2024 Skoda Kodiaq Type overview

You’re trying on the most cost-effective model of Skoda’s flagship SUV in Australia – for now.

It’s the Skoda Kodiaq, and given it was launched in 2016, it’s not shocking the Czech producer is seeking to change issues up with a new era on the best way this yr.

The present mannequin was handled to a mid-life replace in 2022 that largely centered on enhancing tech performance reasonably than upgrading seems to be – but it surely left some nicer security package as an non-obligatory additional on base fashions.

Nonetheless, the Kodiaq has remained one among Skoda’s top-sellers in Australia, second solely to the Kamiq with 1555 examples offered in 2023.

On check right here is the entry 2024 Skoda Kodiaq Type, which has all the identical bones as its costlier siblings however misses out on a few of the nicer issues like lane help and a surround-view digicam.

It nonetheless has a turbocharged engine and four-wheel drive system like the remainder of the vary, and it’s competitively priced in a packed section that’s rising yearly.

Does the ageing Czech nonetheless have what it takes to compete with newer abroad competitors, or do you have to look forward to the brand new Kodiaq to the touch down?

How does the Skoda Kodiaq evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Skoda Kodiaq towards equally sized automobiles.

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Kodiaq

How a lot does the Skoda Kodiaq value?

There are three Kodiaq fashions obtainable in Australia, and the bottom Type on check right here is priced at $56,490 drive-away.

Skoda is at the moment providing a run-out low cost on the center Sportline variant that matches its worth with the Type, because it gears up for the arrival of the SUV’s subsequent era in November this yr.

To see how the Kodiaq Type strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

What’s the Skoda Kodiaq like on the within?

It’s in no way an uncomfortable or unpleasant inside, however the Kodiaq is beginning to really feel its age alongside flashy new rivals.

The seats are upholstered in a mixture of leather-based and what Skoda calls “Suedia”, and with lumbar help they’re snug to take a seat in for lengthy intervals of time regardless of being somewhat huge and flat. That’s, when you get them adjusted.

Regardless of asking greater than $55,000 drive-away, this base Kodiaq lacks any type of energy adjustment for the entrance seats. Along with the standard levers, there’s a knob on the base of the seatback that adjusts the reclining angle.

It took me a second to seek out, and entrance passengers complained it was tougher than powered adjustment or a lever.

When you’re in and cozy, you’ll be capable of take within the fashionable simplicity and sheer spaciousness of the cabin.

There’s a great deal of room throughout, and also you undoubtedly received’t be cramped within the entrance row. Whereas it presents properly, the inside atmosphere would profit from the addition of the black headliner fitted to the extra premium Kodiaqs.

In entrance of the driving force is a really well-proportioned and handsome steering wheel. It options sporty, ergonomic sculpting and is wrapped in high quality perforated leather-based.

The buttons and rolling dials on the wheel are of fine high quality and really feel good to make use of, whereas the remainder of the cabin’s controls fall simply at hand and work as they need to. There are bodily buttons and knobs for the local weather management within the center, and the headlights are managed by a Volkswagen-sourced selector to the precise of the wheel.

They are saying with age comes knowledge, and the Kodiaq proves it to be true with its easy local weather controls that imply you don’t must wrestle a touchscreen if you wish to change your fan pace or regulate the temperature.

A draw back is the inclusion of gloss-black trim parts, which may scratch simply and are exhausting to maintain clear. It’s not likely about how a lot of it there’s, however reasonably the place it’s been positioned.

It’s all around the automobile’s key contact factors – the local weather controls, on the spokes of the steering wheel, and it covers the whole lot of the wi-fi telephone charger’s sliding cowl. That cowl additionally feels flimsy, with extra play than we’ve come to count on from Volkswagen Group merchandise.

There’s an precise gear shifter in a standard configuration, and the centre console field in all fairness sized. It’s coated by a soft-touch lid that slides to disclose two central cupholders, although they’re on the smaller aspect.

