Skoda Kodiaq

• Report 1: Meet our new long-term Skoda Kodiaq
• Report 2: 2000 miles across France in our Kodiaq
• Report 3: Our Kodiaq develops an issue
• Report 4: We welcome back...another Kodiaq
• Report 5: 6 is a crowd
• Report 6: It's all in the detail

Report 1: Meet our new long-term Skoda Kodiaq

We've get our hands on Skoda's new seven-seat family SUV and we'll be running it for the next six months.

Date: 2 August 2024 | Current mileage: 2231 miles | Claimed economy: 44.4mpg | Actual economy: 43.9mpg

The first-generation Kodiaq hit the mark with a lot of buyers (and us here at HonestJohn.co.uk), and its easy to see why. A hugely practical SUV, with ample space for passengers and luggage, the Kodiaq's huge boot meant that it could be configured with a third row of seats that could be easily folded away to swallow up all the gear you could possibly need to shift. With a decent interior and good choice of engines, it represented great value for money as well, making it one of the best seven-seat SUVs you could buy.

Earlier this year saw the launch of the second-generation Kodiaq, and while Skoda hasn't been tempted to dabble with a winning formula too much, the latest iteration is a noticeable step forward. It makes sense then to spend the next six months with one to find out whether the Kodiaq should still be our top recommendation for those looking for a large family car. 

Our car is in mid-spec SE L trim with the optional third row of seats, finished in Black Magic Pearl Effect metallic paint and sitting on 19-inch 'Rapeto' alloy wheels. The black paint is broken up by silver rear pillars, while a new grille, lights and a longer roofline help distinguish it from the previous car. The styling looks a little conservative for me, but the upcoming Sportline trim option does give the Kodiaq a bit more presence and the trim I'd probably favour if I was spec'ing it myself. Especially in Velvet Metallic Red.

Anyway, back to our Kodiaq. While there's a choice of two diesels and a PHEV with up to 75 miles of range, our Kodiaq has the 1.5-litre petrol engine with 150PS and mild-hybrid tech. This promises to eek out a little more efficiency from the petrol engine, with a claimed combined average fuel economy of 44.4mpg (and a little more if you opt for the five-seat Kodiaq). Is it a bit underpowered for such a large and heavy car? That's one of the things we're going to be finding out, but with a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds, it's not what you'd call brisk. There's no manual option now either, with all new Kodiaqs coming with a DSG gearbox.

Inside and the new Kodiaq has a distinctly more modern looking design compared to the older car. But while there's a large 13-inch touchscreen that dominates the central console, Skoda's avoided the temptation to rid the Kodiaq of physical controls, and instead bestowed three multi-purpose 'smart dials' to quickly adjust things link cabin temperature and volume.

SE L Kodiaqs come with leather seats, while our car comes with the optional Winter Pack that includes heated front and rear seats. Our car as also been decked out with Skoda's Driving Assistance Package, which includes adaptive cruise control, a lane keeping system, traffic jam assist and semi-automatic vehicle control, while we've also got a Head Up Display to complement the digital instrument display. One option our Kodiaq doesn't have though is the Performance Package unfortunately, meaning no Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) or drive mode selection to enjoy. 

With all the extras our Kodiaq comes in at £42,545, which will get you a nicely-spec'd VW Tiguan for similar money, but you won't have quite the same levels of space. Is it worth it? That's exactly what we're going to be finding out over the next few months, from driving it on the school run to loading it up for long trips abroad. 

Report 2: 2000 miles across France in our Kodiaq

How did our Kodaiq cope with its first proper test, a fully loaded family holiday to France.

Date: 23 August 2024 | Current mileage: 4375 miles | Claimed economy: 44.4mpg | Actual economy: 42.5mpg

Less than the week after arriving and our long-term Skoda Kodiaq has already been properly put to the test with an epic drive down to the South of France for our family holiday.

Our trip would see us travel from our home in Surrey, head to the Eurotunnel and then on down past Paris to our rented house just west of Carcassonne where we'd spend two weeks bumbling round before heading home. The journey itself was going to be about 750 miles and perhaps rather foolishly we decided to do it in a single blast with a five and a seven year old in tow. 

Before setting off and we needed to pack. I had wanted to take my bike with me but with the Kodiaq not coming with a built-in towbar (it can be specified with one if you wish), it meant I couldn't pop my Thule rack on the back. I didn't fancy sticking the bike on the roof for such a long journey (and I'm glad I didn't, for which I'll explain in a sec), so before the Kodiaq rocked up, I'd pretty much discounted taking it. 

The boot though on the Kodiaq is huge - 875 litres with the third row of seats collapsed and even with the second row of seats slid back to give my girls the most amount of space on a long trip, it was still cavernous. Big enough in fact that I could happily fit my bike in (with the wheels removed) and there was still more than enough space to pack luggage for two weeks away. 

