2017 Skoda Kodiaq review

The Skoda Kodiaq could be the car to change perceptions about the brand in Australia, thrusting it into the mainstream thanks to its blend of clever standard features, right-size dimensions, and appealing drivability.

The Czech brand has been a bit player in the small car market as the budget-focused and slightly off-centre sibling of Volkswagen. But the company's first ever SUV leapfrogs the VW Tiguan on which it is based by being exclusively offered in a seven-seat layout and with a premium price tag.

It won't arrive locally until until July 2017, but before the family-friendly SUV arrives in Australia - and even before Skoda Australia has had chance to lock-in final specification - we've driven it at its global launch in Majorca, Spain.

As it has done with the Octavia range, Skoda has designed the Kodiaq as a segment straddler, positioned between traditional medium and large SUVs as a 'right-size' solution for mobile, urban families.

While there's seven seats inside, the 4.7 metre long Kodiaq is just 4 centimetres longer than an Octavia and 16 cm shorter than a Superb, yet on the inside Skoda claims interior space exceeds that of the Hyundai Santa Fe, while boot space is a segment-best 270 litres with all three rows in place.

Pricing and specifications are still being worked out for the Australian market, but our introduction to the Kodiaq was a promising one and early indications suggest that Skoda is very likely to have a hit on its hands when the Kodiaq eventually.

One of the guiding design principals was to prioritise space, and stepping into the cabin reveals how successful the design team was. Though it has a beefy but slightly compact look from the outside, the interior of the Kodiaq is properly spacious.

From the front seats there's room to move in every direction, with a nice commanding driving position, and a dashboard design that's logical and simple to decipher - following in the footsteps of the rest of the Skoda range.

The middle row can slide fore and aft and has individually reclining seatbacks, allowing passengers to tailor comfort to their requirements, while the cars we tested also featured leather trim, rear window sun blinds, and three-zone climate control.

Innovative 'comfort' headrests, which are likely to find their way onto the options list, are also handy and provide a flip-forward travel pillow of sorts to allow rear passengers a more comfortable snooze on the go. Euro delivered cars also come with a rear tray table option which parents should find invaluable if offered in Australia.

Something else sure to impress is Skoda's door-edge protection which sees a small plastic strip appear from behind a closed door and rest itself against the outside edge to offer some protection against accidental strikes. It's a neat and innovative feature that supermarket car-parkers are bound to appreciate.

Row three is a little smaller than what you'd find in a traditional seven-seater like a Mazda CX-9 or Toyota Kluger, with a lack of width the most obvious pinch-point. But if occupants in the second row are happy to slide forward a little then legroom is more than generous in the rear, though a lack of third row air vents is a missing piece of the puzzle.

Boot space measures 270 litres behind the third row seats and between 560 and 765 litres (depending on the position of the second row) when used as a five-seater with 2005 litres in total with all seats stowed. Not only is the boot huge, it is smart with a removable torch, stowage for the cargo blind and a powered tailgate that can be opened and closed (still a rare inclusion) from inside the car.

From launch, the Kodiaq range will come with an 8.0-inch infotainment system, though down the track this will be replaced by the 9.2-inch system recently announced on the updated Volkswagen Golf.

Australia's standard seven-seat specification also means there's only room for a space-saver spare tyre.

One specification will be offered, but as with other vehicles in the range option packs will allow owners to equip a vehicle to their needs with things like a Comfort pack or Tech pack, which shouldn't be too different from what's available on the Superb range.

Australian delivered Kodiaqs will arrive first with a 2.0-litre turbo charged petrol engine in the 132TSI while a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo turbo diesel will follow in the 140TDI, both of which will be paired with all wheel drive (badged as 4x4) and a seven-speed dual clutch automatic as standard. We had the opportunity to drive both petrol and diesel variants, though the diesel we sampled was the lower-powered 110TDI that won't be offered in Australia. 

The 132TSI provides 132kW and 320Nm, and though it may not seem like a massive power output compared to the 170kW and 420Nm of something like a Mazda CX-9 it certainly feels stronger than those figures suggest thanks to the Kodiaq's lower weight.

Although with only a driver and passenger on board it's hard to surmise how it will feel with a car full of people, but giving the throttle a squeeze delivered promising acceleration, and while it's no rocket (does a seven-seat SUV need to be?) the 132TSI engine builds speed eagerly.

Jumping across to the 110TDI showed high levels of refinement, with minimal noise or vibration from inside the cabin, and a deep well of torque to tap into, the suggesting that the more powerful 140TDI is probably the right choice for owners looking to tow, with a 2500kg rating for the diesel compared to a 2200kg limit for the petrol.

Final judgement of the suspension tune will be best left for local roads, but early indications over the mostly smooth but occasionally lumpy Spanish tarmac suggest that the comfort-biased ride looks to be a little softer than what Skoda offers in its passenger car range making it just right for family duty.

Skoda also went to great pains to stress that the pre-production cars we drove, though almost complete, still had some fine-tuning to come, particularly when questioned about the finger-light steering system. If it stays the way it is, the Kodiaq steers nicely for navigating school driveways and supermarket carparks, but the over-assisted feeling may not be confidence inspiring on rural roads, even if it does have good on-centre stability. 

One handy feature worth pointing out is Skoda's Trailer Assist, which has just taken all the guesswork out of towing by taking over the steering when reversing a trailer, and allows simple toggle controls via the mirror switch to guide a trailer into position, or lock it into a straight line leaving the driver to concentrate on the vehicle surroundings while operating the brake and accelerator.

On top of that, the Kodiaq has a comprehensive list of automated driver aids in its armoury, such as emergency braking with pedestrian protection, lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control on top of a minimum of seven airbags (with a nine airbag configuration available).

Initial impressions indicate that Skoda has hit the nail on the head when it comes to delivering an SUV that isn't too big or cumbersome, but still frugal to run, and most importantly flexible on the inside.

With Skoda's 'simply clever' mantra ringing true - thanks to small touches like the door-edge protection, in-door umbrella holders and others littered throughout the interior - the Kodiaq is a versatile and family focussed SUV that goes beyond being mere transport.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq price and specifications

On-sale: Mid 2017

Price: From $40,000 (estimated)

Engine: 2.0-litre four cylinder turbo petrol or diesel

Power: 132kW (132TSI) / 140kW (140TDI)

Torque: 320Nm (132TSI) / 400Nm (140TDI)

Transmission: 7-spd dual-clutch automatic, AWD

Fuel use: TBA

• For more information, visit our Skoda showroom page