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Skoda’s flagship SUV moves to a new generation, bringing more space and, finally, a plug-in hybrid option. Does it still tick all the boxes? Lawrence Allan delves deeper.
Things you'll like
- Very practical and roomy
- Good value in SE trim
- Comfortable and good to drive
Things to consider
- PHEV is five-seat only
- Not as premium as some rivals
- Gets expensive further up the range
What is the Skoda Kodiaq?
The largest and most family-friendly SUV that the Czech brand makes, in essence. The Kodiaq sits alongside the Superb as the flagship model in the range.
It’s also host to a couple of firsts for Skoda. It’s the brand’s first SUV to adopt the K-Q naming convention, coming before the smaller Karoq and Kamiq. Kodiaq, if you’re interested, is taken from the name of an Alaskan brown bear that’s the largest of its kind.
The Kodiaq is also the first Skoda SUV to receive a second model generation, with the much-loved Yeti lasting seven years as one model beforehand. Following up the much-loved, award-winning first-gen Kodiaq is no mean feat, however.
This latest version doesn’t aim to rewrite the rulebook, instead evolving the formula with a little more space, more standard kit, improved technology and a long-range plug-in hybrid option for the first time. Is it a successful follow-up or the difficult second album? We’ll find out in this in-depth review.
Verdict: is the Skoda Kodiaq a good car?
We reckon this latest Kodiaq is as strong a package as ever in terms of family-friendly usability – just with more modern technology. The considerably larger boot will be a boon for many, while the SUV also remains a solid all-rounder on the road. We like the wide choice of engines, too, with the new plug-in hybrid offering class-leading efficiency and range. Only some low-rent cabin features let the side down a bit.
Pricing, specs & rivals
Keen-eyed Kodiaq fans will remember that the outgoing model was available from well under £30,000 a few years back. But new car prices have risen across the board, and even though those days are long gone the Skoda still looks decent value.
At the time of writing (April 2025) you’ll need £38,140 for the cheapest Kodiaq 1.5 TSI SE, and in the context of SUVs offering similar practicality levels it’s competitive. A Volkswagen Tayron, for example, breaches the £40k barrier, as do the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe by some margin. Only the Nissan X-Trail and SEAT Tarraco are cheaper.
It’s worth noting, though, that you’ll need an extra £860 to get seven seats in your Kodiaq (you can’t do so with the plug-in hybrid). The 2.0 TDI adds £2,290 to the base price and pushes the Skoda above the all-important £40k price barrier, where it incurs the ‘luxury car tax’.
The SE L model, which brings seven seats as standard, adds £1,700 over SE trim, while higher-end SportLine versions start from £44,200. SportLine also gives you access to the 2.0 TSI petrol (£48,750) and the more powerful 2.0 TDI in 4x4 form (£50,620).
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions of the Kodiaq are available across the range, priced from a little over £42,000 in SE form and rising to £47,245. Skoda doesn’t give you access to the more powerful PHEV option you’ll find in the VW Tiguan and Tayron.
Finally, topping the Kodiaq’s range is the sporty vRS model. It gets a 265hp version of the 2.0 TSI petrol engine, and a significant price tag of £53,690.
One benefit of the Kodiaq’s rise in price over the outgoing model is the sheer amount of standard kit. Even entry-level SE trim features 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, sat-nav, three-zone climate control, keyless start, heated front seats, power-folding mirrors, ambient cabin lighting and wireless phone charging.
SE L upgrades the wheel size to 19 inches while also adding part faux leather upholstery, matrix LED headlights, keyless entry and an electric tailgate. SportLine trim throws in styling upgrades like 20-inch alloys, sports seats and a body kit, plus adaptive cruise control, while vRS models come essentially fully loaded.
Rivals
The Kodiaq has several alternatives to consider if you have a need for seven seats. The slightly cheaper Nissan X-Trail and Peugeot 5008 are probably the closest, but you’ll also want to consider the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe and the more affordable (but somewhat dated) Seat Tarraco.
If you’re looking at higher-end Kodiaq variants then consider the Mazda CX-80, while the more premium Land Rover Discovery Sport and Mercedes-Benz GLB are options if the third row of seats only need to take small children. Don’t forget electric options, either, with the Kia EV9 providing the strongest competition to high-end Kodiaqs.
