The Indian arm of the Czech automobile manufacturer Skoda Auto India has finally entered the Indian SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) market with the launch of its much-awaited 7-seater premium SUV, dubbed as the “Skoda Kodiaq” in the Indian four-wheeler market. The all-new Skoda Kodiaq has been launched in the country with a price tag of Rs. 34.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Pan India) and will be available in “Style” trim only with a single powertrain and transmission option. Skoda India has already started accepting bookings for their first SUV, Skoda Kodiaq against a token amount of Rs. 51,000, while the first deliveries for the vehicle are slated to begin from the first week of November. Apart from this, the Czech car maker is offering this premium SUV with 4-years warranty, roadside assistance and maintenance for an additional Rs. 59,999.
To pre-book the new Skoda Kodiaq, prospective customers will have to visit the company’s 67 authorised dealerships across the country. The Skoda Kodiaq will be made available in four exciting body colour options including Moon White, Lava Blue, Black Magic and Quartz Grey. The Kodiaq is based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Querbaukasten (MQB) platform and is assembled at the company’s Aurangabad facility. The vehicle shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Tiguan, and its elder siblings — Skoda Octavia and Superb. Carried a such an attractive sticker price, the Kodiaq 7-seater SUV comes equipped with an improved styling, exciting features, advanced infotainment system, and a host of smart and luxury equipment.
Engine & Power:
Talking about its mechanical department, the new Skoda Kodiaq is powered by a 1,968cc, 4-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine that churns out 150 bhp of peak power @ 3,500-4,000rpm against the peak torque of 340Nm @ 1,750-3,000rpm. Transmission responsibilities on the Skoda Kodiaq are performed by a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission that transmits power to all four wheels via an electronically locking differential (XDS+). The Skoda Kodiaq needs only 10.1 seconds to reach 100kmph from engine start and has an electronically restricted top speed of 192km per hour. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Skoda Kodiaq has an ARAI-certified mileage of 16.25 kmpl.
The premium SUV also comes equipped with an all-wheel drive (AWD) system and offers six different driving modes including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual, and Snow, each subtly changing the speed-sensitive steering and the characteristics of the power delivery. Dimension wise, the Indian-spec variant Kodiaq measures 4,697 mm in length, 1,882 mm in width and 1,665 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,791 mm and offers a ground clearance of 188 mm. To offer passengers more comfortable journey, Skoda has also provided a boot space of 270-litre and can be further extended to 2,005-litres by folding the second and third row of seats down. The car rides on Trinity 18-inch alloy wheels and has a fuel tank capacity of 63 litres.
Exterior and Interior Design:
Being a luxury SUV member, the new 7-seater Skoda Kodiaq sports various exciting features on the exterior such as full-LED headlamps with integrated LED DRLs (Daytime Running Lights), high-mounted LED fog lamps which also act as cornering lights, Skoda’s signature radiator grille, a stylish bumper with fog lamp inserts, chrome surround for radiator grille, chrome window frames, LED puddle lights, white honeycomb air intake, and 3D shape bonnet to give an aggressive and strong SUV character. The lower bumper sports a wide air dam which runs across the width of the car. A single feature line runs across the side of the Kodiaq connecting the headlamps to the sharp C-shaped LED tail lights and Black roof rails running across the length of the car. At the rear, the car features LED taillights with C-Shaped illumination, LED brake light, Turn indicator, and Rear fog light. Apart from this, the vehicle also features gesture tailgate and electrically-adjustable panoramic sunroof. As we mentioned above, the Skoda Kodiaq rides on 18-inch alloy wheels that are shod with 235/55 R18 tyres.
Talking about its interior, the Skoda Kodiaq gets 12-way electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats and an 8-inch Amundsen touchscreen infotainment system that supports Navigation, SmartLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The car also gets MirrorLink technology that allows you to pair a smartphone with the car. The infotainment system also supports phone mirroring along with AUX, Bluetooth & multiple SD card support. The cabin features a dark brushed interior with faux wood trim on the dashboard and door panels. The seats are covered in beige leather upholstery. Other luxury features offered by the powerful SUV include a three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel, 3-zone automatic climate control with adjustable rear AC vents, large panoramic sunroof, a 12-speaker 750W Canton Audio system, 10-colour ambient lighting, a 360-degree reverse parking camera, automatic tailgate, engine start/stop button and keyless entry among others. Other features on the vehicle include automatic rain sensing wipers, flexible head restraints in the second row, two glove boxes, umbrella holders in the front doors, retractable door protectors, magnetised flashlight among others.
Safety Features:
In terms of safety, the Skoda Kodiaq powerful SUV offers various safety features including 9-Airbags, ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), TCS (Traction Control System), Adaptive Cruise control, Brake Assist, Multi collision braking, iBuzz Fatigue Alert, Hands-free parking, ASR (Anti Slip Regulation), EDS (Electronic Differential Lock), Rear Parking Sensors, Park-Assist System and much more.
In the Indian lucrative market, the new Skoda Kodiaq will compete against the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Isuzu MU-X.
