Skoda fit for a… family of seven
The summer holidays flashed by in a predictable blink of the eye – but not before we had a chance to test the seven-seater Skoda Kodiaq Sportline for a few days.
The Kodiaq, in metallic Quartz Grey, arrived in plenty of time for several planned jolly japes, including crabbing at Hengistbury Head, a jaunt over to the Isle of Wight and nipping to see Granny Sarah in Poole for an afternoon.
As a family, we were genuinely excited about seeing the Kodiaq Sportline for the first time. As has been well recorded, we are all total Skoda converts, super-fans, if you will. Although not by any means blinded by our loyalty. For example: ‘It’s not very big for a seven-seater, is it, Dad?’ wondered No.1 son almost immediately. And he was right, it really isn’t. In fact, the first thing we did was check just in case there were not two extra seats back there.
But yes, thank goodness, there they were. ‘Okay, panic over, pile in everyone,’ enthused Mummy. The seven-seat aspect of this car was about to be put fully to the test, with a full complement of seven bodies, thanks to a friend and his own two ankle-biters. So, three grown-ups (one 6ft 5in, me 6ft 2in, Tash 5ft 9in), plus four boys (two nine-year-olds, a six-year-old and a five-year-old).
‘Everyone all right back there?’ Mrs Evans shouted from the driver’s seat. As she will be the one driving our new family van most of the time, it was only right she had first dibs on the whole Skodiaq experience. There was plenty of room all round, bearing in mind that seats six and seven are really for kids only, possibly young teenagers, but beyond that things would begin to get a bit uncomfortable and generally squished.
Bear in mind also that once the two rear seats are deployed, luggage space is reduced to no more room than perhaps for a couple of day bags, the odd scooter or skateboard but not much else.
‘It’s really nice but we couldn’t go on holiday in it,’ mourned Tash after about half an hour behind the wheel. I could tell she liked it because she’d gone all quiet and content, having drifted off into her own private Skoda heaven. She had a point. ‘Roof box!’ I shouted. ‘Ooh yes, I suppose that would be all right, wouldn’t it?’
After a round of teas for the grown-ups and ice cream 99s for the kids, it was my turn to drive.
What the compactness of the Kodiaq takes away with on one hand, it pays back in spades with the other. It doesn’t feel like an ungainly monster out on the road. You’re high up but not so high up that you feel like you’re looking down your nose at the rest of the world. The dash, controls, info screen, etc have that new Skoda style and simplicity about them, not basic and bargain-basement but clean, sharp and extremely well laid out.
I was particularly surprised at the almost complete lack of body roll, and the sporty way the car handled, especially in the more dynamic driving modes with paddle-shift selected.
It’s no rocket ship but there is a genuine sense of acceleration and power, whereas similar-sized SUVs often feel as if they’re just about hanging on in there in a desperate attempt to live up to their looks and badging. And yet here we are talking about a car that starts at an incredible €30,950 – for a sevenseater! Okay, ours came in at around €49k, which is a whole different ball park but still, compared to rivals at the same level that’s amazing value. Check this out for a standard Sportline spec: 4WD, Alcantara everything, carbon finish dash, secret umbrellas in the doors, privacy glass, panoramic sunroof, sports dials, rear diffuser, LED lights all round, automatic cruise control, 9.2in touchscreen, 20in anthracite sports wheels, electrically operated boot… and the list just keeps on going and going.
Plus, how about almost 50mpg without even trying to be economical? If this sounds too good to be true, I can only apologise, but these are the facts, my friends.
That’s the way Skoda rolls nowadays. The only thing you might have to put up with is the odd snide remark from dinosaurs who still don’t get it, who don’t understand the sheer common sense in buying similar-quality products for less than famous market rivals and then having cash left over to spend on making memories.
Talking of which, the third trip out in the Kodiaq was to a bike shop, where Noah spent his birthday and Christmas money, from the past three years, on his first proper bike – a bright red sevengear Frog hybrid. Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. Four-and-a-half stars for the car, then, and five stars for No.1 son’s first set of serious wheels.
What do you get if you load a Frog bike in the back of a Skoda Kodiaq? A right ribbiting ride. Sorry, it’s been a long week.
SEATS SIX AND SEVEN ARE ONLY REALLY FOR KIDS