Skoda Kodiaq: Interior comfort, quality & technology
The new Kodiaq’s interior is unlikely to seem dauntingly unfamiliar to anyone who drove the old car – it just has a more modern design.
It still features the commanding driving position desired by buyers, giving excellent all-round visibility combined with narrow pillars, big door mirrors and deep side and rear windows. The front seats are supportive (even more so in SportLine trim) and widely adjustable, with lumbar support as standard on all versions.
As well as the upgraded technology and bigger screens, it’s nice to see Skoda has continued with physical buttons for ease of use. The three large knobs below the screen don’t just operate the climate control, you can press them in to switch to drive mode selection and volume control. That’s much more intuitive than the 5008’s touchscreen controls.
While that’s great, it’s a pity that such crucial controls feel so cheap and lightweight to the touch. There are a few lower-rent plastics lower down and the centre console isn’t as sturdy as in a Volkswagen, too.
Overall, a 5008, Sorento or Santa Fe give off a more convincingly premium air, but the Skoda isn’t exactly flimsy – there’s still a good amount of soft-touch materials and the rest of the cabin feels built to withstand the rigours of family life.
Infotainment, sat-nav, stereo and connectivity
All Kodiaqs get a much larger touchscreen display than the old model, at 13 inches, and it’s mounted in a separate bezel on top of the dash within the driver’s eyeline.
It’s a lot higher definition than before, too, but remains responsive to inputs and features an intuitive interface. Having said that, there are a lot more features to delve into than before – and Skoda’s natural speech voice control system, named Laura, makes it easier to access these on the move.
All Kodiaqs get sat-nav along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Usefully, you also get two wireless phone charging pads under the dash with their own cooling system built in to prevent your device from overheating.
The 10.25-inch digital dial display features three ‘zones’ that are endlessly configurable, but it’s always easy to read key information. We also like that Skoda has retain physical buttons and easy scroll wheels on the steering wheel.
Further connectivity comes from four USB-C ports located in the front and second rows, along with a further port in the rear-view mirror unit to connect dashcams.
The standard eight-speaker audio system delivers acceptable sound quality, but the optional 12-speaker Canton system provides the kind of punchy, crisp audio that livens up a mundane journey.
How practical is the Skoda Kodiaq?
In the simplest possible terms, very. Skoda hasn’t increased the latest-gen Kodiaq’s size in every dimension: at 4758mm in length it’s around 60mm longer, but fractionally narrower and lower. And the wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) is about the same.
Regardless, there’s a shedload of space in the front, with even the exceptionally broad or tall able to easily get comfortable and a good level of adjustment in the seats.
In the second row, too, six-footers will have legroom to spare and a huge expanse of headroom, even with the panoramic glass roof fitted. There’s loads of space for your feet under the front seats, too, and three adults can fit across the bench comfortably enough – if not as easily as in a Kia Sorento or Hyundai Santa Fe.
There’s added flexibility with the rear seats that can be slid forwards and backwards to give passengers in the third row more legroom (or an even bigger boot in five-seat versions). You can also recline the backrests for added comfort.
If you’ve specified seven seats the third row is best suited for children but can accommodate adults if needed. For starters, access with the second row slid forward is a little tight for adults, while legroom is okay if you compromise with the sliding seat of the person in front. Headroom is at least a touch better than the old Kodiaq, but adults back there wouldn’t enjoy long journeys.
By comparison, the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe are roomier for passengers, and the Peugeot 5008 is broadly similar. But the Kodiaq is far roomier than a Mercedes-Benz GLB or Land Rover Discovery Sport if you intend to use the rearmost seats more often.
It’s a bit disappointing, though, that seven seats are not available on any plug-in hybrid Kodiaq.
Storage and boot space
As well as taking your family in comfort, the Kodiaq has tonnes of space to store all their clobber. Cabin storage is excellent, with vast door bins, a deep cubby under the centre armrest, phone storage, a sunglasses holder and not one but two gloveboxes that are both a decent size.
The cupholder in the centre console also contains a couple of Skoda’s now trademark ‘Simply Clever’ touches. The main cupholder has grips on the bottom to allow you to open a water bottle lid with one hand, while the top section of the cupholder itself slides off to make a second pair, giving you four cupholders in one small space.
