Skoda Kodiaq

The Skoda Kodiaq is a premium 3-row SUV that offers practicality, comfort, and understated appeal, along with a good set of features and a safety package. Currently, in its second generation, it rivals the likes of the Jeep Meridian, Toyota Fortuner, and MG Gloster in India.

Having driven all of these vehicles extensively, it is clear that its rivals feel more off-road oriented – built for going beyond the urban tarmac, while the Kodiaq sits on the more sophisticated side of the spectrum with its European roots. It does many things right, but there are still a few areas where it could be even better. Here's everything that works in its favour, and a few things that don’t.

Design (4.5 out of 5)

While others in the segment go heavy on brawn and muscle, the Skoda Kodiaq takes a sophisticated approach to its SUV looks. It still looks bold and premium, but not butch and scary.

Up front, it gets a large grille with vertical slats, accompanied by sleek LED headlamps. The Sportline variant gets blacked-out trim, while the L&K version adds a touch of chrome for a more elegant look. In the L&K version, the grille also gets a horizontal light strip, which looks cool at night.

From the side, it looks big and solid, with a strong shoulder line, squared wheel arches, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The alloys on the Selection L&K are more subtle and sophisticated, whereas the ones on the Sportline are more outgoing and aggressive.

At the rear, the connected LED tail lamps, roof spoiler, and sharp bumper design give it a modern and clean finish. The tail lamps also feature Skoda’s new ‘crystalline’ effect, which looks quite cool at night.

In terms of colour options, there are seven shades to choose from: Steel Grey, Race Blue, Magic Black, Bronx Gold, Velvet Red, Graphite Grey, and Moon White. Bronx Gold is exclusive to Selection L&K, whereas the Steel Grey is exclusive to Sportline. We particularly like the Moon White shade on the Selection L&K, while the Sportline looks best in the Race Blue.

Overall, despite its large size, the Kodiaq’s design is clean and balanced. And while its road presence is commanding owing to its size, it isn’t as butch or aggressive as a Toyota Fortuner or MG Gloster, choosing a more urban appeal instead.

Interior (4 out of 5)

The cabin of the Skoda Kodiaq has a neat and clean design, with the combination of the dual-tone interior, design, and quality of material making the cabin feel premium. While the L&K variant gets beige upholstery and wood-like trim for an upmarket feel, the Sportline gets an all-black theme with sporty touches like carbon-fibre and alcantara-like inserts. 

What I like particularly about the styling of the cabin is Skoda’s decision not to do away with physical controls. In fact, they choose to be clever about it by integrating multiple functions in the three rotary dials below the central AC vents, which makes the usage of important functions intuitive.

Material quality is good all around. Soft-touch plastics on the dashboard, leatherette padding on the doors, and knurled finishes on knobs and switches all give it the experience of a solid European car. Fit and finish levels are excellent, and everything feels built to last. Even the buttons and stalks have a premium tactile feel. Only the second row plastics around the door trims could’ve been finished slightly better.

Front seats

The front seats of the Skoda Kodiaq are great for long drives. The seat base is wide, the cushioning is firm, the side supports are great, and there’s an adjustable lumbar as well as extendable thigh support. There’s also a memory function for the driver’s seat, which is a thoughtful touch. Having a massage function (L&K variant only) makes those road trips even more comfy.

Electrically adjustable driver’s seat and tilt & telescopic steering make it easy to get into a comfortable position, and the driving position itself is commanding, thanks to a wide windscreen and large windows offering excellent visibility. 

Passenger comfort

Second row

The second row of the Kodiaq is comfortable for three with a wide space and dedicated headrest for each passenger, but it is still best to seat two for utmost comfort. 

The seats have a good amount of recline and slide adjustment, making them flexible for both legroom and luggage. Underthigh support is good, and there’s no dearth of headroom for tall passengers either.

They also get window sunblinds, a dedicated climate zone, and type-C charging ports, which enhance comfort on long journeys. I also like the phone/tablet holder behind the front seats, which can be used to mount your device and watch shows/movies. 

