Luxury Game. Set. Match. 2025 Skoda Kodiaq - SPECIAL FEATURE

The SUV phenomenon has taken over the world. The mix of luxury car-like dynamics with an off-roader's ride height, ground clearance, and versatility seems irresistible. All of this makes it even more imperative that if you want to stand out with your SUV, it has to carry massive amounts of competence, equal amounts of substance, all of it packaged in a combo that exudes taste, luxury and comfort with the ability to carry more than just a family but also go off the beaten track.

This set of expectations gets you quite a few options from the EU, UK, and even Japan. But they all cost close to, or over, a crore. Or they are based on a body-on-frame chassis. This makes the all-new Škoda Kodiaq quite a proposition that checks all boxes.

What's Special?

The 50 to 70 lakh rupee segment is a diverse arena with ample options, but the Kodiaq comes out as a front runner while punching way ahead. The reasons are many. For starters, the modular MQB platform, the sheer size of the Kodiaq, the option to seat seven and the capability of a 4x4. However, the ones that have these qualities do not offer that level of comfort and driving dynamics with their body-on-frame chassis.

The Kodiaq comes out as a winner in technicalities as well. It fares better than its luxury brand competitors in power outputs, 4x4 capabilities, safety, space and features, making it a compelling choice. Be it the premium SUV or the luxury segment, the Kodiaq is a perfect kit that gets you all that you need out of a luxury family SUV while carrying the legacy of a brand that set its roots 130 years ago.

Exterior and Design Language

What strikes you first in the new generation of the Kodiaq is the design language. You'd know it is a fresh Kodiaq, yet retains the signature Kodiaq demeanour that it has always carried with it since the first generation arrived in 2017. This second generation takes those signature cues and adds some impact and oomph to it. Right up front is the wider and robust front grill with a horizontal LED signature running across, and the rear has the connected LED tail lamps as the highlight. The profile boasts clean, timeless lines with the contrasting D-pillar adding a dash of panache to the car's subtle yet classy stance.

Interiors. A Class Ahead and Apart.

The interior goes beyond just comfort and premium materials. The soft touch Cognac all across the dash and doors, massage functions on the front seats, seat heating and ventilation, and three-zone climate control, make the Kodiaq your home away from home with its luxury, refinement and comfort. The neatly laid-out dash, the big 32.7 cm touchscreen infotainment and the 26 cm virtual cockpit for the driver make the Kodiaq ready for all connectivity and interaction options.

Buttons? Touchscreen? Best of Both Worlds

With the Kodiaq, Škoda has redefined the age-old debate between the versatility of touchscreens and the assurance of haptic feedback with the Smart Dials. They use touchscreens to let you customise the function you seek, for instance, temperature or fan speed, or the driving modes can be selected with the rotary dials. And once selected, the screen is surrounded by rotary dials that provide you with the solidity of haptic feedback, allowing you to operate basic drive mode, fan, temperature and other functions without taking your eyes off the road.

Performance and Cleverness Redefined

With the performance of a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine delivering 204 PS and 320 Nm of torque, the Kodiaq is rather fleet-footed. And with the tech, refinement and acoustic windows on offer, this luxury family 4x4 offers utter silence on the move. Moreover, if the peace gets a bit much, there is a fabulous 13-speaker Canton Sound System with a sub-woofer lending you sheer theatre when you are in the zone for it. More for the family? The 786 litre hiant boot makes sure you can fit in all for the family and much more. Add to that ample Simply Clever features like a tablet holder, door edge protector, a ticket holder and the ultimate – an umbrella holder – that showcase the attention to detail paid in this luxury 4x4 for the tiny essentials of life.

In addition to the value pricing, the Kodiaq is also a wonderful ownership proposition. A 5-year or 1,25,000 km (whichever is earlier) warranty package is standard with every Kodiaq, and so is 10 years of Roadside Assistance. In fact, with the complimentary 1-year Supercare package, the first ever maintenance expense for your Kodiaq will be at the end of your second year of ownership or after 30,000 km.

Conclusion

To sum it up, Kodiaq brings forth a comprehensive package close to its luxury brand competitors, which would burn an additional 20 lakh rupees or even more to the bill. Moreover, it's not flashy, it's safe, and dependable. Including the exclusive warranty and maintenance packages, the Kodiaq is a luxury car that makes for a high-value ownership proposition. Besides, if a brand with a legacy of over a century matters to you, the Škoda Kodiaq has no parallel.

Words
Anirjit Hore