Why Lease The Kodiaq?
by: Donna Kelly
Donna Kelly has over 12 years of experience in the motoring industry, writing, test driving and tweeting about cars. Her weekends are spent trackside, covering racing events.
Skoda Kodiaq Review 2021
If you're looking for a large SUV with space for up to seven, a plush interior, a wide range of engines and decent levels of comfort, check out the award-winning Skoda Kodiaq.
Available with five or seven seats, this family-friendly vehicle offers incredible value for money and is an attractive alternative to rivals such as Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento and Peugeot 5008.
Our Skoda Kodiaq review covers:
Skoda Kodiaq Key Features
- Striking exterior design inspired by the Skoda Superb
- Available with five or seven seats
- Wide range of engines with front or four-wheel-drive
- A large boot of between 720 - 630 litres
- Five trim levels, including the SE, SE Drive, SE L, Sportline and L&K
Design and Practicality
Heavily inspired by the Skoda Superb, the Kodiaq certainly looks the part of the road, with its angular stance, prominent grille, sharp dual headlight design and clamshell bonnet. At the rear, Skoda's trademark styling slices the boot lid in two, emphasising its stylish, squared-off taillights.
Inside, there's loads of storage space, including large door pockets and a cubby under the front armrest. Headroom is more copious than in the Peugeot 5008, but unlike the 5008, the second-row seats slide back and forth in a 60/40 split rather than individually. That said, you can recline all three backrests in the Kodiaq independently, and when you need more luggage space, they fold down in a functional 40/20/40 arrangement.
Five-seat versions have an enormous 720-litre boot, rising to 2,005 litres if you fold the rear seats, which can hold an impressive nine carry-on suitcases. The seven-seater Kodiaq has a slightly smaller boot 630 litres with five seats in place but shrinks considerably with bums on all seven seats.
Interior and Trims
Inside, the Kodiaq's high-quality interior matches the Peugeot 5008 for quality and comfort with soft-touch materials and nicely damped buttons and switches. All models get a leather-wrapped steering wheel and an optional interior light pack (standard on SE Drive) for adding interior ambience.
There are five trim levels available, including the SE, SE Drive, SE L, Sportline and L&K. The entry-level SE comes with an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen, cruise control, rear parking sensors and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The SE Drive adds a reversing camera, sat-nav and 19-inch alloy wheels, while the mid-spec SE L is arguably the pick of the range with its leather and microsuede upholstery, 9.2-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and Wi-Fi heated front seats, powered tailgate and 19-inch alloys.
The top-of-the-range Sportline model gets a sporty styling pack and some motorsport-inspired interior touches. The flagship L&K trim gets a panoramic sunroof, front parking sensors, a chrome exterior grille, heated windscreen and Canton stereo.
Power and Performance
Under the bonnet, there's a useful range of engines to choose from. Except for the entry-level 1.5-litre petrol, all of the Kodiaq's engines are 2.0 litres in size, offering 150hp, 190hp or 200hp. Four-wheel drive is optional with the 150bhp engine and is standard with the more powerful engines. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox is also fitted to most cars, although a six-speed manual gearbox is available with the 1.5-litre petrol.
In terms of drive, despite its large size, the Kodiaq is surprisingly agile compared to its competitors. While its ride isn't as smooth as the Citroën C5 Aircross, it's less jarring over bumps than the Nissan X-Trail, and its light steering makes it easy to drive in traffic.
Leasing vs Buying
Prices for the new Skoda Kodiaq start from £28,255.00 OTR* or to lease from £276.56 per month.
Thinking of leasing the Skoda Kodiaq? Car leasing offers many benefits over buying, including fixed monthly rentals, a low initial outlay and road tax and breakdown cover included. Nationwide Vehicle Contracts will also deliver your new Kodiaq for free and direct to your door, provided your address is situated on the GB mainland (exclusions apply).
*'On the road' price correct at time of publication and typically includes one year’s road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Always check with the manufacturer.