Third row

While the Kodiaq is a 7-seater SUV, we feel it’s more suited for a family of 5 adults plus 2 kids. The 3rd row could also be useful for pet owners who’d like to have some space for their furry friend. While getting in and out is manageable, the headroom is limited, and it won’t exactly be a comfortable place for adults. Making things worse is the fact that there is no blower control or charging option in the third row.

Practicality

Skoda has nailed the practicality quotient of the Kodiaq with its clever packaging. There are 1.5-litre bottle pockets in the doors, there are dual gloveboxes, a large central storage bin with movable cup-holders, and handy touches like an umbrella holder in the front doors, door waste bins, and phone slots in the second row. There’s decent storage space underneath the front armrest, too.

It gets a removable storage space for the second-row occupants, which can be removed to accommodate the third occupant. Second row passengers also get cup holders in the central armrest. Chances are that you will run out of items, but not space to keep them.

Charging Options

There are 5 Type-C charging ports in the Kodiaq along with two wireless phone chargers.

Features

The Skoda Kodiaq doesn’t skimp on features, especially if you like your SUVs loaded with tech and creature comforts. 

The 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system is large and sharp. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and works well without noticeable lag. The best part is, Skoda offers a screen cleaner to remove the smudge marks that usually make their way onto the screens, talk about being simply clever.

Complementing the main display is a 10.25-inch digital display for the driver, which has clean and crisp graphics. There’s also a new 13-speaker CANTON sound system. While the audio experience is impressive, it works best at a medium level of bass and treble.

The front seats get ventilated and heated functions along with a massage feature – a rare combo in this segment! 

If there’s anything that could be better, it would probably be the 360-degree camera. It does offer multiple angles and makes parking easier, but the resolution doesn’t seem good enough for a car this size.

Safety

Skoda has equipped the Kodiaq with a good set of safety features. The standard equipment includes 9 airbags, ABS with EBD, hill start assist and hill descent control, electronic stability program, and ISOFIX child seat mounts.

It is also equipped with a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and a park assist system, which can take over steering duties during parallel and perpendicular parking. Only autonomous driving assistance features are missing from the Kodiaq’s list.

As far as the crash test rating is concerned, it scored 5 stars when tested by Euro NCAP in 2024.

Boot space (4 out of 5)

The Skoda Kodiaq has a 281-litre boot space with all three rows up, which is good enough for 3-4 laptop bags. Fold the third row down, and it expands to 786 litres, easily swallowing 4-5 cabin trolleys or big suitcases for airport runs. 

In case you want even more space, the second row can also be folded, which opens up a massive 1976-litre of storage, enough to easily haul a studio apartment's worth of personal belongings.

The loading lip sits a little high, so hefting a fully packed suitcase might require putting your back into it.

There’s a double-sided boot mat in the L&K variant, so you can flip between carpet and a rugged rubber side depending on what you're loading, which can be handy if you’re hauling muddy gear or plants from the nursery. 

Performance

The 2025 Kodiaq is powered by a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine. There is no diesel engine option. It comes with all-wheel drive as standard.

2-litre turbo-petrol

This engine is an effortless and refined unit, which isn’t outright sporty but has enough performance for all use cases. It is available with a 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch automatic) gearbox, which is known for being a slick one.

City Performance

The performance of this engine feels effortless in the city. This engine is eager, and the performance is instantaneous. And because the performance is plenty, you never really need to push the engine, so most city commutes are done in a refined manner.

The dual clutch automatic transmission feels smooth and intuitive. It keeps you in the right gear, be it when you’re driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic or when you want a quick overtake. 

Skoda claims a mileage of 14.86 kmpl, but in the real world, don’t expect double-digit fuel efficiency figures in the city.

Highway Performance

This is where the Skoda Kodiaq feels at home – the highway. The engine is happy to rev and gives you instantaneous performance when you put your foot down. Reaching triple-digit speeds is a breeze, and it cruises at those speeds without any sweat.

While performance is adequate and effortless, it doesn’t feel particularly exciting. If you need power, slot into the Sport mode and the paddle-shifters allow you to take control and push this bulky SUV beyond speeds of 100 kmph in no time. 

You can expect a fuel efficiency figure of around 13kmpl on the highway.

