Skoda Kodiaq Review 2024

Anyone who needs a functional, no-nonsense family SUV should place the Skoda Kodiaq high on their shortlist. Yes, the new Kodiaq might be slightly posher (and more expensive) than before, but it's no less useable - while there's a range of engines available to suit practically every buyer. Our only caveat is if you really need seven seats on a regular basis, you might find a more traditional people to be a more practical option.

The best engine will depend on your requirements. The diesels are great if you cover a lot of miles or are planning to tow a caravan. The plug-in hybrid will suit those with the ability to charge a car at home, while the petrols are strong all-rounders.

In terms of trim level, we reckon the entry-level Skoda Kodiaq SE will be more than sufficient for most buyers, although the Kodiaq SE L adds some desirable features (such as leather seats, keyless entry and an electric boot opening).

The Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace has traditionally been an alternative for the Skoda Kodiaq, although that's set to be replaced by the new Volkswagen Tayron later in the year. Competition also comes from the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe, as well as the Peugeot 5008, Mazda CX-60, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota RAV4. Buyers looking for something a little more upmarket should take a look at the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Audi Q5.

Skoda's judged the quality and finish of the Kodiaq perfectly. Sure, it doesn't feel as plush as an Audi Q5 inside, but it does feel like it'll deflect the rigours of family life well. There are hard finishes where you need them (where little feet might kick them, for example), but also plenty of soft-touch materials. Some of the switchgear could feel a bit weightier to use for a more premium vibe - the Smart Dials we mentioned above, for example.

All UK Skoda Kodiaq models come with a 13-inch touchscreen navigation display perched on top of the dashboard. Its location makes it easy to glance at on the move, although we would like a separate rotary controller (like you get in many BMW or Mazda models) for easier operation without leaning orward.

It's an intuitive media system to operate, though, while responses are fast and the graphics are sharp. It's much like a quality tablet, responding to typical swiping and pinching gestures. You get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while there's also voice-activated personal assistant called Laura. Wireless phone charging is standard (for two phones), with cooling functionality to prevent your phone overheating. That's pretty clever.

Behind the steering wheel is a 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit display. This doesn't offer much in the way of customisation, but it's clear and easy to read.

The Skoda Kodiaq has always excelled at being a versatile family car. This new model improves on that even further. It's even bigger than before, measuring 4758mm long, 1864mm wide and 1659mm high.

Space for front seat passengers is as impressive as you'd expect. The seating position is fairly high, while there's plenty of space between the driver and front-seat passenger (so no awkward elbow bashing). The centre console offers a mutltitude of storage options, including a number of cup holders and the space for the wireless phone charging mentioned above. The door bins aren't particularly big and neither is the glove box, but we like the additional extra storage area in the dashboard.

There's loads of room in the back, with a huge amount of legroom and plenty of headroom for even the tallest passengers. The middle seat is narrower than the outer rear seats, while there is a significant lump in the floor which'll make things awkward if you're planning to carry three adults in the back. On the plus side, there's a plastic storage unit in the middle of the floor that can easily be removed to prevent it from getting in the way.

The Skoda Kodiaq is available with seven seats, although these do limit boot space and are only really intended for occasional use. Skoda says there's 15mm more headroom in the third row of seats compared to the old Kodiaq, but you'd still need to be pretty dedicated to get back there. Kids will no doubt enjoy the challenge, though.

The boot is pretty cavernous, although it's a shame the rear seats can't slide backwards and forwards. Five-seater models have a boot capacity of 910 litres with the rear seats upright and 2,105 litres with them folded. Buy a seven-seat Skoda Kodiaq and you can enjoy a boot capacity of 340 litres with all seats upright and 2,035 litres with them dropped. Plug-in hybrid Kodiaq iV models come with a seats-up boot capacity of 745 litres. 

Order a new Skoda Kodiaq today and you'll get the choice of two petrol and two diesel engines. All come with a DSG automatic gearbox as standard - you can no longer get the Kodiaq with a manual gearbox.

We've driven both the diesels - each a 2.0-litre unit, with 150PS or 193PS. The lower-powered one is more than adequate, with enough punch for motorway driving. It'll accelerate to 62mph in 9.6 seconds - hardly fast, but it feels brisk enough.

If you're planning to drive the Kodiaq fully loaded or you're looking for a tow vehicle, the 193PS diesel might be a better option. Not only is it more powerful (0-62mph acceleration takes 7.8 seconds), but it also comes with 4x4 as standard. That doesn't turn the new Skoda Kodiaq into a serious off roader, but it'd be ideal for those living in rural areas or planning to tow a caravan.

We reckon the star of the Kodiaq line-up will be the plug-in hybrid model, due later in 2024. Badged the Skoda Kodiaq iV, this uses a big (by hybrid standards) 25.7kWh battery to provide an electric-only range of 62 miles. It's very refined, with the petrol engine kicking in seamlessly when necessary, but most of the time it'll schlep around town under electric power alone. We reckon the Skoda Kodiaq PHEV makes an excellent stepping stone to a fully-electric SUV.

Generally, the Skoda Kodiaq is exceptionally refined. Despite its bluff shape, there isn't a great deal of wind noise at motorway speeds, nor will you notice a huge amount of road noise. The diesels have a noticeable rumble - particularly when you're first setting off - but no more so than in competitors. For maximum refinement, wait for the plug-in hybrid Skoda Kodiaq iV and keep the battery topped up.

The latest Skoda Kodiaq uses radar sensors to power a wide range of advanced safety systems, effectively acting as a second pair of eyes and reducing your chances of being in a collision. Highlights include the new Turn Assist, which monitors other traffic when turning at junctions, and Intelligent Park Assist with Remote Park Assist - which allows you to park the Kodiaq using an app on your phone.

Euro NCAP is yet to publish a safety rating for the new Kodiaq, although Skoda will be hoping to maintain the same five-star rating as its predecessor.

The new Skoda Kodiaq has all the ingredients for a very reliable car: a proven engine line-up and a manufacturer with a strong reliability record. Only time will tell how reliable the new Skoda Kodiaq is, but we'd be surprised if it was anything less than very dependable.

Insurance groups for the new Skoda Kodiaq are yet to be confirmed. It should be a relatively cheap family car to insure, though, especially with the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol engine.

After the first year, you'll pay £190/year to tax the Skoda Kodiaq - or £180 for plug-in hybrid models.

Watch out, though, as those with a list price of more than £40,000 when new will be stung by an extra £410 in premium car tax. This applies for five years (from the second time the car's taxed) and it's based on the car's list price when new. That means even a used Skoda Kodiaq could be hit hard with the premium penalty.

Standard equipment on the Skoda Kodiaq SE includes 18-inch Mazeno alloy wheels, LED front and rear lights, heated front seats and KESSY - keyless start/stop system. SE models come with Loft design selection as standard, along with a 13-inch satellite navigation touchscreen display, 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit and tri-zone climate control. The SE model also comes with a range of safety systems as standard, including Front Assist with braking reaction to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, Blind Spot Detection with door exit warning and Front Cross Traffic Assist. SE models can be specified with five or seven seat layouts with the latter adding a variable boot floor to the standard specification.

The Skoda Kodiaq SE L adds 19-inch Rapeto alloy wheels, LED Matrix headlights with AFS (adaptive front light system), AWL (all weather lighting system) and all-weather light with cornering function. SE L models also feature ecoSuite black design selection with perforated black artificial leather and real leather, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, electrically operated boot and keyless entry and start/stop system.