Skoda Kodiaq (2016 – 2024) Review

The Skoda Kodiaq is everything a family car should be. Comfortable, spacious, affordable, well-equipped, practical and safe, it’s almost impossible to pick fault with as our review shows. In fact, if you’re looking for a new petrol or diesel SUV with five or seven seats, we think it’s probably the best choice you can make.

Skoda has built a well-earned reputation for building cars that tick all the rational boxes. The Kodiaq is perhaps the best example of the breed, with a roomy and practical cabin, a quality feel and a complete driving experience. All for a price that's than the majority of its rivals. 

Having said that, if you opt for the seven-seat model be aware that those back two seats are for 'occasional' use at best. Access is tight and they’re quite small, with no Isofix mounting points. They do fold flat into the floor, though – leaving a huge and extremely practical boot in five-seat configuration, with ample leg and head room in the back row for adults to sit in comfort.

The Kodiaq is impressive up front too with a comfortable driving position and excellent build quality. The dashboard inlays, plastics and switchgear all feel plush yet sturdy enough to survive years of family car life and there’s a good level of equipment.

This includes an easy-to-use touchscreen system on all models, featuring smartphone connectivity. There’s also plenty of safety tech as standard, including auto emergency braking.

The most popular engine is the 2.0 TDI diesel, while there's also 1.5 TSI or 2.0 TSI petrol otpions. Whatever engine you opt for, noise is very well suppressed – but if you regularly carry a full load of people and luggage we’d recommend avoiding the base 1.5 TSI 150PS. Most buyers not put off diesel will choose the quiet, punchy 150PS 2.0 TDI which has official fuel economy of nearly 50mpg. 

On the road the Kodiaq is pretty quiet, extremely comfortable and very easy to drive, despite its size. Ride quality is good and the handling is neat and predictable, if not all that exciting. Most of the engines can be paired to an all-wheel drive system, so the Kodiaq can cope with a bit of off-roading, but it’s better to think of the 4x4 versions as all-weather, rather than all-terrain.

If you need a family SUV and you don’t want to spend a fortune, it’s hard to go wrong with the Skoda Kodiaq. For similar money you can also get the Nissan X-Trail and Peugeot 5008, while there's the slightly larger and pricier Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento – but we think as an all-rounder the Kodiaq beats all three, offering better value. Factor in the relaxed drive, safety gear and convenience technology and it’s clear why it's near the top of our list of best SUVs. 

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar's Skoda Kodiaq review.

There’s no getting around the fact the Skoda Kodiaq is fairly big – but despite its chunky dimensions it’s still very easy to drive. Sure, it might feel a little unwieldy in a multi-storey car park, but on the motorway or a country road all the bulk melts away. In fact it’s a very easy car to drive, with a good driving position and nicely weighted controls.

It’s quiet and comfortable too – barely any wind, engine or tyre noise makes its way into the cabin. And even when driving on a rough road, things remain calm for the most part with just the occasional thunk from the suspension over potholes. The ride quality is good, but can feel a little firm if you go for a larger wheel size.

You might expect a big SUV such as this to feel wallowy and loose in the bends, but the Kodiaq is surprisingly composed and agile. It's by no means fun, but with good body control and positive steering, you might forget you're in such a tall, heavy car. 

The engine range features a 1.4-litre TSI petrol with 125PS or 150PS, a 2.0-litre TSI petrol with 190PS and a 2.0-litre TDI diesel with either 150PS or 190PS. After 2018, the 125PS version was dropped.

The diesels are popular as you can imagine - and suit the big Kodiaq down to the ground with good low down pulling power. The 1.4 TSI (particularly in 125PS form) can struggle with a full load and feel sluggish on the motorway, while the 2.0 TSI is good but thirsty.

In 2018, Skoda replaced the 1.4 TSI with its 1.5 TSI Evo engine, with 150PS and 250Nm of torque. It's an engine we've been impressed with in smaller cars, such as the Volkswagen T-Roc, but unfortunately it doesn't work quite as well in the Kodiaq. It feels a touch underpowered, especially when loaded up and at higher speeds, while the gearbox tends to be hesitant at times. 

For most people, the 150PS 2.0-litre diesel will meet their needs. Its got more torque than the petrols, and even when you work it hard it remains pretty efficient. The 200PS version is positively brisk, though. 

If you need a bit of extra all-weather or off-road capability then most of the engines can be paired to all-wheel drive. Choose a 4x4 version and you'll get an off-road button to improve traction on slippery surfaces, along with hill descent control. Most engines can be paired to a smooth DSG automatic transmission, too - but the manuals are slick and effortless. 

The Skoda Kodiaq was given the full five star safety rating by Euro NCAP when it was launched in 2017. That test has got harder since, however, so it's difficult to compared directly when newer rivals. 

All cars come as standard with front assist and autonomous emergency braking. However, it's disappointing to see items such as lane keeping assistance, blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control on the options list even on high-spec trims. 

The Kodiaq can tow up to a 2200kg braked trailer, depending on engine and trim level. That means it can tow a sizeable caravan, plus it has a nifty trick up its sleeve if you opt for trailer assist. This system will automatically control the steering when reversing with a trailer – the driver simply selects the angle they want the trailer at relative to the car and everything else is automated – all the driver needs to do is operate the pedals. 

The Kodiaq is Skoda’s first seven-seat car, but as with many other seven-seat SUVs it's worth noting that it isn't quite as roomy in the back as a less fashionable MPV. 