Creeping off the drive at 2.30am, and the journey south began. An hour later we were at the Eurotunnel and the crossing gave us the chance to change the Kodiaq's measurements from miles per hour to kilometres (and it was easy to find in the Kodiaq's menu system), while the Kodiaq's wireless connectivity for Android Auto (and Apple CarPlay) meant we had the route dialled into Google Maps when we hit the A16 towards Paris just before 6am. 

It was when we hit Paris that I was glad I'd decided against taking my bike on the roof as I hadn't factored in the A86 Duplex - a 6 mile tunnel west of Paris with a 2m height limit that appears without any real notice until you're at the Peage...

Anyway, back to the trip. Our Kodiaq has adaptive cruise control with traffic sign recognition system, lane keeping assist and traffic jam assist. With over ten hours of driving on predominantly autoroutes, the adaptive cruise control was a much welcome addition. Most of the time. It did have a tendency every now and again to read the exit speed limit and think we should be doing 90km instead of 130km and applying the brakes without warning. This isn't much fun when you've committed to a lane change and you've got intolerant locals not giving an inch.

The lane keeping assist soon become pretty annoying - the vibration when you move across lanes without indicating was too much, but luckily can be easily disabled with a couple of presses on the steering wheel. 

Fully loaded and I have to say that the 1.5-litre engine felt pretty strained when accelerating. That's when the more powerful 193PS 2.0-litre diesel engine would definitely be more appealing, but we only had to fill it up once on the trip and a quick look at the trip computer at the end read a very respectable 42.5mpg. 

It was certainly a long slog down, but thanks to the space and comfort the Kodiaq provided, we could do it with minimal stops, only really stopping to swap over driving and fill up with petrol. It's testament to the Kodiaq that despite the early start that we still felt relatively refreshed once we'd arrived.

Over our two weeks in France and various trips out saw us cover another 500 miles or so, before heading home without any issues at all. 

Report 3: Our Kodiaq develops an issue

After our issue-free epic drive to the South of France, our Kodiaq develops an issue.

Date: 20 September 2024 | Current mileage: 4881 miles | Claimed economy: 44.4mpg | Actual economy: 43.1mpg

As you might have read in my previous update, we took our Kodiaq long-termer on our summer holiday to France last month and it didn't miss a beat over the two week trip. Back in the UK and it hasn't been so lucky. 

Jumping into the car one morning at the tyre pressure warning light dinged - the left front was low on pressure and after a quick inspection, found that the a large screw and made a home for itself in the middle of tread. It meant a new tyre, but luckily we weren't out of action for too long thanks to a visit from KwikFit's mobile tyre fitting team.

It was only when he rocked up that I realised that I hadn't located the locking wheel nut...and after a good hunt around the cabin of the Kodaiq and the boot in the pouring rain, we couldn't find it. It was only after a quick call to Skoda that its whereabouts was revealed - tucked further back in the boot near the third row of seats. Locking wheel nut in hand, and the new tyre was quick fitted and we were back on the road.

A few days later our Kodiaq had a bit of a 'moment' - pretty much every warning light came on when I started it, throwing up warning after warning, including: 'Brake serve failure', 'Error: electronic parking brake. Stop vehicle safely! Visit workshop!' and 'Error: Drive system. Please visit workshop!'. There was also an amber engine warning light to contend with as well. 

Assuming it was a software issue, I made a short trip in it and all seemed fine (apart from the from the digital dash getting a chance to illuminate all its warning lights) and after parking it up and coming back to it a little while later, most of the warnings had disappeared, though the engine warning light was lurking on the dash. The following day and switching on the car was business as usual - no warning lights or engine warning light. 

A couple of weeks later and a few hundred miles later, and something similar happened. No engine warning light this time, but I was greeted by more warning lights and messages, including 'Error: Drive system. Please visit workshop!'. More of a head scratch was that it wasn't possible to shut the Kodiaq down - while the climate control, infotainment and dash had all sprung to life when I initially pressed the start/stop button, the engine hadn't actually turned over. Pressing the start/stop button again did nothing, so in the end I got out and locked it and left it for a bit. Returning a little while later and the Kodiaq started as normal.

So it's now gone back to the good people at Skoda for them to take a look and see if they can get to the bottom of it... 

 

Report 4: We welcome back...another Kodiaq

The keen eyed among you will have noticed that our Kodiaq is now a different colour.

Date: 18 October 2024 | Current mileage: 6387 miles | Claimed economy: 44.4mpg | Actual economy: 43.5mpg

Our Kodiaq's back! Well, a Kodiaq is back. After spending a couple of weeks at Skoda HQ there couldn't replicate the issue, so to be on the safe side they've swapped it out for another one on their fleet. 

