The Skoda Kodiaq is the Czech car maker’s flagship three row SUV from its global portfolio for India. Earlier this year in April, the Kodiaq received a generational update. The update brings in subtle changes to the exterior and a brand new interior altogether with more features down the line.
The Skoda Kodiaq goes with the likes of SUV’s such as the, MG Gloster, Nissan X-Trail, and the Toyota Fortuner. If you;re in the market for a premium three row SUV, here’s our list of key pros and cons of the Skoda Kodiaq to decide whether you should buy one.
High quality interiors
The Kodiaqs well built interiors are on par with luxury cars
Our Skoda Kodiaq review talks about how its interiors are a treat the moment you step in. The dashboard and other surfaces come with high quality padded materials with an ash wood trim running across the dash. Moreover, the interiors are built with great attention to detail; case in point: the knurled effect on the knobs. The stylish winged dashboard and a good ambient lighting setup further add to its appeal.
Spacious and comfortable seating
Plush and flexible seating options across the board
Seat comfort is also one of the strenghths of the Skoda Kodiaq. The front seats are well cushioned and largely accomodable. The front seats aren’t only ventilated but also come with heating and a massage functiion. The second-row is spacious, and comfortabbly seat three average-sized adults. Knee room here is also good for six footers and the second row seats can slide forwards and backwards according to passenger needs. The third-row here is usable as well over short commmutes, but space can be increased through sliding the second row seats. Boot space is decent at 281-litres with all three rows up, which can be expented to 1976-litres with the last two rows folded.
Big on features and safety tech
Comes well equipped especially on top variants and standard safety features
The Kodiaq is comes packed with features like heated, vetilated and massaging seats, ambient lighting, 360-degree cameras, auto park, 3-zone climate control, air purifiew, a 725W 13-speaker Canton sound system, digital dials, panoramic sunrand a 13-inch infotainment display. In terms of safety, you get nine airbags, ESC, hill descent control, ISOFIX child seat mounts and more. It does miss out on ADAS though. While not tested for Bharat NCAP yet, the Skoda Kodiaq achieved a 5-star rating by Euro NCAP.
New TSI engine comes with more power than before
Gets AWD as standard fitment across the lineup
The new-gen Kodiaq comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine. Power is up by 14hp from the previous gen Kodiaq at 204hp, while the torque remains the same at 320Nm. There is AWD here as standard across all variants mated to a 7-speed DCT. The engine responses are crisp, and overall performance is quite satisfying for everyday use. Even the engine sounds quite good as well. It also comes with sport mode and paddle shifters for manual control. Overall refinement is also decent. We even tested out its AWD capabilities at a Skoda experience drive in Mumbai through an off-road course
Firm ride quality
Suspension tuned on the fimrer side which affects driving over rough roads
When it comes to ride comfort, the suspension is set on the firmer side. Over potholes and uneven surfaces, the ride is not smoothened out. Moreover, the new gen Kodiaq does not get damper control unlike its predecessor did, causing more vertical movement at higher speeds.
Lack of multiple powertrain options
Kodiaq sold only with a sole 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine
While the petrol engine may be peppy for everyday use, unfortunately its the only engine option available on offer. The Skoda Kodiaq currently doesn’t come with a diesel or hybrid powertrain yet, which may lure away diesel buyers especially. There are possibilities that we could see of a 2.0-litre diesel or the spicier Kodiaq RS version, but theres no confirmation of it yet.
Costs almost 2 lakh more than the previous Kodiaq
New gen Kodiaq is expensive, even by premium SUV standards
Starting at Rs 39.9 lakh (ex-showroom) for the lounge variant and going all the way up to Rs 49.2 lakh (ex-showroom) for the fully loaded L&K variant, the Kodiaq has become alot more expensive. Not only is it substantially expensive than its predecessor, (Rs 37 lakh) but also a lot more expensive than the Hyundai Tucson (Rs 27.31-33.49 lakh ex showroom), the go-to car in this segment.
Also see:
2025 Skoda Kodiaq review: Big 7 seat Skoda SUV for big money