Cheapest Kodiaq still loaded for bear
The 1.4-litre, frontdrive Kodiaq Ambition might just be all the SUV you need, says
Damien O’carroll.
Let’s be honest here – we all love the idea of a top-of-therange car. The one with all the bells and whistles always gets the most attention.
And Kiwis are particularly fond of the range-toppers; we are among the largest per-head-ofpopulation and percentage of overall sales markets for Mercedes-amg, Audi RS and BMW M cars, embarrassing quite a lot of larger and far, far richer markets.
But while the flashy models are interesting, it is quite often at the other end of the range where you find the models that reveal far more about whether the car in question is actually a good car or not. Y’know, the ones that can’t hide behind all the trinkets and shiny stuff, the ones that can’t rely on sheer horsepower to impress. The entry-level cars.
And then sometimes – on rare occasions – the entry level is where the true gold lies. And that is the case with the Skoda Kodiaq.
While the top of the range AWD Kodiaqs are very good cars, it is the entry level FWD 1.4-litre Ambition that shone the brightest during the launch event a few weeks back, so we were always going to be keen to get our sweaty hands on one for a longer test.
So here it is: a dark blue Kodiaq Ambition TSI 110kw, absolutely standard apart from a set of larger 19-inch alloy wheels (the Ambition comes standard on 18s), 1.4-litre engine driving the front wheels and all.
Yes, it may only have a tiny engine for a vehicle the size of a Hyundai Santa Fe, but keep in mind that it pumps out 250Nm of torque from just 1500rpm, while an entry level 2.4-litre petrol Santa Fe can only manage 241Nm from a way higher 5300rpm.
It’s like they say: it’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use your torque. And, yes, while any guy who feels a bit deficient in the cubic capacity department is going to bring up torque, the proof really is in the driving and it is here that the Kodiaq Ambition truly shines.
The healthy chunk of torque plays a big part in the way the Kodiaq drives, powering it off the line with little effort and even a little drama; if you are heavyfooted you can easily evoke a surprised squawk from the front tyres.
Acceleration is smooth and strong throughout the torque curve, which tops out at 3500rpm, by which time the 110kw of power is approaching its peak (5000-6000rpm), and the six-speed dual clutch transmission is nimble and quick-witted enough to keep the revs exactly where they need to be.
There is the traditional downside with the DSG transmission, however; while it’s super slick and fast when you are up to speed, it can get a bit confused and sluggish at very low speeds, such as parking or taking off from a standing start.
This, allied with the everpresent stop/start functions of modern VW Group product, does translate into the occasional slow response from a standing start. Not ideal, but certainly not down to any shortcoming on the engine’s part. Just turn the stop/ start off; it doesn’t save all that much fuel anyway. If you are a keen driver then chucking an SUV into a corner is usually your first disappointment, but if you are a keen driver, then why are you driving an SUV in the first place?
Unlike most of its kind, the Kodiaq may actually have something to offer you. Sure, it’s never going to be as sharp as a sedan or even a well-sorted wagon, but the Kodiaq is nimble and actually rather satisfying to tip into a corner.
This is largely because the Kodiaq weighs considerably less than its traditional SUV brethren and closer to something more carlike. Thanks to extensive use of high-strength steel, the Kodiaq only tips the scales at a minuscule (in context, remember) 1565kg.
Minimal body roll and fantastically responsive steering (although it doesn’t offer much in the way of feel) also help to make the Kodiaq entertaining and surprisingly satisfying on a winding back road, while its ride is deeply impressive as well. Beautifully resolved and superbly confident in all conditions, the Kodiaq rides like a large vehicle, but handles like a far smaller one.
Then you get to the price and it is game over for the opposition because the FWD Ambition costs $39,990. And if you need AWD, then the step up to the Ambition+ (same engine, slightly more standard equipment) is just $5k extra.
As it stands though, FWD is all most of this kind of SUV ‘‘crossover’’ (a far more appropriate term that, for some reason, has never caught on here) will ever need.
If you can get over the size issues then the Skoda Kodiaq Ambition offers a simply incredible amount for the money asked. If you can’t, that’s your loss.