Why families with the 7-seater Skoda Kodiaq have to refuel much more often - AutoReview.nl

The designers at Skoda do this well: the new Kodiaq looks fresh, cool and modern, but at the same time it remains clearly recognizable as Skoda.

The contrasting D-pillars take some getting used to: the Kodiaq sometimes goes to carnival dressed as Audi Q2? The C-shaped taillights are reminiscent of the red crab claws on the rear of the car Polestar 2. In the options list you will find an illuminated grille – a touch of bragging rights that we know from the electric one Skoda Enyaq.

Larger trunk for Skoda Kodiaq (2024)

The Kodiaq has grown by 6.1 centimeters and is now 4.76 meters long. The five-seater has an additional 75 liters of luggage space (910 liters) and with the bench flat the loading volume is 2105 liters (+40 liters). With a third row of seats in the car, a maximum of 2035 liters of luggage can fit in the trunk. That's a gain of 30 liters.

In other areas, Skoda's largest SUV has shrunk: it became about 2 centimeters narrower (1.86 m) and lower (1.66 m). The wheelbase of 2.79 meters remained the same.

You have to choose: a third row of seats or a battery pack

The reason why families with a 7-seater Skoda Kodiaq have to refuel much more often is because the new plug-in hybrid powertrain is only available for the 5-seater SUV. This probably has to do with the available space under the trunk: either a third row of seats or a battery pack fits there. And not both.

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With an electric range of 100 kilometers and a charging station next to the front door, you drive on electricity so often that you rarely refuel. The 27.5-kWh battery can charge at 11 kW and fast charge at 50 kW.

The 7-seater Kodiaq is always powered by a 1.5 TSI with mild hybrid technology. This is a four-cylinder turbo petrol engine linked to an automatic DSG transmission. Let the official consumption be around 6.5 l/100 km and you are guaranteed to refuel more often than with the plug-in hybrid, which probably drops below 1.0 l/100 km.

One selector lever, two screens, three rotary knobs

The interior of the Kodiaq is completely new. The selector lever of the automatic transmission is now behind the steering wheel and under the central touchscreen there are three beautiful rotary knobs with which you can adjust the temperature and volume. We are also happy to see that Skoda still uses physical buttons on the steering wheel and no annoying touch buttons.

Every Kodiaq has two 10-inch screens: a digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and a touchscreen on the dashboard. You can upgrade that touch screen to 13 inches. To experience what that is like now, all you have to do is take a seat in a Skoda Enyaq.

If you buy a new Kodiaq, it is never completely new. Because in all models the seat covers, carpeting and headliner are made from recycled polyester. The well-known umbrella and ice scraper are also made from recycled materials.

Skoda Kodiaq delivery time

The new Skoda Kodiaq will be launched on the market in 2024 and is expected to be available at Skoda dealers in mid-May. Prices will be announced later. Since the outgoing model has a base price of 43,390 euros, we consider every euro under 50 grand as a nice windfall.