Flip the detachable cupholder insert and also you as an alternative get a coin tray; an instance of the traditional Skoda contact designed to distinguish the Kodiaq from the associated Tiguan Allspace.

Between the dashboard’s plastic cladding (which is swapped for a carbon-fibre look in increased trim fashions) you’ll discover the Kodiaq’s 9.2-inch infotainment display screen, which is considerably dated in look and small by at the moment’s requirements.

At the very least the whole lot on the display screen is the place you’d count on – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to change from satellite tv for pc navigation to radio, or from automobile settings to smartphone mirroring. The one factor that will make it simpler to navigate could be a few bodily buttons rather than the touchscreen ones for ‘menu’ and ‘dwelling’.

Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included normal throughout the Kodiaq vary and labored reliably in our week with the automobile, and it’s good to get a wi-fi charger too. My telephone did get fairly scorching after having sat on it for an hour’s drive although, which is frequent to most manufacturers.

Your alternate options are restricted to 2 USB-C retailers within the entrance and a 12-volt outlet within the rear, so passengers might want to come ready if they should cost up.

Behind the wheel is a ten.25-inch instrument display screen, which is logically laid out and might present totally different shows with quite a lot of data.

When you don’t like one show, likelihood is you’ll discover one other look in there that fits higher.

Flanking the display screen are two vertical gentle gauges for water temperature and gasoline degree. Some rivals have extra fashionable trying fonts and graphics, however none can match the sheer vary of choices you get right here – with a map between the dials a specific spotlight.

There’s a 3rd stalk on the steering wheel for the adaptive cruise management (ACC). Not like Volkswagen, Skoda has caught with this association even within the new Kodiaq – which takes some getting used to for those who have been anticipating wheel-mounted buttons.

From my driving place I couldn’t see the entire stalk, so I had no concept learn how to regulate the set distance to the automobile in entrance whereas utilizing ACC.

Turns on the market’s a multi-position change on prime, which is obstructed by the steering wheel’s left spoke. It’s the type of factor you’d study rapidly for those who owned the automobile, however took a second to determine and regulate to.

The same change is used to regulate the pace of the intermittent wipers, and interacting with it’s extra fiddly than needed. A traditional rotating selector would’ve been advantageous.

Stepping up and into the again is straightforward due to the Kodiaq’s massive doorways and excessive roofline. As soon as seated, there’s loads of area throughout no matter how tall you might be.

Seating within the center row is agency however spacious, and it’s appointed with two vents and a centre fold-down armrest with cupholders that are in all probability solely good for espresso cups or small plastic bottles.

These seats slide to disclose the third row, which might be unfolded utilizing the pull strap. Take into accout there’s actually not a lot room right here as a result of even when it’s a seven-seater, the Kodiaq doesn’t have large dimensions.

As such, the third row is the compromise. For comparability, the Kodiaq’s physique is round 100mm shorter and 20mm narrower than each a Santa Fe and a Kia Sorento.

It’s advantageous if you could transfer lots of people a brief distance, but it surely’s not a great association for adults on longer journeys. House within the second row turns into compromised for those who’re utilising all seven seats and need to slide the bench ahead, too.

There are two ISOFIX anchors on the outer second-row seats, in addition to three prime tether factors.

The boot is the place the Kodiaq’s inside comes into its personal, because it boasts probably the most spacious cargo areas in its section.

At 765L with the third row folded, it’s smaller than solely the chunkier GWM Tank 500 (795L) and Isuzu MU-X (1119L). Which means you received’t be restricted for what you’ll be able to match, although area is severely compromised if the third row is up – as is the case in rivals.

With each rear rows folded down, the area opens as much as a most 2005L, matching the biggest measured capacities of the Sorento (1995L) and Jeep Wrangler (2050L).

Not like most of its competitors, although, the Kodiaq settles for an area saver spare in lieu of a full-size alloy.

To see how the Kodiaq Type strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

There’s one powertrain shared throughout Kodiaq Type and Sportline variants, they usually each include all-wheel drive as normal.

The 2025 Kodiaq is ready to incorporate a boosted 2.0-litre engine with 150kW, which is able to higher align it with Skoda’s European specs.

