Training wheels
Skoda Kodiaq £29,960 OTR/ £33,895 as tested
Six months ago when I found out I was going to be running the Skoda Kodiaq, I was secretly over the moon. Yes, over the moon about an SUV! Oh how my life has changed. You see, it’s one of those cars that just ticked all the boxes for my family needs (one ball and chain, and three monkeys). Seven seats, practical, VW/Audi engineering quality and at a jaw-dropping starting price of £23k. I was a genuine punter for this car and still am.
So what’s it been like? Well, in short, fantastic – but personally disappointing, too. I went into this thinking it could be the next Franklin wagon. And while it might be down the line, it’s just not right now. Why? There’s not enough space for my family. As my three kids are under seven, each needs a bulky child seat, and they don’t all ft across the back seats. And while seats six and seven are very handy, they’re a tight squeeze. Ultimately, it is doable, and what is impressive is if you are going out together, there is enough space in the boot for a pushchair and lots and lots of other junk. It’s just a squeeze, which is relieved with a roof box, but that afects your fuel economy. This car is perfect for a family that is a fraction older than mine, and where the rear row can be used without a child seat or just for those times when you are taking an extra person.
We opted for the 1.4-litre petrol, manual 4x4. Which is perfectly good, but was lacking in power when we tested it of-road up steep inclines, yet in the snow the 4x4 system proved very good. I think if we had our time again, we’d defnitely opt for the 2.0-litre diesel with DSG, but budgets don’t always allow. Inside, there is superb infotainment, which is simple, easily laid out and very responsive. Cloth seats have lasted well (they really have been used hard), and after 14,000 miles, there’s no sign of much slackening up.
One of the most enjoyable parts of running the Kodiaq has been actually driving it. It drives and feels just like a normal hatchback, not an SUV. The Sport mode is especially good at stifening up the steering to remind you that life’s not over just yet.
Another highlight has been the little extra-as-standard design elements, like the door protectors that fick out to shield them, the umbrellas in the doors and the ice scraper in the petrol fap.
The Kodiak might not be the right car for me right now, but, to be honest, I’m not sure any of its rivals would have made a better fst of getting three child seats across the back, either. And in everything else it’s done, Skoda’s frst entry into the hugely popular family SUV market has been little short of brilliant.