It was along the winding roads of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, that we drove the new Skoda Kodiaq for the first time. A 7-seater SUV that marks the Czech brand's debut in the large SUV segment. Arriving in Portugal only in April (2017), stay with our first impressions.
outside
It's a Skoda. Point. What do I mean by this sentence?
That there is no place for great aesthetic drama. Yet the lines are creased, pleasing to the eye and imposing – a perception that also counts on the invaluable help of the Kodiaq's 4.70 meters long. The lamps, with standard LED technology, shine in the typical Skoda C-shape – which the brand says was inspired by the traditional art of Czech crystal.
The side and rear profiles also have sharp contours: the doors have a creased shape and the tailgate is expressively carved, helping to give some dynamism to the model. The side profile, the long wheelbase and the short distance between the center of the wheel and the edge of the vehicle hint at a spacious interior, but here we go… In terms of paint finishes, there are 14 possibilities to choose from: four solid colors and ten metallic shades. The appearance varies according to the three trim levels – Active, Ambition and Style.
Definitely, Jozef Kaban, Skoda's Design Director, will not win any design contests with Kodiaq. However, he has achieved something that is perhaps more important: designing a 7-seater SUV capable of appealing to a wide spectrum of consumers.
Inside
Large inside and out, the Skoda Kodiaq bases its structure on the Volkswagen Group's renowned MQB platform – shared with models such as the VW Tiguan and Golf, Seat Ateca and Leon, Audi A3 and Q2.
In true Skoda fashion, at just 40mm longer than an Octavia, the Skoda Kodiaq offers a larger-than-average interior for the SUV segment. Achieving this extraordinary interior space compared to the exterior dimensions demonstrates, once again, the excellent engineering expertise of the brand. The interior length is 1,793 mm, the height at the elbows is 1,527 mm at the front and 1,510 mm at the rear. The distance to the roof is 1,020 mm at the front and 1,014 mm at the rear. In turn, the rear passenger legroom is up to 104 mm.
If these numbers are too abstract, let me put it another way: The Skoda Kodiaq is so big on the inside that even with the driver's seat pushed back, occupants in the middle row can stretch their legs. The third row is more cramped but not uncomfortable and still leaves some room for luggage.
As for the quality of materials and the interior design, there are no repairs to be done. The construction is solid, and the general atmosphere is pleasant. The interior is characterized by vertical elements in black and a large display that divides the dashboard into two equal parts, for the driver and passenger.
Numerous comfort features are available for the front seats. As an option, it can be heated, ventilated and electronically regulated; the latter optional, and also includes a memory function. The rear seats are also very versatile: they can be folded down 60:40, they can be moved lengthwise by 18 cm and the backrest angle is individually adjustable. Two more seats in the third row are available as an option.
As an alternative to the standard fabric coverings, a combination fabric/leather and Alcantara leather is available as an option. They are available in five different versions. In the dark, the ambient lighting option adds an individual touch to the interior that goes along with the door moldings and can be adjusted in ten different colours.
Equipment available
More than 30 “Simply Clever” features – those Skoda solutions that help us in everyday life – are offered in Skoda Kodiaq (seven of which are new). These include, for example, protecting the edge of the door with plastic in order to prevent damage to the vehicle in garages or car parks. There is an electric safety lock for children and younger passengers, as well as a comfort package when they need to rest on longer journeys through special head restraints.
As for driving assistance systems, the offer is wide – much of which was, until now, found in higher segments. Some systems are available as standard, others are available as an option individually but also as a package.
The “Area View”, using cameras with surround view and wide-angle lenses at the front and rear, as well as the side mirrors, displays various views around the car on the in-car monitor. These include a top-down virtual view and 180-degree images of the front and rear areas.
The “Tow Assist” is also new: when a trailer is mounted on the Skoda Kodiaq, the system takes over the steering, in slow reversing manoeuvres. Additionally, while this maneuver is taking place, the new “Manoeuvre Assist” allows for braking as soon as an obstacle is detected behind the vehicle.
The new pedestrian protection predictive function complements the front assistance (Front Assist). The parking distance control (Parking Distance Control) with braking function is also new, and helps with parking maneuvers.
Also noteworthy is the increasingly common Front Assist system, which includes the city emergency braking system (as standard), to detect dangerous situations involving pedestrians or other vehicles in front of the car. If necessary, the system notifies the driver and, when necessary, partially or fully actuates the brakes. The city emergency braking system is active up to 34 km/h.
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Predictive pedestrian protection (optional) complements the assistance from the front of the vehicle. The list goes on… Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Assist, Blind Spot Detect and Rear Traffic Alert. Also note for Skoda Kodiaq infotainment systems. We start with the Swing infotainment system with a 6.5-inch screen (base version), which is complemented with a smartphone with Bluetooth connection and the Skoda SmartLink. SmartLink support supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLinkTM (in-vehicle standard) systems.
The Bolero infotainment system (optional) features an 8.0-inch high-definition touchscreen including In-Car Communication (ICC) function. The hands-free microphone records the driver's voice and transfers it to the rear seats via the rear speakers.
The state-of-the-art infotainment system is the Columbus navigation system. It adds a 64GB flash memory drive and a DVD drive. An optional LTE module facilitates high-speed online access on Kodiaq. Using a WLAN hotspot (optional), passengers can use their mobile devices to browse the internet. As an option, the Skoda Kodiaq can be equipped with tablets that can be mounted on the headrests of the front seats.
sensations behind the wheel
Dynamically the Kodiaq is more competent than its dimensions suggest. On degraded roads the rigidity of the chassis and the correctness of the suspensions provide quite satisfactory levels of comfort. On more winding roads, the same suspensions were able to contain the mass transfers with rigor.All reactions are progressive and even the presence of tires with a higher profile does not cause any inconvenience to the driver. As an option, Skoda offers Driving Mode Select which allows the driver to regulate engine operation and manage the DSG, power steering, air conditioning and other systems in Normal, Eco, Sport and Individual modes.
Adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) is also available as an option, and is integrated into Driving Mode Select. Here, electrical valves control the work of the dampers depending on the situation. Combined with Driving Mode Select, the system adapts to the user's driving style safely. Using the DCC, the driver can choose between Comfort, Normal or Sport modes.
In terms of engines, we tested the 2.0 TDI engine with 150 hp – the version that should meet the greatest demand in the national market. Available with the new DSG 7 box, this engine has more than enough power and power for Kodiaq's needs.
In addition to offering quite satisfactory accelerations and recoveries, the consumption of this engine was always in good shape during this first contact.
verdict
It took more kilometers and more time to be able to make a complete judgment of the new Skoda Kodiaq. However, in this first contact, Kodiaq left us good indications, as you could see.
An excellent alternative to seven-seater minivans, for those who need space but don't want to give up the SUV bodywork that is so in vogue these days. It remains to be seen what price Skoda will ask for the Kodiaq next year, when it arrives in Portugal in mid-April.