To see how the Kodiaq Type strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

How does the Skoda Kodiaq drive?

When you get transferring, the Kodiaq hits its stride. It’s easy, quiet, and has loads of energy to get you by.

Urgent the beginning/cease button (positioned the place a key barrel would’ve been) fires up the engine with a typical chilly idle, but it surely doesn’t produce any notable racket and dies down rapidly because it will get as much as temperature.

Regardless of being the most cost effective Kodiaq obtainable, it’s snug on the transfer with little street noise getting into the cabin. Small bumps aren’t a fear, and even larger imperfections on the street received’t unsettle the automobile in any significant means.

The steering can be very gentle at low pace, which suggests it isn’t cumbersome or tiring behind the wheel. The texture can be constant as you pace up, and at increased pace the Kodiaq feels sure-footed.

At low pace the Volkswagen DSG behaves as anticipated of dual-clutch transmissions. It’s simple to be caught out for those who’re coming from an older automobile or a automobile with a extra standard torque converter association if you first hop behind the wheel.

That’s to not say it doesn’t work properly, but it surely does have a singular really feel in first and second gear because it revs up from a cease however doesn’t transfer away all that quick. It doesn’t take lengthy to dial into the way it feels, and the tune within the Kodiaq is fairly pleasant round city.

Excessive-speed cruising is unquestionably a energy, as when you’re above third gear the shifting of gears is sort of imperceptible. Tied in with the refined on-road cabin expertise, it makes for very snug driving when you’re out of city.

The turbocharged engine has sufficient punch to both get you transferring or rapidly speed up previous one other automobile, though there are occasions the place it feels a bit like a small coronary heart powering a giant automobile.

Pretty much as good as it’s in different areas, it typically wants a second to kick down if you put your foot down. Which means it’s not as fast on its ft as I’d prefer it to be, however then once more it’s a seven-seater and that sort of response is completely advantageous for the typical punter.

Nevertheless, as soon as it does discover the precise gear, the engine may be very able to getting the hefty Kodiaq in control with out a lot sweat. It’s reassuring to know it may do it, no matter whether or not or not you’ll really need it to.

By way of its bodily measurement on the street, the Kodiaq isn’t all that large. At the very least not for a seven-seater.

When you’re used to a small hatchback or metropolis automobile it’ll naturally really feel totally different, however in comparison with different automobiles of an analogous measurement the Kodiaq sits properly inside its lane on the freeway. It hardly ever feels prefer it’ll be too large for an area when parking, too.

Which means it’s simple for somebody unfamiliar with the automobile to get in and drive in comparison with one thing like a Tank 500, MU-X, or Kluger. It doesn’t take lots of getting used to, and also you’ll rapidly really feel assured on the street.

It might undoubtedly profit from a few of the driver help options provided as normal within the costlier Kodiaqs, although.

Lane-keep help would tie in properly with adaptive cruise management, whereas a surround-view digicam would make it simpler to navigate in tight areas – each kind a part of expensive non-obligatory packages.

The options it does have – like auto-hold and computerized cease/begin – work properly, with the latter particularly very constant in shutting down the engine promptly as you come to a cease after which restarting it easily when it’s time to set off.

When you don’t need any of that, there are large, clearly marked buttons on the centre console to show these options off on a whim.

What do you get?

Three trim ranges can be found within the Australian Kodiaq vary.

