Finally, an oiler!
The Skoda Kodiaq, the Czech marque’s top-seller on our shores, will be gaining a new range-topping variant to help capitalise on the positive interest it has in our market. The Kodiaq is currently on offer exclusively with a 2.0-litre turbo-four petrol engine, though that won’t be the case for very long.
Come Christmas, the 132TSI petrol will be joined by the 140TDI, which promises to take the same value-driven, well-executed Kodiaq proposition that’s winning fans around the world and propelling them with greater efficiency, stronger torque, and more ease. The 140TDI will come charging in with a 2.0-litre turbodiesel, putting out 140kW and 400Nm, sending all of that power to all-four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Aside from the improved power and torque figures, the 140TDI will also enjoy vastly improved fuel economy figures, claiming to use just 5.9L/100km versus the 7.6L/100km the 132TFSI claims. The diesel engine commands a $6000 premium over the petrol model though, coming in at $48,990, so we suggest thinking long and hard about whether or not you need that engine.
The Kodiaq is Skoda’s first stab at an SUV, but it doesn’t feel it. The Czech bear has garnered critical acclaim the world over, even bagging prestigious awards like the ‘WhatCar? Best Large SUV’ this year and TopGear’s ‘Best Car for Big Families 2016’ title. Sharing a platform with the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Kodiaq packs seven seats, lots of kit, and German engineering (regardless of the badge on the nose).
The Kodiaq will pack an impressive amount of kit as standard, including things like autonomous emergency braking (front-assist, city-speeds only), a ton of airbags, driver drowsiness sensors, tyre pressure monitors, foglights with cornering functionality, adaptive cruise control, advanced keyless entry and go, adaptive LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, electric tailgate, and even two umbrellas (hidden in the doors) among many, many other things.
Techies will be well catered for, too. An 8.0-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system (with sat-nav, smartphone mirroring) will come as standard, along with an eight-speaker sound system, USB inputs, two SD-card slots, a DVD player, leather seat upholstery with Alcantara detailing, LED lighting through the cabin, and a flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel.
Two option packs will be offered for the Kodiaq, those being the Tech and Luxury packs, as well as premium paint (metallic or pearlescent), a panoramic roof, and bigger 19” ‘Triglav’ alloys. The first option pack, Tech (coming in at $2500), throws in ‘Adaptive Chassis Control,’ a 10-speaker sound system from Canton, automatic parking assistance, manoeuvre breaking assist, a ‘vehicle set-up key’ (which memorises certain settings associated with specific drivers), and an ‘off road’ driving mode.
The Luxury pack (for $4900) brings more plush features like electrically-adjustable front seats with memory, lane assist, blind spot monitoring, perforated leather upholstery (in black or beige), ventilated front pews, a surround-view camera system, tri-zone climate control, traffic jam assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, and auto-dimming side mirrors.
The Kodiaq’s continued popularity is practically a guarantee with the introduction of this new model, particularly with those keen on doing long miles in their long-legged family wagon. We’d suggest you visit your nearest Skoda dealer soon, and get that order in time to receive it before Christmas.
For more information on Skoda, check out our Showroom.
