Animal magic
Skoda’s great bear has a boot you could fit an elephant in and parks likes a pussycat
Skoda’s big Kodiaq is one of the largest SUVs to arrive on our streets.
It is named, aptly, after the Kodiak bear – one of the two biggest in the world – that lives on the islands of that name in Alaska.
The bear does not come as an option with the vehicle but it does give you an inkling of the size, ruggedness and capability of this car, which is on its way to being a huge hit for the Czech manufacturer.
It looks the part with a strong stance, 18in wheels, a wide grille front, black roof rails and an electrically operated rear door which gives way to a massive boot. It is a big kerbside personality.
Inside, it materialises as Skoda’s first seven-seater, an evolution in SUVs that is becoming increasingly popular.
You can have it as a five-seater, yes, but given this is Skoda’s new venture into the large SUV segment, it is quite a challenge to throw down to many more expensive rivals. When not in use, the third-row seats can be folded into the boot.
The interior is well finished with high gloss across the dash and soft-touch materials throughout. The instrument binnacle is clear and easily read and the sat nav instructions are echoed in the middle for the driver. The centre console houses an 8in colour touchscreen with a bottom bar which disappears and only pops up as you move your hand towards it. Another bit of Kodiaq magic. The settings and controls for the radio, sat nav, phone, the location of apps and where you can link up your phone are here. Below are sockets for USB cables and the like.
I was driving a 1.4-litre petrol in the SE trim, which also has all-wheel drive. At my fingertips were two buttons, one for off-road driving, which will switch the car into hill descent or ascent giving the Kodiaq extra traction on steep hills.
Next to itwas a driving mode button which allows you to switch from Eco to Comfort to Sport mode or personalise it to your own taste.
The manual version I was driving offered 150PS and was a sprightly and agile piece of kit. It tackled hills and winding roads with ease and was a pussycat to park. All this and seven seats. It also comes with a host of driver assistance and safety features as standard such as cruise control, a speed limiter, headlight water, rain and light sensors, rear parking sensors, a pedestrian monitor and many more.
Of course, the big bear has its quirky side too. Skoda would not be Skoda without the Simply Clever touches it offers including umbrellas hidden in the front doors, an ice scraper beneath the fuel flap and a torch hidden away in the boot.
But best of all is the price – which is going to make the Kodiaq the kind of car just right for everyone.
It starts at just more than £ 21,000 for the entry-level model and even the top- of-the-range without options is under £ 35,000.