning solution from ShineXPro to keep the light color leather seats intact.

Found a Storage Bag on Amazon that takes up all of maintenance items and fits it exactly in the rear left of the Kodiaqs boot such that the grey boot cover can be opened without disturbing the storage bag. Pic below:

A wireless and sleek designed vacuum cleaner from ShineXPro, that lasts almost 25-30 minutes on full charge with a suction power of 5500 Pa to 7000 Pa. That’s sufficient suction power and the wireless nature enables it to be brought home for re-charging or using for household suction requirements too. This neatly tucks into its carry bag and the unit stays in the left side of the boot bottom, adjacent to the spare wheel.

A Tyre inflator from TUSA and a puncture kit combo takes the extreme left side of the boot.

A car dustbin that goes into the 2nd row door bottle holder space, separate Microfiber cloth – for exterior, interiors and the alloys, a palm size Duster to push out dust that gets settled into some of the crevices of the Kodiaq which can’t be accessed otherwise is useful at times.

Tissue Papers cum Card Holder, Sun Glasses Holder & an Air Pressure Gauge – Got a neat tissue paper box & a sunglasses holder that gets clipped behind the visor mirror base as shown below. Added a Stanley Air Pressure Gauge and had an interesting observation. When I fill the tyres with my TUSA tyre Inflator and cross check that with the Stanley gauge it exactly matches the PSI reading. Any time I fill air from Petrol Pumps, the Stanley Gauge always gives a lesser value, shaking my confidence on these Petrol Pump Air pressure values.

Added a Tyre stone remover bought from Amazon recently with a DIY pouch for it and this pouch gets tucked into the front left door – umbrella holder and the faux leather pouch ensures no unnecessary bouncing sounds while the vehicle is on the move.

From practicality to aesthetics, these additions have become an integral part of the Kodiaq's narrative.

Niggles with the Kodiaq:

No love story is without its quirks, and the Kodiaq has a few:

• “Hi Laura” command – found it of not much use. If anyone has got some useful stuff done with her, please share.
• The maps provided by Skoda does not having traffic updates in India, making it redundant and it all comes back to google maps. Hence a facility should have been provided to show google maps view in the screen behind the steering, not only on the central touchscreen.
• Nets provided with the Kodiaq – In the seven-seater mode, am just trying to see how to make use of these nets. If someone has found a real use, please do share.
• The wireless charging space for mobiles must have been a tad bigger.
• Along with the 12V socket provided, the two USB – C Ports in the front is useful, but once you put any type of cable or a USB C to A convertor, the glossy lid covering the wireless charging space cannot be closed. This could have been designed better to accommodate the use of USB ports and a closeable cover.
• A USB port on the internal rear-view mirror is available in Euro specs Kodiaq and is given a miss in India. A must have for powering the dashcams, else it leads to routing the dashcam cables all the way from the top where the Dashcam is fitted to the USB ports at the bottom.
• An additional rear AC vent in the 3rd row could have helped.
• Do we have any regulations regarding the vehicle headlight power - lumens restrictions or so in India? On a completely dark roads (say with no streetlights) or incoming vehicles, the headlights of the Kodiaq seem lighting the road extremely well – no doubt on this. But when you have vehicles coming from the opposite directions, call it the glare or whatever you wanna call it, the path ahead somehow doesn’t seem getting lit well. I have seen forum members citing Kodiaq’s headlights as one of the best. Not sure if I am expecting too much about the path visibility or some regulations are keeping this light power lesser to my liking or is it time to change my glasses .
• A bit more space and thigh support on the 3rd row would have added better comfort.
• Once or twice the windshield wipers jarred making some noise and it became fine after that without any intervention. Never experienced those disturbing noises again.

These are some of the poetic imperfections that I wished the Kodiaq had refined which is otherwise a finely crafted vehicle. Wish it continues adding character to the saga and enable all of us cover miles and miles.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

In future I am even contemplating to get an oil change at 7.5K kms & regular service at 15K difference.

BHPian SilverSmoke recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Got Avalanche's second service done at 24K KMs.

Got a new lease of life - engine got hyper smooth & very responsive. I highly recommend don't wait for 15K KMs for an oil change - get it done by 10K KMs - strictly. We just keep slushing the engine in high viscosity oil past 10K KMs - don't know why Skoda has recommended that at 15K KMs.

In future I am even contemplating to get an oil change at 7.5K KMs & regular service at 15K difference.

Here comes out the old, dark & restricting oil:

That goes the fresh, clean & transparent dose of engine's blood - difference is clearly evident.

The grade of oil used. 5.7 litres of it

That's the DSG transmission underneath - with black cover over mechatronic unit in front.

