Skoda Kodiaq (2017-2024) review

The Kodiaq line-up isn’t complicated as such, but it is fairly big. There are five trim levels and five engines to choose from. Not all engines are available with all trims, and some engines give you the option of front- or all-wheel drive.

The entry car comes with five seats as standard, but you can add around £1k to get the extra two perches in the boot. All other versions come with seven seats as standard. Head sore yet?

What are the specs?

Entry trim is SE Drive, followed by SE L Executive, Sportline, the posh L&K trim and the range-topping vRS sporty model. All Kodiaqs get keyless go, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, auto lights and wipers, privacy glass and touchscreen infotainment, which includes Apple and Android connectivity.

The second trim up the ladder offers a decent balance of lower price and solid equipment list. It adds LED headlights, wireless phone charging, heated seats, front/rear parking sensors and an electrically opening boot. It gets a good amount of standard kit and doesn’t cost the earth. With the 1.5-litre petrol engine and a manual gearbox, you’re looking at £37,345. 

SE L Executive is also where you can start optioning-in safety tech like lane assist, blind-spot monitoring and traffic sign detection. The Kodiaq scored the max five-star safety rating when it was tested in 2017, and comes with autonomous emergency braking as standard.

The Kodiaq Sportline and vRS look great but are pricey, and their sports seats (which mean you can’t get those useful drawers underneath) and carbon-effect trim look a bit out of place. Besides, doesn't worrying about your fancy fabric and sporty materials ruin the idea of a family wagon you can chuck anything at? Meanwhile L&K spec is also lovely and posh but starts at a whisker under £45k.

Is the Kodiaq expensive to run without hybrid options?

The Kodiaq ought to be economical enough to run – though be mindful the higher powered petrol and diesel versions are both in comparatively high insurance groups, diesels require AdBlue top-ups every so often and because there’s no hybrid version, company car drivers won’t benefit from the lowest BIK rates.

There’s something to be said for tried and tested combustion tech though – the entry level Kodiaq in SE Drive trim with the 1.5 petrol will cost around £450 a month to lease, while the sweet spot SE L Executive with the same engine is £500 a month. Go for the vRS and that will set you back just over £700 a month.