Next to the cupholders there’s a touchscreen cleaning device with a built-in sprayer. That’s alongside usual details such as umbrellas in the doors, an ice scraper in the fuel filler flap and a parking ticket holder on the windscreen. Handy.
In the rear you’ll also find door bins that can take big bottles of water, albeit without the rattle-avoiding felt lining you’ll find in the front. You’ll also find cupholders in the fold-down centre armrest and pockets in the front seatbacks. In the third-row things are more limited, but you do get a cupholder and a small space for devices.
What certainly isn’t small is the boot. At a vast 910 litres with five of the seven seats in place, its capacity is much bigger than the old Kodiaq and isn’t far off that of the much larger and pricier Land Rover Discovery – although the Peugeot 5008 beats the Skoda by a few litres still.
Even with all seven seats in place you get 340 litres of space – about what a VW Polo offers in its boot. But folding those seats is a doddle, while if you want to moonlight as a van driver the second row of seats folds in a 40/20/40 split to reveal a whopping 2,035-litre space.
Performance & drive: What is the Skoda Kodiaq like on the road?
There’s a wider variety of engine options in the Kodiaq than almost any direct rival, and none are a particular weak link.
Most buyers are expected to opt for the 150hp 1.5 TSI petrol engine, boosted by mild hybrid assistance. It’s reasonably smooth and delivers acceptable performance for most needs but will likely feel a bit lacking if you’re regularly loading up with passengers and a full boot of luggage.
It’ll need working hard as a result, where the engine can get noisy. The 2.0 TDI diesel is more suited to those using the Kodiaq’s carrying capacity more often, as although outright performance is similar it has noticeably more mid-range grunt.
For a more effortless turn of pace, either of the four-wheel drive models deliver strong performance for a car of this size. These are the ones to go for if you’re looking to tow, too, but bear in mind that the petrol model will be thirsty if you do so. We’ve yet to try the Kodiaq vRS, but its performance capability seems a little unnecessary in a big family SUV.
Of more interest is the Kodiaq iV. It appears to let you have your cake and eat it on paper (bar the lack of a seven-seat option), with astonishing fuel efficiency combined with punchy performance from the combined 1.5 TSI petrol engine and electric motor.
It’s a good setup, delivering exceptional smoothness under electric power and usefully more grunt than the regular 1.5 TSI. You’ll need to keep some charge in the battery wherever possible to benefit fully, but the system always keeps a bit of electric power in reserve.
Power, 0-62mph times
- Kodiaq 1.5 TSI e-TEC: 150hp/ 9.7 secs (9.9 secs with 7 seats)
- Kodiaq 2.0 TDI: 150hp/ 9.6 secs (9.8 secs with 7 seats)
- Kodiaq iV PHEV: 204hp/ 8.4 secs
- Kodiaq 2.0 TSI 4x4: 204hp/ 7.5 secs
- Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4: 193hp/ 8.0 secs
- Kodiaq vRS: 265hp/ 6.4 secs
Ride and handling
Just like the previous Kodiaq, the latest model offers a great compromise between comfort and tidy handling. Granted, an ability to scythe through corners isn’t essential in a family SUV, but it’s nice that the Skoda inspires confidence when navigating country lanes.
The ride is at its best on the smallest 18-inch wheel option, where it smothers potholes and speed bumps around town well while staying controlled and avoiding a floaty feeling on undulating tarmac. But even the larger wheels don’t drastically alter the way the Kodiaq goes down the road. Granted, you do get the occasional thump over really rough roads, but it’s more composed than a Peugeot 5008.
The Kodiaq has light and easy controls around town, but the steering weights up decently at higher speed to help you confidently place the car. There’s some body roll (this is a large car after all) but certainly less than a Kia Sorento delivers, while there’s plenty of grip and strong high-speed stability.
Noise and refinement
The Kodiaq is a good car for longer road trips thanks to decent noise insulation. Road and wind noise are a little more noticeable than some pricier rivals, but certainly far from intrusive, while the PHEV versions are super smooth and quiet when running in electric mode.
One negative with the Kodiaq is the engine noise, particularly the lower-powered models that need working to get up to motorway speeds. Again, it’s a minor issue though, and one shared with several key rivals that also have small capacity engines.
Euro NCAP: is the Skoda Kodiaq a safe car?
It’s crucial that such a family-focused car performs well in safety tests, and the Kodiaq hits the standard expected with a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
Its strongest score is an 89% rating for adult occupant protection, and although some rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe beat it, the 83% child occupant protection score is strong.
