Mid-size crossover SUVs have been all the rage ever since the mid-2000s and the premium segment has been flooded with several of them -- from 5-seater to the practical 7-seater ones. In a market such as the United Arab Emirates, this is one of the most crowded ones. So for a brand like Skoda, it isn’t an easy one to step into. However, every once in a while, for even an obscure marque (considering the region) from the Czech Republic, things do take a turn for the better. So this is a short story about the Skoda Kodiaq. Pinning its platform on parent Volkswagen Group’s widely used MQB architecture, the Skoda Kodiaq has been built from the ground up to be a practical seven-seater crossover SUV.
In a region such as the United Arab Emirates, the Skoda Kodiaq goes up against staunch and well heard competition. A seven-seater crossover SUV has to be versatile, affordable enough, comfortable, frugal yet fast, have enough features and equipment -- all of which are part of the package in case of the Skoda Kodiaq. The European automaker offers its most expensive and largest vehicle in the region with a choice of up to four different versions. Debuted for the first time in early 2016, the Kodiaq is considered one of the most all-around packages in the segment.
Exterior
The Skoda Kodiaq is big, burly and tough looking crossover. There isn’t any nonsensical line, crease, contour or panel on this vehicle at all; it’s all about functionality without sacrificing any design aesthetics. Up front, the Kodiaq features the brand’s signature grille design, squished in between suave headlamps with LED DRLs, a husky hood with heavily contoured ridges and a sculpted bumper with neatly incorporated air dam. Along the side, there are enlarged wheel arches, stylish alloy wheels, black underbody cladding, roof rails and dynamic character lines.
The Kodiaq measures 4.706 meters in length, 1.882 meters in width and 1.655 meters in height. As for its wheelbase, that stretches to 2.791 meters while its boot space encapsulates 650 liters. Around the back, the Kodiaq gets large, angular tail lamps, muscular-looking tailgate, subtle roof-mounted spoiler and a chiseled rear bumper.
Interior
Climbing into the front seats of the Skoda Kodiaq reveals the upscale looking dashboard, up-to-date yet simple to operate HVAC panel, stylish steering wheel, easy to use controls and high quality materials on most surfaces. There’s clearly loads of space in all rows, even in the third-row, which might usually be reserved for children. Skoda has done a good job with the interior packaging of the Kodiaq and there’s no dearth of space and build quality too, is anticipated to be exceptional. As for its creature comforts, the Kodiaq gets automatic LED headlights, power tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, power-operated front seats, leather upholstery, ambient lighting and a touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. The Kodiaq is also equipped with six airbags, electronic stability & traction control programs, hill-descent control, hill-start assist, all-round parking sensors with 360-degree cameras and blind-spot warning.
Engine and performance
The Skoda Kodiaq is available with a 1.4-liter and 2.0-liter four-pot turbocharged motors. The latter makes 180hp with 320Nm of torque, is wired to an all-wheel-drive system and a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox. Despite its over 1.6-ton curb weight, the Skoda Kodiaq can go from naught to 100 km/h in around 8.0 seconds and top out at over 200 km/h.
Verdict
In the UAE, the Skoda Kodiaq is priced from between AED 115,000 to AED 149,000, for the base and top-of-the-range variant, respectively. Going against rivals such as the Mitsubishi Pajero, Toyota Fortuner and Chevrolet Trailblazer, it sits in a segment of intense fray. While it isn’t going to be a piece of cake for the Kodiaq to prove its capability, we certainly think it strikes a well-poised chord between performance, space, equipment and fuel economy.
