Skoda Kodiaq vRS Review 2025

Need to carry seven people but want something with hot hatch performance? That's where Skoda hopes the Kodiaq vRS will come in. It's the sportier version of the popular seven-seat Kodiaq family SUV and as well as getting a vRS styling makeover inside and out, performance gets a boost and the handling sharpened up. The ultimate practical but sporty SUV then? Find out in our Skoda Kodiaq vRS review.

Even alongside the standard Kodiaq in SportLine trim, the Kodiaq vRS is easy to spot, with its even sportier exterior styling tweaks - the front bumper design is more aggressive, badges and trim are all finished in black and the large 20-inch ‘Elias’ polished black alloy wheels complete the look. This follows through to the interior, with some incredibly comfy sculptured sports seats and numerous vRS touches round the cabin. 

To back this look up, the Kodiaq vRS uses a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine - the same unit found in the Octavia vRS and Golf GTI. This means a 265PS power output that is delivered to all four wheels - power is 20PS up on the previous generation Kodiaq vRS and will skip past 62mph in a whiff over six seconds. Impressive stuff for a large seven-seat SUV. 

It probably doesn't need us to tell you that fuel economy isn't going to be a match for other Kodiaq models, but that's a compromise you're going to have to be at peace with if you want the vRS. It's not just the running costs that will make a bigger dent in your wallet - the list price starts at around £53,000, and while it comes loaded with kit, it is some £9000 more than the priciest standard Kodiaq we could find. 

What you don't compromise on though is space - there's ample space for seven, while with the third row of seats down you get a whopping 865 litres of boot space to play with. 

Scratching your head to think of rivals for the Skoda Kodiaq vRS? If you're after seven seats, then there's the Volkswagen Tayron. There isn't a dedicated 'hot' version as such, but you can get one decked out in R-Line trim and with the same engine for similar money. There are a few PHEV seven-seat SUVs with similar power outputs, but this is more of a result of the plug-in hybrid tech, and there's less emphasis on the sporty nature of these cars.   

The Kodiaq vRS not only sits on larger 20-inch alloys compared to the standard car, but it also benefits from DCC Plus (Dynamic Chassis Control). This means the damping characteristics of the Kodiaq vRS can be adjusted - there are 15 settings that range from comfortable to sporty, and while these are continuously adjusted in real time to optimise the suspension, you can define how firm or soft the ride is via a series of modes. Eco Comfort, Normal, Sport, Snow each have their own electronic damper profile, while you can tailor this to taste with an Individual mode if you wish. 

The result is a car that has a more supple ride than a standard Octavia vRS (where DDC Plus is an optional extra), and overall offers a slightly more relaxed approach (though you wouldn't guess from the amplified engine noise - more on that below), especially if you stick to the Comfort mode.

Despite this, don't expect the ride to be any better than a regular Kodiaq - the large 20-inch wheels can give the ride a firm edge on some road surfaces. While really enthusiastic drivers might be left a little wanting on a twisty road, but ultimately this is a family SUV at the end of the day and you do have to keep your expectations under control. That said, body control is kept in check pretty well and there's plenty of grip.    Where the Kodiaq vRS excels though is on a long drive, delivering a composed and assured ride when covering a lot of miles.  

The side windows on the Kodiaq vRS are acoustically laminated that enhances the overall sound deadening and reduces noise in the cabin. The large 20-inch alloy wheels can generate a bit of rumble at higher speeds, but overall, the cabin is reasonably refined. 

Unlike the rest of the Kodiaq range, the vRS is only available with a single engine - a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine with 265PS. If that configuration sounds familiar, that's because it is - not only is it used in the Octavia vRS, but it's also fitted to the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Delivering 400Nm of torque, it's the highest seen in any combustion-engined Skoda. Combined with four-wheel drive, the Kodiaq vRS will deliver a 0-62mph time of just 6.4 seconds - unless you're playing Top Trumps, that's a match for both the Golf GTI and Octavia vRS and putting it firmly in hot hatch territory. 

The Kodiaq vRS might share the same engine as the Octavia vRS, but if you jump between the two, they sound quite different. That's because the Kodiaq vRS has what Skoda refers to as a Dynamic Sound Boost system, that increases the car's exhaust note and pumps it into the cabin thanks to a speaker under the car. There's definitely a more pronounced burble on startup, with the engine tone changing depending on the drive mode you're in or how hard you're driving it. It can be quite fun, but it also gets a little tiring on long motorway runs. Luckily it can be turned off if you want. 