Cabin air filter. Dont know if its HEPA or not:

The choked side, thanks to rising air pollution:

Remaining brake pads - guess they will be good for another 25K KMs. If they are to be replaced with disc - they will set you back by ₹75K:

The fluid that was poured into wiper washer compartment. Can't understand what's written - used Google translate, turned out to be - Summer Mix for Washer:

Just a minor issue cropped after software update this service - ORVMs now don't dip down while shifting to reverse - hoping for it to get corrected soon.

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The suspension has no damping at all. It crashes into even the smallest of the undulations with loud knocking and rattling noises

BHPian novice recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

It appears engine misfires/jerks seem lot more common on 2.0 TSI than I thought. I always felt my 1.8 TSI Superb ran super smooth on HP petrol. In fact, it runs better on HP regular petrol compared to even IOC's XP95. With XP95, it is always a hit or miss and there is clear difference in engine power and smoothness between refills but unlike the Kodiaq it doesn't completely fail to run.

I feel there is something in IOC fuels, especially the XP95, that these VW engines don't like. I don't think it is down to individual bunks.

Interestingly, I had driven the Kodiaq through TN a lot (~12k of total 18k on the odo) and filled XP95 from any highway bunk that I could find but never faced misfire issues. Engine issues come up only when I fill XP95 from my neighborhood bunks in Bangalore.

My hypothesis, excessive moisture content in XP95 being sold in Bangalore. It may sound stupid, but I am wondering if TN being a dry state and Bangalore being a wet place has anything to do with it? Or may be the refinery or distribution channels that deliver to Bangalore city are to be blamed?

Apart from Engine related issues, my car has two other critical issues.

Excessively Hard Suspension - The suspension has no damping at all. It crashes into even the smallest of the undulations with loud knocking and rattling noises from suspension. Alloy wheels develop wobbling as they get out of shape due to suspension not offering any damping. The ride is harsh, bumpy and unsettled with lot of body roll. My car is on it's third set of allyos. I have 12 Kodiaq L&K alloys with me and 10 out of 12 have developed wobbling. The same has been checked and confirmed by Madhus. What's worse, some of the alloys from Skoda have wobbling right out of the box. But Tafe has refused to acknowledge the problem and denied warranty even for the alloys that were faulty. Skoda ships alloys in a thin and flimsy carton box with no protection. I have driven few other Kodiaqs of the same age and they all run absolutely fine. Only my car has these issues. I drive the car with utmost care, real slow on bad stretches, humps and potholes.

Abnormal Noise and vibration from Drivetrain/Steering - I drove to Kodaikanal recently. While climbing uphill, there was very loud humming noise and vibrations from the drivetrain/steering every time the steering was turned more than half lock on either side. The humming noise was audible to everyone inside the cabin even with windows rolled up, AC running and Music playing. This continued from the base of the hill till we reached the hill top. I never experienced this problem on plain roads. Complained to both Tafe and PPS but haven't got any explanation so far. This I believe is some undiagnosed problem waiting to explode.

Have written a mail to Skoda listing out all the issues. Awaiting their response.

I am not even going to talk about interiors bits breaking off.

I reported the misfire issue to Skoda and they got in touch with the service center and I was asked to leave to car with service today. Car was parked for about a week after the last misfire incident. I crank engine this morning and start driving but there is no hint of any misfire.

Called up service technician who was in touch with me and explained the situation. He requested me to continue to use the car and bring it to him when the issue occurs again.

It isn’t a random misfire once in a while. I would be okay with it if that’s the case. Here it goes from one extreme to another. It misfired so badly that it shook the whole car.

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I always had an itch to get the battery tested - if I got a lemon fitted.

BHPian SilverSmoke recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Decided to test the battery - ordered a tester online & got to work.

During the incident year back, battery was replaced (as a good gesture by Brite Skoda) with theoritical new battery - as older one got dead standing idle for 90 days in workshop. Hence, I always had an itch to get it tested - if I got a lemon fitted.

One can't afford to do that when 90% of car is electronically dependent & controlled.

In this tester, there are three parts / phases.

After attaching the electrodes to respective terminals, it draws power & get started up.

In phase 1, battery morphology type is selected - in this it's AGM.

Phase - 2 - Battery subtype is selected - SAE for our Varta.

In 3rd Phase, value for EDC (Estimated Discharge Current) is fed - it's 680 Amperes for this battery. Enter the value mentioned on battery. Don't confuse with DIN Amperes - it's also mentioned & it's different.

Last phae 4 is actual testing phase.

SOH - State of Health came 97%. Which is pretty good - depicting new battery was placed in.

Anything below 55% needs immediate replacement.

I.R. - Internal Resistance is 3.7 Mili Ohms - anything below 5 mO is nice.

Ideally it should be zero - meaning current is flowing with almost no resistance within the battery.

SOC - State of charge is 77% - good again but little below my expectations - it should be above 80% in regularly used car.

Volts are 12.5 - pretty much normal.

Actual Discharge Current - Cold Cranking Current is 663 Amperes

Hence, deducted the fact - this battery will keep serving for 2 more years atleast if maintained properly.

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