Commonplace tools on the Kodiaq Type:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster
• Energy-folding, auto-dimming, heated aspect mirrors
• Adaptive cruise management
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Keyless entry and begin
• Energy tailgate
• Automated headlights and wipers
• Door edge protectors
• Leather-based-trimmed sport steering wheel
• Leather-based upholstery
• Privateness glass, rear window solar blinds
• LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• Fog lights
• LED rear fog lights
• Pill holders on entrance seat backs

Kodiaq Sportline provides:

• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Alcantara/leather-based sports activities seats with silver stitching
• Matrix LED headlights*
• Headlight cornering and poor climate operate*
• Gear shift paddles*
• Energy-adjustable driver’s seat*
• Drive mode choice
• Progressive steering

Kodiaq RS provides:

• Leather-based-trimmed sports activities seats with RS logos
• Heated entrance and rear seats*
• Ventilated entrance seats*
• DAB+ digital radio
• Pink brake calipers
• Carbon-style inside trim
• Panoramic sunroof
• Adaptive dampers
• Off-road mode
• Tri-zone local weather management*
• 12-speaker Canton sound system*
• Arms-free tailgate operation
• Encompass-view digicam*

*Obtainable for the Type as a part of an non-obligatory package deal

Is the Skoda Kodiaq protected?

The Skoda Kodiaq doesn’t have a present ANCAP security score, but it surely did obtain a five-star score in 2017 which expired for automobiles offered from 1 January, 2024.

Commonplace security tools consists of:

• 9 airbags
  • Driver and entrance passenger airbags
  • Driver’s knee airbag
  • Entrance and rear aspect airbags
  • Entrance and rear aspect curtain airbags
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
• Adaptive cruise management
• Driver consideration monitoring
• Reversing digicam
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic help – with braking
• Multi-collision brake

Kodiaq RS provides:

• Lane help*
• Lane help with adaptive lane steerage*
• Site visitors jam help*
• Automated parking help*
• Emergency help*

*Obtainable for the Type as a part of an non-obligatory package deal

How a lot does the Skoda Kodiaq value to run?

Skoda gives a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee throughout its vary. It’s an interesting proposition and might be transferred to a brand new proprietor if the automobile is offered earlier than the guarantee is up.

Each new Skoda buy features a complimentary one-year roadside help membership, and servicing your automobile at a Skoda dealership will grant you as much as 12 months of roadside help.

When you’ve got a depleted present roadside help membership on the time of service, Skoda will routinely prime it as much as 12 months.

The corporate additionally gives pay as you go service packs, which differ in worth between fashions. For a brand new Kodiaq, the five-year, 75,000km service pack will value you $2900, whereas the seven-year, 105,000km plan is $3350.

Just like the guarantee, service packs are additionally transferrable if you promote your automobile, and you should purchase ‘top-ups’ if you wish to lengthen your pay as you go servicing. For instance, if you wish to prime up from 5 years to seven years to your Kodiaq, it’ll value an extra $1300.

When you don’t need to go for a pay as you go service pack, providers will come at 12 month or 15,000km intervals. Costs are outlined for the primary seven years of Kodiaq possession.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Skoda Kodiaq Type

Whereas the Type is in no way a foul automobile, the actual fact it’s the identical worth because the Sportline coming into the top of its life makes the bottom grade tougher to advocate.

For probably the most half it’s bought sufficient tech to maintain you snug, and wi-fi charging and smartphone mirroring are actually a pleasant bonus permitting you to get in and go with out fuss.

It nonetheless has a small display screen with a considerably dated show, although, and there’s a scarcity of extra charging choices within the rear even because the Kodiaq vary will get costlier.

Security options and drive modes are additionally lacking on this spec and it’s disappointing they’re solely included for those who select so as to add non-obligatory extras on the time of buy.

Given they’re included as normal on the most costly possibility, I’d need extra of it to trickle down the vary on the next-generation Kodiaq.

The on-road expertise is unquestionably the place the Type shines, largely as a result of it’s just about the identical beneath the pores and skin as the opposite Kodiaqs.

It’s easy, quiet, and the DSG is second-to-none at excessive pace. In a pinch, the engine has loads of energy to drag you thru and doesn’t complain whereas doing so.

The Type is nice on gasoline too, which by no means goes amiss within the context of how costly the whole lot is as of late. When you’re in want of a seven-seater and it has to be European, it’s exhausting to look previous the Kodiaq – even in its base setup.

It’s undoubtedly properly price going for the same-price Sportline and even the flagship RS, although, as they add that little little bit of spice that takes this automobile from good to very good – no pun supposed.

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