Škoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 190PS 4x4 DSG
IN A NUTSHELL Refined SUV coped well with New Forest trip
I came to drive the Kodiaq after a long stint of using another long-term test car, the V W Tiguan. Given that both of these marques have the same ultimate owner, and both models have the same DSG automatic gearbox, the comparisons, I thought, would be interesting. That Tiguan, I have to say, with a petrol engine (the first I have driven outside press launch conditions for over a decade) was the closest that I have got to feeling like I was driving a magic carpet in a long time. It is also well on the way to converting me, a lifelong manual fan, to automatics. So was the Kodiaq experience the same? Almost. It’s a diesel again, albeit a very smooth one, so engine noise is inevitably higher. But you certainly felt the weight of the car on the road more, despite its kerbweight being only 72kg higher than the Tiguan’s. (That kerbweight difference is surprising, because the Kodiaq looks much bigger.) Still, it proved a perfectly capable tow car for our recent outing to the New Forest. Picking up a Lunar Clubman SI from Blackmore Vale Leisure, we had a surprisingly steep and twisty series of hairpin bends to contend with climbing out of Cann Common (on the B3081). These were poorly signposted too, coming at us unawares, but the braking capacity of the Kodiaq and its 295 lb ft of torque at 1750-3250rpm meant there was no particular jolt to the ride.
On manoeuvres
Sub-par manual navigation on our trip meant we had to indulge in some manoeuvring and reversing, in this case down narrow lanes and tight corners. But the Kodiaq never seemed to cause a problem. It was a capable performer on more standard roads, too, on the few occasions when we managed to find an empty dual carriageway, and in the stopstart Bournemouth rush hour traffic this dual carriageway kindly led us down to. My only significant gripe was with the bulky central console that houses the gear lever. I get that having all of your instruments spread right around you like this might be a bit of a thrill for some, but for anyone of even slightly above-average height, all that obstruction makes getting out on the passenger side so much more of a struggle. And before you ask, yes I do find that on your average tour around the British countryside today, there is always going to be at least one occasion when getting out of the car on the passenger side is something you will have to do, especially if you don’t want to scratch a door on a lurking gorse bush.