Unless you are the sort of person who actually ends up using the third row occasionally as well as does a bit of rough-road driving and does not want to buy something massive, then Skoda Kodiaq is a great solution
First things first, I have to admit that I have always had a soft spot for the old Skoda Yeti. In fact, it would be difficult to find an automotive writer in India or any market where the Yeti was sold who did not like the car, heck Jeremy Clarkson even did one of his famous car tests on Top Gear with the Yeti where he landed a helicopter on it. It did not look as drab as most normal SUVs, it was a fairly capable off-roader and came fairly well-equipped and while it was it a bit expensive, I believe the biggest reason for the Yeti’s less than stellar sales success was a combination of Skoda’s then horrible service standards and the fact that the SUV craze really had not taken off.
Which brings us to the new Skoda Kodiaq, which is a completely different beast. Well, it is named after a completely different beast for one, the Kodiaq Bear is a frighteningly real animal. Unlike the frighteningly fictional Yeti, which in Tintin in Tibet turned out to be a softie. Skoda has spent the last couple of years completely revamping their product line-up and their service standards. When it comes to the latter they have a pretty advanced app that can track service and keep the owner abreast of everything. As for their cars, I really like the Superb; the Octavia is a good car and in vRS clothing is the most fun you can have for under thirty lakhs and then there is a Kodiaq.
The Kodiaq is first and foremost quite conventional to look at. Yes, it has the same sculpted shulderline that is now a standard feature on new Skodas and has attractive angular headlights and taillights. Skodas are not about soft, diffused lines but I like the sharp looks of this car well. It is entering a crowded segment—-you have the Kodiaq’s sibling the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour all within a few lakhs above and below the Kodiaq’s Rs 34.5 lakh sticker price. For a little bit more, you could get a German luxury badge. So why choose thisIJ
And that becomes a slightly tough question to answer. The Tiguan for example is the same car under the skin. While it must be said that the Kodiaq feels better inside, that could also be because it has been a few months since I sat in a Tiguan. The only major difference is that the Kodiaq is a three-row car with a bit of boot space to spare even after that. But the Kodiaq is what I would describe as a ‘pinch’ three-row car, the third-row is not that great if you are an adult, perfect for kids though. So would I use it on a long journey, maybe not. That said, operating the third row of seats is easy enough.
Honestly, if you want an everyday three-row vehicle, just buy a Toyota Innova. As for the Endeavour and Fortuner, those are both huge brutes of cars and what the Kodiaq has over both of them is that it feels far more fun to drive on the roads. But if you want to cross a mountain stream, maybe the Ford or the Toyota is more up your alley even though I feel that both of those cars are too ridiculously big in a country suffering from a severe parking crunch. And despite the overly sensitive parking sensors on the car, it is equipped with parking assist and it is easier to park than the competition.
So back to the Kodiaq. It is a fun car to drive, it has permanent 4x4 drive, pretty darn economical thanks to the same EA189 two-litre turbodiesel that does service on everything Volkswagen Group India makes. But it feels too conventional. Don’t get me wrong, it is a fun car to drive, and it is gloriously well-equipped inside, but a Yeti was fun and different. And unless you are the sort of person who actually ends up using the third row occasionally as well as does a bit of rough-road driving and does not want to buy something massive, then this is a great solution. Otherwise, there is the Tiguan.