There’s certainly no shortage of safety equipment on offer including the usual multitude of airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane assist and traffic sign recognition. There’s also driver attention and drowsiness monitoring, but it’s impressive to see both blind spot monitoring and front and rear cross-traffic alert as standard on every model.
ISOFIX points are found on the front passenger seat and outer middle row of seats, but not the rearmost row of the seven-seaters like you’ll find in the Kia Sorento.
Fuel economy and running costs
Efficiency always takes a hit with larger SUVs, but the Kodiaq manages to be one of the more economical models in its class.
Diesels aren’t universally popular these days, but many large SUVs still come with that option – and the Kodiaq’s 2.0 TDI unit is a strong option for long distance drivers. Managing up to 53.3mpg combined on the WLTP combined test, it’s a massive 10mpg more efficient than the Kia Sorento diesel.
That said, the 1.5 TSI petrol’s promise of up to 47.3mpg combined isn’t as far from the diesel as you might expect, thanks to the 48-volt mild hybrid system.
It’s also considerably better than petrol equivalents from Nissan, Kia and Hyundai, although the Peugeot 5008 is more efficient still. It’s worth noting that opting for seven seats only hits fuel economy by about 1mpg officially.
The 2.0 TSI petrol is, unsurprisingly, the thirstiest model in the range, managing 33mpg combined. A better option if performance is a priority is the 4x4 diesel model which promises up to 45mpg.
Skoda Kodiaq iV PHEV: electric range and charging
Of course, it’s the plug-in hybrid that excels in official tests, managing an impressive figure of up to 691mpg depending on spec.
That’s hundreds of miles per gallon more than PHEV versions of the Santa Fe and Sorento, and even the Peugeot 5008 PHEV can’t match that.
You can thank the impressive official range on a charge of up to 75 miles from a 25.7kWh battery pack – more than any rival bar the mechanically similar VW Tayron.
The usual caveat applies with plug-in hybrids, though: such fuel economy figures are only achievable if the vast majority of your journey falls within the battery’s electric range. Once you’ve depleted that, expect efficiency to be comparable with the standard 1.5 TSI. Think about your commute, and your ability to charge at either end of it, when you’re considering the PHEV.
One bonus the Kodiaq iV offers over most other plug-in hybrids (bar the Tayron) is the ability to use DC rapid charging. Able to reach speeds of up to 50kW, this allows you to replenish the battery in under half an hour, compared to the two and a half hours it’ll take to charge via an 11kW AC charger or three and a half hours via a typical home wall box.
Skoda also gives the Kodiaq iV an eight year, 100,000-mile battery warranty, guaranteeing it will retain at least 70% of its charge level during that period.
How much does the Skoda Kodiaq cost to insure?
The Kodiaq is likely to be one of the cheapest large SUVs to insure, with insurance groups kicking off from a mere group 18 for the entry-level 1.5 TSI SE. By comparison, the cheapest Peugeot 5008 and Nissan X-Trail sits in group 23.
The diesel brings the Kodiaq up to insurance group 20 (26 for the high-powered Sportline version), while the plug-in hybrid is in group 24 or 25 depending on spec. The most expensive to insure variants are the 2.0 TSI Sportline and vRS versions, sitting in group 27 and 31 respectively.
Skoda Kodiaq FAQs
Is the Skoda Kodiaq worth buying?
Yes, we reckon the Skoda Kodiaq is a great choice if you’re after a family-friendly large SUV. It’s very spacious, decent to drive, comfortable and comes with plenty of standard technology and equipment.
Is the Skoda Kodiaq a 4x4?
Yes, you can get the Kodiaq with a 4x4 system on the 2.0 TSI petrol or higher powered 2.0 TDI diesel. It’s a part-time four-wheel drive system with a Haldex clutch to send power to the rear wheels when more grip is required. You can also spec a Rough Roads Package with underbody protection if you plan to go off-road.
Which is bigger, a VW Tiguan or Skoda Kodiaq?
The Skoda Kodiaq is a larger car than the VW Tiguan. At 4,758mm long, 1,864mm wide and 1,659mm in height, the Skoda is a full 219mm longer than the VW. A more comparable car is the VW Tayron SUV, which is actually slightly longer than the Kodiaq.
