Skoda Kodiaq Sportline
FIRST DRIVE Flagship SUV gets all the bells and whistles, but it’s compromised
THIS is the most expensive Skoda Kodiaq money can buy. And while it’s little more than an SUV in a racy suit, the Czech firm has high hopes for its latest Sportline model, which comes dressed from head to toe in bold, brash trinkets.
Given Mercedes, BMW and Volvo’s success with their respective AMG Line, M Sport and R-design models, it’s no surprise Skoda wants a slice of the sportinspired pie. We first saw the Sportline trim on the Superb last year, but now the spec has been added to the big SUV.
Visual tweaks include the deeper bumpers, a black grille and mirrors, as well as the similarly-finished roof rails and window trims. Every Sportlinebadged Kodiaq sits on huge 20-inch wheels and low-profile tyres, too.
The cabin is well appointed, with a set of Alcantara-covered sports seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and aluminium pedals. Sticking with the sporty theme, every car gets selectable drive modes and carbon-style trim for the dash. The lovely 9.2-inch Columbus touchscreen also features as standard.
But on the road, the Kodiaq Sportline undoes much of what we love about the standard model. Those wheels make the ride really rather firm, with little scope to improve the way the car handles on a twisting route. There’s more road noise as well, which is a shame, because the softer SE L is a fine long-distance cruiser.
Our car’s flagship diesel engine and DSG auto don’t do it any favours, either. The transmission is reluctant to kick down even in Sport mode, making it feel more sluggish than the manual car. That lazy gearbox and delayed response can catch you out at junctions or roundabouts, too.
Body control is good, though, and the steering is pretty precise for a car of this size and bulk. The 4x4 system offers
loads of grip on slippery roads as well, although it adds noticeable weight to what is already a heavy seven-seat SUV.
Still, we’ve few complaints perched upon those lovely suede seats. The Sportline updates only emphasise what is one of the finest cabins at this price point. The driving position is good, and the clear dials and intuitive infotainment system are a boon. It’s a shame Skoda chose to do without a rotary volume control, but the wheel-mounted buttons mean changing settings isn’t a chore.
Quality is excellent, with everything feeling solid and built to last – handy in a car so squarely aimed at growing families. There’s plenty of space in the middle row, but the two rearmost seats are only really suitable for small children. That’s unchanged over cheaper Kodiaq models, and no worse than in similarlypriced rivals. But at more than £37,000, this Sportline 2.0 TDI is pricey. A like-forlike SE L is £2,650 less, or around £42 per month on a comparable PCP finance deal.
Yet while it’s costly to buy, running a Kodiaq on a daily basis shouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket, especially in diesel guise. Even as a top-spec 4x4, the Skoda claims almost 50mpg, while CO2 emissions of 151g/km make the Czech model a better-value company car than the Kia Sorento GT Line S.