Our new long-term Kodiaq is the same spec as before pretty much - SE L spec with the 1.5-litre petrol engine with 150PS and mild-hybrid tech, while it's configured with seven seats as well. One thing that certainly has changed is the colour - out goes the metallic black to be replaced by 'Bronx Gold' metallic. It's a colour that's certainly divided opinion, but it's something a little bit different. It also seems to hide the dirt really well, something that's proving pretty handy as we move into November. 

So time will tell if we were unlucky with the first Kodiaq we had. One thing is for sure - it's nice to have it/a Kodiaq back. A few weeks without it made us really appreciate what a versatile family car it had been in the first couple of months running it. 

Report 5: 6 is a crowd

Our Kodiaq's third row of seats comes in handy.

Date: 1 November 2024 | Current mileage: 8321 miles | Claimed economy: 44.4mpg | Actual economy: 43.8mpg

We've had quite a few family SUVs pass through the HJ fleet, and I've had quite a few of them. Most have been plug-in hybrids or self-charging hybrids, but what they've all shared is there five seat configuration. 

Chatting to a friend recently who's on his second Octavia Estate and he was eyeing a 7-seat Kodiaq as its replacement. With only a couple of kids, I couldn't work why he needed the extra row of seats. He reckoned that it would be really handy when his in-laws came to visit or they were away visiting family. He's not alone - some other friends made the curious jump from an Audi A1 to a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso for the same reason. 

Back to the Kodiaq and with the exception of a quick play with the rear seats when it first arrived, I hadn't had any need turn the Kodiaq from a five to seven seater. That all changed with half-term and a trip up to the Suffolk Coast for a week where the in-laws would join us for a few days at the end of the week. 

Rather than trundling around in convoy as we've done previously, it meant we could bundle all six of us into one car for trips out. 

Flicking the back seats up in the Kodiaq, the girls loved clambering in the back, while my father-in-law could marvel at the large touchscreen up front and comment how impressed he was with the fit and finish (coming from someone who has a Volvo XC40 and is very particular about the quality of things, praise indeed). Everyone had enough space, and the boot was even a useful size with the third row of seats in use. Problem solved.

Now, if I was doing this properly, I'd have got photos to show all of this off, but I know what battles to pick and this wasn't one of them, so you'll have to take my word for it. Instead, you'll have to marvel at the 'Bronx Gold' Kodiaq along the seafront at Southwold and a shot of the girls turning their smiles on for the camera in exchange for some cake. 

Anyway, being able to change-up the seating on the Kodaiq is another string to its bow and a perfect example of so-called ‘occasional seats’ getting occasional use and working brilliantly. 

Report 6: It's all in the detail

Our Skoda Kodiaq is adorned with a load of 'Simply Clever' touches that might not grab the headlines, but definitely makes life a bit easier.

Date: 29 November 2024 | Current mileage: 8912 | Claimed economy: 44.4mpg | Actual economy: 44.9mpg

It's only when you live with a car that you get to appreciate all the little details (or lack of them) that you can't always get when with a car for a shorter period. Last week was a perfect case in point.

Running a few errands (I realise this makes me sound very old) and it started to absolutely tip it down. With no rain jacket or umbrella to talk off, the the option was to either sit and wait in the car or get wet. Needing to get stuff done and pick the girls up, sitting around in the dry wasn't option. It was then I remembered one of the Kodiaq's clever little tricks - there's a mini umbrella neatly packaged in the driver's door. While it's not the biggest umbrella, it's perfect for getting you out of scrapes like this.

If that was the Kodiaq's only party trick you'd chalk it up as a nice little bonus, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. You see, the Kodiaq is dotted with loads of what Skoda terms 'Simply Clever' features that are designed to make your life that little bit easier.

For example, the Kodiaq has a large 13-inch touchscreen that's easy to get covered in unsightly finger marks. Rather than use the back of your sleeve to rub them away, the Kodiaq has a compact screen cleaner stowed away in the central console that you can just run over the screen.

There's an upper and lower glove box, while the front seats have smartphone holders in the backs for rear seat passengers. What else? While parking apps have become the bane of peoples lives, for places that still dish out a physical ticket there's a ticket holder at the bottom of the windscreen so you can easily display it - no danger of it flying off from a gust of wind when you shut the door.

There's an ice scraper tucked away in the fuel filler cap - a signature Skoda feature, but did you know it has some tyre tread depth gauges on it so you can easily check the tread on your tyre? And I haven't had to use it yet, but the washer fluid tank has a rudder lid that acts like a funnel when opened so you don't have to have the aim of a sniper when topping it up. 

Finally, anyone with kids will appreciate the electric child safety lock, and there's probably other Simply Clever things I haven't even discovered yet...

These all might seem pretty minor things, and they probably are individually, but combined these little touches make you appreciate the Kodiaq even more.