The new Skoda Kodiaq will be unveiled in October 2023. But after a test with a taped pre-series model, there is already quite a lot to tell about the Czech space wonder.
With a camouflage model, where even the light units are partly covered, you are not allowed to just hit the road. And so we drive in column behind a production model of the current one Skoda Kodiaq, who has entered his twilight years. Another Skoda is also driving at the end of the column. In between we ride, in camouflage colors as if we were ordered to jump into a foxhole at any moment.
The official photos of the dashboard have now been revealed. The interior underwent a major overhaul, with a digital cockpit in front of the driver and a large 12.9-inch multimedia screen in the center console. As with the electric Skoda Enyaq, the new Kodiaq also has real buttons.
Action
Compare your car insurance
Compare your car insurance now and receive a 20% discount on all car insurance policies via UnitedConsumers! This way you save up to € 175.00 per year.
7-seater Skoda Kodiaq
The new Kodiaq will be officially unveiled in October 2023, after which it will be in the Dutch and Belgian showrooms in the spring of 2024. Nevertheless, we already know what the new Kodiaq will look like. After the test drive, we were able to take a look at the car in a locked room, where it seemed as if we had access to the archives of the Czech secret service. Our phone had to be handed in so no sneaky pictures could be taken.
This is what we discovered in the closed room: the Kodiaq, which is already quite small, will be another 6 centimeters longer, but at the same time 2 centimeters less wide and less high. The luggage space was not childish at 835 liters, but in the new you get another 75 liters. And just like before, you can order the seven-seat Kodiaq.
Externally you can still see the similarities with the current Kodiaq, but the bonnet has been placed higher and the already huge grille seems even larger than before. Chrome elements have disappeared and are replaced by sportier matt trim elements, including around the grille.
Skoda Plug-in hybride
The biggest technical news is the arrival of a 204 hp plug-in hybrid, but it cannot be driven yet. The only thing that Skoda already reveals is that the Kodiaq PHEV has a fairly large battery pack of 25.7 kWh, so that you can drive more than 100 kilometers electrically and theoretically you can therefore drive more economically than 1 in 100. Fast charging with 50 kW is possible .
Diesel engines are no longer available in the Netherlands with the current Kodiaq, and the new Kodiaq driver cannot order them either. In addition to the PHEV, the 2024 Kodiaq also has a 1.5 eTSI engine with 150 hp, the addition of the ‘e’ shows that it is a mild hybrid for the first time.
Lever automatic transmission on steering column
This 1.5 mHEV is the engine variant with which we try not to lose sight of the Follow Me-Skoda in our taped model. When driving away you have to get used to the taped dashboard, but also to the location of the automatic lever. All versions get a DSG transmission as standard; manual shifting is no longer an option. The lever of the automatic transmission is à la Mercedes on the steering column.
The space that is saved in the center tunnel has been used in good Skoda tradition for fun solutions: two wireless phone chargers (with cooling) and a cloth for cleaning your navigation screen. And because of that simple cloth, we sometimes suddenly love Skoda. Just think about how obvious such a solution actually is. Searching for even more clever ideas, we come across a double cup holder for the rear passengers, which also serves as a storage option for your phone
The wheelbase has remained the same (2.79 meters) and that means that the legroom in the second row of seats is about the same. Which is not a bad thing, because the Kodiaq is so spacious that you can safely use the car as a rehearsal space for the village brass band. Those who have to sit all the way in the back of the third row of seats are now slightly better off, because the headroom has increased by 1.5 centimeters.
How does the Skoda Kodiaq (2024) drive?
In the short driving time we can not really tell much about the driving behavior. You can optionally order the Kodiaq with adaptive DCC chassis, but of the three options Sport, Comfort and Normal, only the Normal mode works in our camouflage model. As with many no-nonsense cars from the big Volkswagenstable, we encounter few misses. The TSI engine is quiet and sufficiently powerful, it only gets short of breath when you want to tackle a very steep mountainside.
It is an excellent place to relax on the large seats, which are suitable for passengers with a lot or little meat on their bones. Too bad the strict ADAC safety systems are sometimes overactive. If you drive too enthusiastically towards a vehicle in front in the eyes of the cameras and sensors, a loud warning tone will sound. And that happens more often than we would like.
Conclusion
A balanced first impression is difficult to give in a taped car where not all functions work yet, but the first experience is positive. Everything good about the current Kodiaq has remained; lots of space, more than enough comfort and many practical tricks. With the new dashboard, Skoda has found a good balance between modern (touch screen) and traditional (buttons).