Test drive Skoda Kodiaq
The Czech crossover appeared on the Russian market in the summer and so far is offered in only three trim levels. A lot or a little, when the rest of the versions appear and why Kodiaq is better than its competitors
On the Estonian island of Saarema, asphalt roads met only between large settlements. Otherwise, local drivers are forced to choose between soil and gravel. Why spend money on the road where about one car passes a month?
But Skoda Kodiaq is not at all embarrassed by such layouts. The crossover in front of the column in emerald green metallic, shimmering in the sun with every turn of the steering wheel, confidently storms one obstacle after another. Our crew is also not far behind, while inside there is no hint of discomfort. The suspension effectively cushions shocks and dampens vibrations at almost any speed. And, importantly, all this happens behind the wheel of a Russian-spec Kodiaq.
The only difference from the European version is hidden from view in the chassis. In Europe, the crossover is offered with an electronically controlled suspension, while in Russia the car is supplied with conventional shock absorbers. It turned out a little harsh, with a characteristic bias towards handling, and not smoothness, although you expect just the opposite from the crossover. However, as the brand representatives themselves promise, starting next year, when the production of Kodiaq will be established at the plant in Nizhny Novgorod, an alternative suspension option will be available to our customers as an option.
The main advantage of this machine, regardless of the sales market, is in its planting formula. Kodiaq is the first 7-seater Skoda car in history. But here you need to immediately make a reservation that you should not even dream of an imposing journey on the third row. With my height of 185 cm, there is absolutely nothing to do there. But for transporting children, the back row is ideal. If there is no such need, the gallery can be easily folded, forming a flat floor in the luggage compartment, while its volume increases to 630 liters. Moreover, the buyer has the right to choose the initially 5-seater version, on which marketers make the main bet. The trunk volume of the latter has been increased to 720 liters due to one more organizer in the underground.
Skoda has already got us used to spacious interiors, and the Kodiaq is no exception. Apart from the optional third row, the organization of the interior space is perfectly implemented. Just look at the wide back doors here. It seems to be some kind of elongated version of the crossover. From front to rear axle, a whopping 2791 mm, which is more than the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe - some of the largest players in the class. The already decent headroom for rear passengers in the Kodiaq can be made even more - the rear sofa moves in the longitudinal plane in the proportion of 70:30. And here you can adjust the inclination of each of the backs, or even fold them, for example, for transporting long items.
If you have already had experience of owning other cars of the Czech brand, then there will be almost no revelations for you in the driver's seat. Is that the broken lines of the front panel breathed a little more life and, if you will, drama into the interior design. There is also a touchscreen display of the Columbus multimedia system with, again, touch-sensitive control buttons. The solution is ambiguous, because the reactions to pressing from time to time have to be monitored with the eyes, thereby distracting from the road. On the other hand, all the main functions are traditionally duplicated by buttons on the steering wheel, but those located at the edges sometimes fall under the arm in corners.
From the digital tidy, like a related Tiguan, they refused. Whether this is due to increased internal competition with the older brand's model, or it's all about aesthetics, one can only guess. Kodiaq's analog scales look distinctive, largely due to the brand's long tradition of indicating engine speed in two-digit format, which is why information content suffers. But they did not save on the seats. High-quality filling, the correct shape of the pillow, comfortable lumbar support and good lateral support allow you to travel long distances in comfort.
In addition, the Kodiaq's interior is replete with all sorts of additional amenities and pleasant surprises like cup holders that allow you to open a bottle with one hand, a second glove compartment and umbrellas in the doors. In general, a solid Simply Clever. At the same time, the quality of finishing materials is quite comparable to the flagship Superb: plastics are soft, niches and pockets are rubberized or trimmed with a special fabric. Most competitors have no answer to such concern about the buyer.
The grader is replaced by an asphalt two-lane, and there is almost perfect silence in the cabin. Yes, the Kodiaq's soundproofing is good too. And what about the dynamics? The first in my hands is the basic version for Russia with a 1,4-liter gasoline engine developing 150 horsepower. At city speeds, together with the 6-speed "robot" DSG, the engine confidently accelerates the crossover weighing 1625 kilograms. Overtaking on the track is more difficult, but there is no critical lack of power.
It is much more interesting to drive a car with a 2,0-liter turbodiesel. The horsepower is the same here, but the character of the motor is completely different. The traction reserve appears already at minimum revs, and the shorter gears of the 7-speed robotic box endow the car with adequate dynamics not only in the city, but also on the highway. The concept of a compact diesel engine in general seems to be almost the only right solution for a family crossover. But there is also the top-end 2,0 TSI engine, which turns the Kodiaq into a real driver's car.
All versions of the Kodiaq imported to Russia are equipped with robotic gearboxes and an all-wheel drive transmission. The latter uses the fifth generation Haldex clutch and shows itself quite well on light off-road terrain: it does not give up when hanging diagonally and on steep climbs. More affordable front-wheel drive cars should appear on the market after the start of production in Nizhny Novgorod along with budget gasoline engines and "mechanics".
And finally, about the main thing - prices. The cost of the basic version with a 1,4 TSI engine starts at $ 25. The diesel Kodiaq will cost at least $ 800, and the top-end version with a 29-liter petrol unit will cost another $ 800 more. The most popular question about the new Skoda model is why Kodiaq is more expensive than the platform Tiguan? The answer is simple: because it is bigger. And the Czech crossover offers slightly richer equipment in similar trim levels and a third row of seats.
| A type | ||
| Crossover | Crossover | Crossover |
| Dimensions (length / width / height), mm | ||
| 4697/1882/1655 | 4697/1882/1655 | 4697/1882/1655 |
| Wheelbase, mm | ||
| 2791 | 2791 | 2791 |
| Ground clearance, mm | ||
| 188 | 188 | 188 |
| Cargo space, l | ||
| 630-1980 | 630-1980 | 630-1980 |
| Curb weight, kg | ||
| 1625 | 1752 | 1707 |
| Gross vehicle weight, kg | ||
| 2225 | 2352 | 2307 |
| engine's type | ||
| Turbocharged petrol | Turbocharged diesel | Turbocharged petrol |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | ||
| 1395 | 1968 | 1984 |
| Max. power, h.p. (at rpm) | ||
| 150/5000-6000 | 150/3500-4000 | 180/3900-6000 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm (at rpm) | ||
| 250/1500-3500 | 340/1750-3000 | 320/1400-3940 |
| Drive type, transmission | ||
| Full, AKP6 | Full, AKP7 | Full, AKP7 |
| Max. speed km / h | ||
| 194 | 194 | 206 |
| Acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h, s | ||
| 9,7 | 10 | 7,8 |
| Fuel consumption, l / 100 km | ||
| 7,1 | 5,6 | 7,3 |
| Price from, USD | ||
| 25 800 | 29 800 | 30 300 |