The Skoda Kodiaq vRS comes with a wide-ranging suite of safety kit as standard. This includes ISOFIX child seat fittings on the outer seats in the middle row, as well as one on the front passenger seat. There's also an autonomous emergency braking system that includes reactions to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, while the blind spot detection system includes a clever door exit warning. 

Also bundled as standard is a driver assistance package that bundles in adaptive cruise control, a lane keeping system that has a semi-automatic vehicle control in an emergency, along with traffic jam assist.

This all helps the Skoda Kodiaq vRS achieve a full five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, scoring 89% for adult occupant protection, 83% for child protection, 82% for vulnerable road users and 78% for safety assist systems.

The Skoda Kodiaq vRS can haul an unbraked trailer with a weight of up to 750kg, while for a braked trailer and it can tow up to 2500kg. 

The Kodiaq in standard guise impressed with how practical it is, so it comes as no surprise to find that the Kodiaq vRS carries on this theme.

A 7-seat family SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq vRS is a large car that measures more than 4.7 metres long, and nearly 1.7 metres tall. Step into it and those in the front will be greeted by some really comfy sports seats that come with four-way lumbar adjustment, while the driving position is excellent. This is a proper SUV as well, so you have a commanding driving position.  

The drive selector has been moved to behind the steering wheel, which means theres even more neat storage solutions up front, including space for two large cups in the central console. 

The middle row of seats in the back are fantastic too, with swathes of legroom and headroom. If you intend to have the car loaded with four or five people most of the time, you'll have space for everyone to sit and stretch out, while the boot space in this configuration is an epic 845 litres. That's one of the largest boots on any car on sale today. 

Flip the rear two seats up and there's still a useful 340 litres of boot space available - more than some hatchbacks, and as we found with the standard car (and a lot of 7-seat SUVs for that matter), the third row of seating is best suited to children rather than most adults. Adults can squeeze in the back, but expect some grumbling if you take them on a long trip.

If you need to lug a load of stuff around, then the seats fold flat to deliver a colossal 2035 litres of space, while Skoda has also furnished the Kodiaq vRS with lots of its 'Simply Clever' features, including things like umbrellas tucked away in the front doors and an ice scraper in the fuel filler cap. 

There ars no complaints here - it certainly doesn't feel like a budget Volkswagen Tayron. There are hard finishes where you need them and it feels like it'll handle the rigours of family life, while there are plenty of soft-touch materials in place. All in all, it has a very well-finished, high-quality feel that delivers a pretty upmarket feel. The only real niggle is that the switchgear could feel a bit weightier - the smart dials could do with a bit more of a tactile feel for example.

Just like the standard car, the Kodiaq vRS features a 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that's complemented by a 10.25-inch virtual cockpit that acts as a digital instrument display. The infotainment system is nice and easy to navigate - it's broken down logically, while there's wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. 

The virtual cockpit is also easy to read and comes with a selection of different views, while you can toggle between different data sets - this includes turn-by-turn route guidance so you don't have to constantly look to your left at the larger screen. It doesn't just work with the built-in sat nav either, with the same functionality carrying across when using Apple or Google Maps. You might be tempted by the optional head-up display that amongst other things displays route directions. 

It's normally at this point that we have a moan about the climate controls being adjusted via the touchscreen, but the Kodiaq vRS has Skoda's clever smart dials. Sitting below the main infotainment display, the smart dials comprise of three round dials that all enjoy a built-in colour display. The two outer dials control climate and seats (a press of the dial changes between the two), while the central dial can be customised - there's a choice of six functions, with the ability to store four and toggle through them as you do with the outer two. Alternatively, you can scroll through the different settings simply by swiping the face of the dial. With the reliance on touchscreens to control every facet of a car, these smart dials are a welcome change and work a treat.

There's also wireless charging (for two smartphones), and number of USB-C connections dotted round the cabin and a 13-speaker Canton sound system as standard. 

A Kodiaq vRS will set you back just over £53,500 - that's about £9000 more than the Kodiaq in SportLine trim with 7-seats, but it does come loaded with kit. 

With direct rivals few and far between, what else can you get for your money? The VW Tayron with the same 265PS engine and a 4Motion four-wheel drive system starts at just over £52,000, but unlike the Kodiaq vRS, it isn't a dedicated performance model, but comes in a top-spec R-Line trim.