Adults won't be particularly comfortable in the third row of seats, and there are no child seat mounting points, but for occasional short trips they’re fine, and easy to fold up and down. They’re a reasonable £1000 option on base SE Drive models, or standard from SE L upwards.

With the rearmost seats folded down there is a huge load area with space for a pushchair, shopping bags, suitcases or whatever else you can throw at it. The load deck is quite high compared to an estate car, but the load area itself is flat and practically shaped. Folding the middle seats flat frees up a huge 2005 litres of space - plenty for furniture or bikes.

The second row of seats obviously fold forward to allow access to the third row, but they also have backrests that can be reclined and the entire bench slides forward. The Peugeot 5008 beats the Kodiaq here as its middle row seats slide individiually. There's plenty of head- and legroom for adults in that middle row when it's shoved back in its furthest position. 

The Kodiaq also has lots of storage and plenty of neat details throughout to help make family life at the wheel that bit easier. 

Skoda’s famous ‘Simply Clever’ features are throughout, including an integrated ice scraper in the fuel filler flap, plus some really nifty flip-out door edge protectors. These little plastic devices automatically deploy when opening any of the doors, preventing the sharp door edges from dinging other cars or garage walls.

In terms of exterior dimensions, the Skoda Kodiaq is 4697mm long, 1882mm wide and 1685mm tall. 

The Kodiaq is classic Skoda here: You might not be immediately wowed by the design or level of technology when compared to glitzier and newer rivals, but its designed with thought and everything is fantastically easy to operate. 

Build quality is excellent throughout the cabin, with plush and sturdy materials. Even the switches feel reassuringly well-engineered. Higher-end trims get more upmarket feeling seat upholstery, while the latest updated model also receives ambient lighting to help lift the cabin. 

Overall, the Kodiaq feels like it will stand up to many years of hard use by busy families. 

All cars come with a clear, responsive and easy-to-use touchscreen system incorporating sat-nav and SmartLink, for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. 

Lower spec models receive an eight-inch system, which might not look as dazzling as some newer touchscreens, but it's really intuitive, with logical menus and very little lag when switching between functions (unlike some of the VW Group's newer systems, frankly).

Step up to Sportline trim and beyond and you get a larger, crisper-looking 9.2-inch system, which also features on-board WiFi and data services. Only top-spec L&K trim brings the Virtual Cockpit digital instruments, though, as they're optional on other trims. 

Mid-spec SE L also adds wireless phone charging. All versions get Bluetooth, DAB radio and multiple USB sockets, as you'd expect these days. 

Skoda used to offer the Kodiaq with an entry-level S variant, which started from under £22,000. That made it pretty incredible value as it was about the same price as a mid-spec Volkswagen Golf.

That was in 2016, however, and prices all over the new car market have risen substantially since then. Lightly facelifted and updated for 2021, the Kodiaq now starts from around £30,000. That seems like a big jump, but actually very few people bought the five-seat S model, hence why Skoda has dropped it from the lineup. 

Seven-seat Kodiaqs are now just over £31,000, with high-end models fitted with more powerful engines nudging well over £40,000. We reckon there's better value to be had towards the lower end of the range, as these cars aren't exactly sparsely equipped. 

The Kodiaq's prices are broadly in-line with the Peugeot 5008, and it's noticeably cheaper than the latest Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. 

On the secondhand market Kodiaqs are pretty sought after, meaning there's few real bargains to be had. Prices start at around £17,500 for a 1.4 TSI 150 SE model. 

Although it's a shame Skoda doesn't offer any hybrid variants of the Kodiaq, there are still relatively cheap to run petrol and diesel engines on offer. 

The cheapest engine in the range is the 1.5 TSI 150PS, and it's capable of 42.5mpg combined according to WLTP figures. That's a decent figure, although it drops to 40.6mpg when the DSG gearbox is specified, and speccing seven seats and a posher trim level also takes economy down to a similar figure. 

The more powerful 190PS 2.0-litre petrol unit with four-wheel drive only promises 34mpg. The now petrol-powered Kodiaq vRS is the thirstiest, however, barely cracking 30mpg.

On the diesel side, the base 2.0 TDI 150PS unit is the most efficient, managing between 46 and 52mpg depending on trim level, gearbox choice and whether you spec four-wheel drive. 

The more powerful 200PS version of the same engine is only available with the DSG gearbox and four-wheel drive, and in equivalent spec drops around 3/4mpg in official tests versus the 150PS version. 

The Kodiaq's standard equipment tally has changed several times throughout its life, with different trim levels coming and going. As of 2022, this is the key equipment available on each trim level.

Kodiaq SE Drive: this entry-level model is the only Kodiaq that is a five seater as standard (seven seats are optional, though). Standard kit includes 18in alloys, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start and an eight-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Kodiaq SE L: this trim upgrades the wheel size to 19in, plus adds adaptive LED Matrix headlights, heated front seats, an electric bootlid and wireless phone charging. There's also some style upgrades inside and out, including chrome roof rails and nicer trim. 

Kodiaq SE L Executive: This trim further changers the exterior and interior styling, plus adds leather upholstery and and electric memory driver's seat. 

Kodiaq Sportline: This trim bring 20in alloys (which don't do the ride any favours) but you also get black exterior detailing, a sportier look, sports seats with suede trim and progressive steering. You also get the upgraded 9.2in infotainment system with integrated WiFi. 

Kodiaq L&K: The top-spec version of the Kodiaq drops the wheel size back down to 19in, but brings in a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, the Virtual Cockpit and an uprated sound system.