Skoda unveils India-bound Kodiaq SUV

Skoda has taken the wraps off its new Kodiaq SUV at a function in Berlin. This is the second SUV from the Czech automaker and will slot in alongside the Superb sedan as an alternative body style in the D-segment. It was showcased at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show as the Vision S concept and will go on sale in early 2017. The production version also made an appearance, albeit camouflaged, at the 2016 Tour De France. 

Named after a species of brown bear, the Kodiaq is 4.70 metres long. It has seating capacity for five but can be had with an optional third row. The boot is massive boot and can expand from 720-litres to a massive 2065-litres with the third row folded down.

Ahead of the launch Skoda had showcased the interiors of the car where it showed us that most of the cabin was standard Skoda fare with bits and pieces being borrowed from the Superb and the Octavia. This is no bad thing as both the sedans are, interior wise, built to a high standard and look quite impressive. The show car’s cabin is a black and grey setup but we expect that the colour options will vary depending on market preference.

The feature list is quite comprehensive and contains things like AppleCarPlay /Android Auto , WiFi hotspot, Infotainment online system, Care Connect System, climate control, leather seats and multiple cameras for a 180 degree view. The European models will also get auto brake, tow assist and lane departure warning.
     
The outside is marriage of Skoda’s latest design philosophy with all the hallmarks of the crossover body style. Signature elements include the moustache like grille, crystal element infused headlamps, heavily flared wheel arches, creases on the boot lid and the angular wrap around LED tail lamps.

 Underpinned by parent company Volkswagen’s transverse oriented MQB platform, this SUV shares many of its bits with a variety of vehicles under the VW umbrella.  Going forward, the Kodiaq will be offered with three petrol and two diesel engines. Both can be had with a six-speed manual as well as a six-speed automatic transmission with power going to the front wheels or to all the wheels in the AWD enabled variants. 

The Kodiaq is an important vehicle for Skoda in India and it has already announced that it will bring the SUV here in 2017. It will slot alongside the Superb but is likely to be priced higher than the sedan. We believe that they will locally assemble the vehicle to keep prices competitive and that it will be offered here with both petrol and diesel engines.