The forbidden Tiguan: Skoda unwraps new generation Kodiaq

Debuting just over a month after sister brand Volkswagen showcased the all-new Tiguan, Skoda has taken the wraps off of its interpretation, the second generation Kodiaq.

New platform for an important model

One of the Czech brand’s most important models, the Kodiaq follows its Wolfsburg sibling by moving from the existing MQB platform, to the improved MQB Evo better adapted for electrification.

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Providing seating for five or seven, the replacement for the original Kodiaq that debuted in 2017 measures 4 758 mm long, 1 864 mm wide and 1 659 mm while riding on a wheelbase stretching 2 791 mm.

Longer, but with the same width and height as its predecessor, boot space ranges from 910-litres to 2 105-litres in five-seat guise, with space in the seven-seater varying from 340-litres with all three rows in place, to 845-litres in five-seat form.

With the second and third rows down, cargo space maxes out at 2 035-litres.

New look

Styled to incorporate Skoda’s latest design language, the Kodiaq rides on alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20-inches, with the standard inclusion on top-spec models, including the Sportline, of what it calls TOP LED Matrix headlights.

Essentially Skoda’s take on the Matrix I.Q. LEDs available on the Tiguan, the split setup is said to offer a 15% improvement in illumination over the previous Kodiaq using a total of 36 individual diodes across both clusters.

Besides this, the Sportline, which ranks as the Kodiaq equivalent of the Tiguan R-Line, receives as standard gloss black mirror and roof rails, a blacked-out grille, gloss black D-pillar, black Skoda and Sportline badges and a choice of two alloy wheel options; 19-inches finished in anthracite black or 20-inches decked-out in matte black.

Tech loaded inside

Billed as being more spacious, not only in terms of boot space, but up front and in the rear two rows, the interior differs noticeably from the Tiguan in terms of the design of the dashboard and positioning of the infotainment system.

Straight in execution compared the wraparound effect used by Volkswagen, the Kodiaq’s dashboard houses a smaller but still configurable 10-inch instrument cluster and a choice of either a 10-inch or 13-inch infotainment system integrated into the middle rather than being angled towards the driver.

Also different are the physical dials and switches for the climate control, a Skoda specific steering wheel, bigger air vents, one-piece door pulls and the centre console, which loses the rotary dial for a pair of storage trays housing the wireless smartphone charger and cupholders.

As for specification, the Kodiaq come standard with an eight-speaker sound system, four type-C USB ports, a 15-watt USB outlet capable of supporting a dashcam behind the rear-view mirror and, from the options list, a Head-Up Display, massaging, heated and ventilated front seats plus a 14-speaker Canton surround sound system.

Mild-hybrid, TDI or PHEV

Available with the upgraded semi-autonomous Travel Assist, Remote Park and like the Tiguan, the Dynamic Chassis Control Pro system, the Kodiaq’s engine choices are also similar, but devoid of certain options and in addition to lacking a conventional petrol option.

In this instance, the range opens-up with the 1.5 TSI Evo that features a 48-volt mild-hybrid system as standard.

Upping outputs by 15kW/25Nm for short spells, the conventional power and torque figures, without the electric hardware, is 110kW/250Nm.

At the petrol range’s summit is the 2.0 TSI that sends its 150kW/320Nm to all four wheel from the get-go as opposed to the fronts only.

On the diesel side, the now Euro 7 compliant 2.0 TDI comes in two states of tune; 110kW/360Nm or 142kW/400Nm, the latter similar to the 2.0 TSI in being outfitted with all-wheel-drive as standard.

Included across all four engines is a now column-shift operated seven-speed DSG in place of not only the previous six-speeder, but also the six-speed manual that falls away completely.

Completing the range, the Kodiaq IV marries the 1.5 TSI Evo with a 25.7-kWh battery pack driving a front mounted electric.

A first of the Kodiaq, and bigger than the 19.7-kWh module available in the Tiguan eHybrid, the combined system output is 150 kW, with Skoda claiming an all-electric range of “more than 100 km”.

Driving the front wheels only through a specifically tuned six-speed DSG, the Kodiaq IV recieves an 11 kW on-board charger Skoda says will require a waiting time of two hours 30 min. Plugged-in to a 50 kW DC charger though reduces the wait to 25 minutes from 10-80%.

Tiguan or nothing

Set to be one of the last new Skodas to derive motivation from a combustion engine, which also applies to the Tiguan, the Kodiaq will officially go on-sale across Europe from early next year with China, India and Australia following after.

Despite the Skoda brand having been rumoured for South Africa for over a decade, as it stands, no plans are currently in place, meaning buyers will be limited to the Tiguan due to arrive at some stage in 2024.

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