2025 Skoda Kodiaq review - the thinking man's luxury car

We've waited long enough for this new-generation Skoda Kodiaq to finally make its way to India. It's always been the thinking man's luxury, bringing you a European luxury car feel at a lesser price point but executed in that usual Skoda sense that pairs practicality with a good driving experience. So how much of that sense continues with this new version?

2025 Skoda Kodiaq Styling, Boot Space

Looking at the new Skoda Kodiaq, it definitely has taken a turn towards being a bit more extroverted, while also building on a premium look. So while it is still recognizable as a Kodiaq, the wider grille with the studded light bar in this Laurin and Klement version sets it apart in this trend. The tiered lighting is also more pronounced, and while driving at night, is about as effective as you might need it to be in a car.

The more outgoing sense that you get from this new Kodiaq is helped by the sharper bodywork, by Skoda standards. The bonnet and bumpers are more angular and pronounced, but there is a functional difference too. The drag coefficient has dropped from 0.33 to 0.28, about as much as many high-end EVs.

The only change dimensionally is that the Kodiaq is 59mm longer, and this shows in profile. There is a long, flat look to it now but a neat element is the kink under the contrasting D-pillar. The 18-inch wheels remain unchanged but are still proportionate, but we do miss a more traditional alloy design (available on Sportline). These aero-style wheels are again chosen for efficiency. Ground clearance is rated at 155mm.

The rear again follows the Kodiaq theme but is brightened up with a more raked windscreen and more sculpted bodywork. The lighting follows the Skoda C-motifs made more prominent, but you don't get a full-width set-up like in many rivals.

A gain from the longer length is that boot space with the three rows up has grown by 11L to a usable 281L. This increases further to a sizeable 786L (21L more) with the third row folded. Despite the second and third rows' manual folding mechanisms, it's easy to access all of this space, especially with the pull-tabs for the second row in the boot, which let you create a fully flat 1,976L space. You also have handy hooks in the boot. Putting stuff in isn't too cumbersome either with the flat and fairly low lip.

2025 Skoda Kodiaq Interiors, Space, Practicality

On the inside, the new Kodiaq is a bigger departure from the previous model. The dual cockpit theme is distinctive, and at first glance, seems quite a bit more upmarket than the simpler look of the previous model. The tan leather on the dash face, offset by the textured wood-like panel, is a step up from earlier, and most surfaces have a soft feel to them. It's the same with the more intricate air vents and the floating effect to the door latches. But spend a bit more time inside, and you realize that the heft and tactility of the earlier car have been diluted a touch.

What hasn't been diluted is the thoughtful touches Skoda puts in its cars to make life easier. The handiest addition is the configurable dials. These are a great solution to the heavy touch-based interfaces we now have, where these rotary controls triple up to control the climate, seat, and drive modes. They're far easier to use than fiddling on a screen and a great conversation starter with passengers.

Another one of these bits is the new central tunnel. With the newest Skodas moving to column-mounted shifters, there's an open feel to the cabin of the Kodiaq, even though space hasn't increased from the last version. The freed-up space has been well utilized with large spaces for cups, small layered cubbies, a deep storage bin, and two wireless chargers.

The MQB Evo allows for a new electronic architecture, so you now have a new 13-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch driver's display. The touchscreen has seamless wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay pairing as well as inbuilt navigation. It's responsive too, but we do wish it had a more intuitive user interface. It needs quite a few swipes and taps to get to some functions. The driver's display offers more information now, but again, configuring it is not as straightforward as it could be.

While there hasn't been a massive change in the second row, you do get a more spacious and elevated sense here. Those door protectors continue, as do the three-zone climate control, large panoramic sunroof, and sun shades. You also now get a device holder and a neat removable storage cubby.

The second-row bench has been updated, though. You have quite a good deal of knee and headroom here, but there is also great support for your thighs and back with the firm and contoured cushioning. The seat also has a recline function, but the side head rests have sadly been lost.

More space has been carved out in the third row, 15mm being added to headroom, but the experience is similar to the last Kodiaq. It continues to be best used by children. Most adults won't fit here without squeezing the second-row passengers, so its best used only at a pinch. The massive boot space you get from folding this seat is a more practical alternative.

2025 Skoda Kodiaq Features and Safety

As before, the Kodiaq is generously equipped. You get matrix LED lighting, auto headlamps and wipers, powered front seats with heating, ventilation, and massaging, three-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and rear sunshades.

You still have nine airbags, but with a centre airbag replacing the driver's knee airbag. The Kodiaq has a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, but ADAS isn't available on the India-spec car. You get a set of 360-degree cameras, but we wish the feed was of better quality.

Driving Impressions
The experience from behind the wheel isn't especially different when you first step into the new Kodiaq. It's easy to find a comfortable seating position, the SUV doesn't seem as large as it is to maneuver, and the seats are especially comfortable. But, the large new mirrors now create quite a blind spot that takes some getting used to in traffic.

The 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, in this new 204PS form, is a notable improvement. The double-glazing helps, but this motor is quieter and more refined than the earlier version. It still puts out 320 Nm and pairs with a seven-speed DCT, but it has become more driveable. So, you seem to get off the line more smoothly, the torque seems to be accessible more easily. This sense continues through the powerband, where there is a linear, growing rush of acceleration that makes for a more straightforward experience. As before, there's quite a step-up in performance past 4,000 rpm, but it's now made more exciting with the nicer rasp that the engine gives off. When it's quiet out, like when we drove it, you can even hear the turbo spool. The earlier Kodiaq would sometimes struggle with its mass, but that's been dealt with. The new Kodiaq is in fact slightly lighter than the earlier model.

The gearbox seems to have become a touch more responsive too. It's a bit more responsive in the regular mode than earlier, which helps when you want to power out of turns or need to pick up speed quickly. The Sport mode is as responsive as it was earlier but seems to have become less peaky, so you can use it more often.

The new Kodiaq seems to ride quite similarly to the earlier model. So, as long as you have a clean surface, it flows along with a solid, steady presence that gives you that full luxury car experience. But over our broken and uneven city streets, you find that the suspension becomes quite noisy, and at low speeds, sharp impacts do filter into the cabin.

But, as before, things settle the faster you go. The Kodiaq takes on a solid, confident demeanour that makes travelling in the back seat soothing. The car stays composed over most surfaces at these speeds, although the adaptive damping system has been dropped with this update. This shows up a bit when you drive the Kodiaq hard, where its mass eventually catches up. So, you do find that in sharp turns, it can roll and start to run wide. But keep speeds and your inputs in check, and the Kodiaq will flow along a winding road quickly and with some engagement.

The steering helps with this. It's light enough to make the Kodiaq feel agile in traffic but also has enough precision as you go faster to give you a good sense of control. Unlike some earlier Skodas, the choppy, abrupt brake pedal has been done away with, so you can now stop with more confidence.

2025 Skoda Kodiaq Verdict, price

Priced at Rs 48.69 lakh for this Laurin and Klement version, the new Kodiaq takes off from where the last one left off. It has become quite expensive. It could have a better-resolved screen and some of the plastic quality isn't what it used to be, but the cabin feels more special regardless. The smoother new engine and the competent dynamics continue to make this a true luxury car, without the luxury price tag.