Overall, while the Kodiaq might not get a host of powertrain options to choose from, this single engine and transmission pairing gets the job done for a big family SUV without any complaints.

Ride and Handling Ride Quality

Comfort remains one of the Kodiaq’s strongest points. The suspension setup feels plush and easily irons out rough patches, potholes and speed breakers.

Body roll is controlled well, especially for a large SUV, but you will still feel some constant side-to-side movement over imperfect surfaces. The good thing is, you can tackle bigger-than-usual potholes and speedbreakers without having the tension of scraping the underbody, and it still doesn’t translate to a jolt inside.

At high speeds, the SUV remains planted and inspires confidence. The AWD system further adds to that confidence as it ensures you’re never short on grip – whether it’s wet roads or a light off-road trail.

Handling

The steering of the Kodiaq is light at slow speeds and weighs up nicely as you go faster. So it feels easy to drive in the city, despite its big weight, but also feels confident at higher speeds. It’s not sporty, but it’s precise and predictable.

The car doesn’t roll around much in corners as long as you’re carrying regular speeds, and you won’t hear any complaints from your passengers if you take the family to a hilly area with winding roads and curves.

Variants

Skoda offers the 2025 Kodiaq in three variants: Lounge, Sportline and Selection L&K.

Kodiaq Lounge

• Base variant available in a 5-seater configuration.

• Exterior elements include 18-inch alloy wheels, full LED lighting setup, roof rails and rear spoiler.

• Fabric interiors with leatherette on the steering wheel.

• Feature highlights include 10.4-inch infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay, 9-speakers, electric tailgate, cruise control and panoramic sunroof.

• Packs 9 airbags, electronic stability control, ISOFIX mounts, hill hold assist, and rear-view parking camera.

Kodiaq Sportline

• Gets sporty design bits like blacked-out grille, alloy wheels and all-black leatherette interior upholstery.

• Adds powered seat with heating and memory function, a 12.9-inch infotainment system, and 13-speaker Canton sound system.

• Misses out on features like park assist, 360-degree camera, and massage and ventilated front seats with extendable underthigh support.

Kodiaq Selection L&K

• Premium variant with chrome exterior accents, additional LED light strip in the grille, and dual-tone interiors.

• Fully loaded variant packs all the missing features of the Sportline.

CarDekho Recommends: 

• The Selection L&K variant is a better pick if you want a fully loaded experience with all the bells and whistles. 

• But if you prefer a sportier look and can live without a few features, the Lounge variant is still well equipped with all the must-have features.

Verdict

As long as you don’t think of it as a proper 7-seater, the 2025 Skoda Kodiaq is hard to fault. It offers a great mix of comfort, premium features and solid road presence. With the level of features, practicality and performance it offers, it’s a great choice for someone looking for a luxury family SUV without stepping into the German big leagues, or if you’re someone who wants to be chauffeured around in comfort, then the Kodiaq is a great pick for you. And soon, there will be a sportier version of the Kodiaq in the market too!

Other Cars To Consider Instead Of the Skoda Kodiaq

Toyota Fortuner

Reasons to consider

• Gets both diesel and petrol engines

• Better road presence

• Feels indestructible over bad roads

• Much lower entry point for lower variants

Reasons to ignore

• Not nearly as premium and refined

• The ladder frame chassis isn’t as comfortable on tarmac

Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line

Reasons to consider

• Feels sportier inside-out

• Packs level-2 ADAS features

• Ride comfort can be tweaked with Dynamic Chassis Control Pro

• More engaging drive experience

Reasons to ignore

• 5-seater only

• Misses out on ventilated seats

• Isn’t as practical

MG Gloster

Reasons to consider

• Gets a diesel engine with both 4x2 and 4x4

• Gets both 6- and 7-seater layouts

• Looks more butch and rugged

• Gets ADAS features like lane change assist, blind spot detection, and rear cross traffic alert. 

• Usable third row of seats for adults

• Base variant undercuts by more than Rs 5 lakh

Reasons to ignore

• Interior isn’t as premium

• No petrol engine

• Drive experience isn’t as refined