Skoda Kodiaq 2022 review: New seven seat SUV tested in Style, Sportline and RS (vRS) trim! 4K

The 2022 Skoda Kodiaq range has a lot of carryover stuff, but does that matter when the existing model was so impressive?

Well, it arguably depends on what you want from your seven-seat SUV. The new model keeps the existing entry-level 132TSI turbo-petrol engine for the Style and Sportline models, while the range-topping RS (called vRS in some markets) has dumped the diesel unit of before in favour of a punchy new turbo petrol with 180kW/370Nm.

Some of the character has gone with that diesel engine, but there's still a lot to like in the RS - and indeed across the Kodiaq range. But with some astounding safety tech omissions from the base model and mid-spec car that have been bundled into option packs to make you spend more, is the Skoda Kodiaq seven-seater SUV as family-friendly as it could be?

Matt Campbell sampled all three grades at the Australian launch of the facelifted 2022 model range, and he tells you which one he thinks is the pick in this review. Want to read about it? There's a link below for that.

00:00 Intro
00:59 Pricing and features
03:52 Design
05:54 Practicality
13:06 Under the bonnet
14:16 Driving
18:21 Efficiency
19:09 Safety
20:09 Ownership
20:42 Verdict

CarsGuide - Go beyond the test drive

#Skoda #SkodaKodiaq #SkodaKodiaq2022 #sevenseatSUV

[modmod]

Great car. Wife has had one for 3 years. Been a perfect family wagon so far. Fingers crossed it continues

[hiltonr]

Great to see all the variants in the one review. Skoda has come along way over the years

[williamdrijver]

Perfect ergonomics on the climate control, proper doorhandles, a normal gear selector, well done Skoda! Simple and proven design plus engineering.

[indetailcarcaresolutions]

Comments #2 for your review Matt. I’ve now lived with my Skoda Kodiaq with Tech and Luxury Packs for two weeks. I also bought the 7 year service pack for 7 years factory warranty and added the electric tow bar. For $9, 500 extra over the base model you were so desperate to drive, it is a bargain. I won’t use the extra seats, but its nice to know they are there. It is a largish SUV that will carry all my car detailing gear including a small marquee, yet fit easily in my standard garage. In my 180cm driving position, a person sitting behind me of the same height has far more legroom than you indicated. Your 2 extra cm must be all legs. I can even sit behind myself and then behind myself again (for short trips in the 3rd row). The 60% side being on the kerbside creates a larger gap when slid forward for a bigger aperture for bigger people to get in the 3rd row. Not so much legroom when they get there, but it does allow a parent to lean over and belt in their children. Credit where credit is due Matt. The RS is not different enough and is over priced as it is more than $80, 000 drive away with the few extras you can add such as the service deal and it still won’t have a heated steering wheel!! Maybe a few daily tests such as fitting in a garage, city parking, kids in and out might see your opinion change. Lloyd

[arnkbb]

Spoke to dealer to order the RS but sadly Blind spot monitoring, 360 camera and premium sound system are not available due to semi conductor shortage! Also due to shutting down factories in Russia they cannot give you most colours and wait time is long! I changed my mind after hearing all those things. It's shame as it's a good car!

[jerrymyahzcat]

Yes I like a volume knob but in reality I never use it. I use the controls on the steering wheel. So much easier.

[semyon]

Great review Matt, very honest as always. Was in the market for one late last year to place an order for one for my wife’s car. Unfortunately the dealership experience wasn’t the best for us. They weren’t able to organising the possibility for a test drive or a date of potential delivery for the spec I was interested in. Gave the impression they were busy enough and weren’t able to take anymore business on. Hard to throw 80k down with that kind of response. Anyway, taking delivery of a new Sante Fe Highlander on Tuesday, interactions were night and day in differences, even though availability of vehicles was about the same.

[amperformance]

Regarding seat split and touchscreen buttons, remember that this car (and most Euro cars) are designed for left hand drive markets. In its home market, the small split would be on the curb side.

My wife and I were planning on replacing her Octavia wagon with a Kodiaq, until we test drove a Kia EV6. Now the Kia is on order. The Kodiaq still makes for an excellent family car if you occasionally need 7 seats.

[gouldj]

Love my Kodiaq. It's the previous model but apart from matrix headlights I can't see any other changes.

[EnjoyFirefighting]

10:40 it's splitted that way also in the left hand drive models, they simply kept the split of the rear seats also in countries with right hand drive;
As for the cup holders: cups from the typical large fast food chains perfectly fit into the cup holders in the center console, as for larger bottles the room in the doors is well sized.
Personally I think the leg room for the rear passengers is very nice and good, especially when I compare it to e.g. station wagons from let's say Mercedes-Benz.

I drive the previous version of the Kodiaq. I like it's exterior design better than the new one. Also my "old" Kodiaq has the Scout trim level which is for ... well not actual hard offroad, but it's a bit more rugged to handle some easy offroad. The new Kodiaq can be spec'd like the Scout, but Skoda doesn't offer the Scout trim level on the new Kodiaq any more.

[kenansukman]

Just bought 1.4 tsi SportLine due to good price and I can't be more satisfied with what i ve got. It's a family car, and goes as good as you need it for a big practical mode of transport. You want fun, get a bike 🤣

[kamilgregurek]

As a European I have to say I find funny the bottle excercise at the beginning :D

[stefanpopov]

I think that you are the only one using these kinds of bottle and cup... but overall i liked the review. Thanks!

[piku]

Regarding the no volume knob: when you are driving you have volume control on the steering wheel. You do not need to play with the touch scree...

[PROVOCATEURSK]

12:24 What is 95L and 36L? You need to ride a bike to get the correct letter for litres.

[danielkell]

Thumb dial on the left side of the steering wheel is volume; press it in for media play / pause. Cup holders easily hold regular 600ml bottle, large takeaway coffee and even sports drink like Powerade. Keep cups and thermos flasks aren’t the benchmark for drink sizes.

[peteh]

I think the RS ticks many boxes that’s hard to compete with. Coming from a Octavia RS 2010 which has been unstoppable, I think the brand is excellent from experience. I need a 7 seater, what else is out there? I can look at a demo RS diesel or a new petrol, I’m leaning towards the petrol I think. Good review too.

[greenchutneyman]

Right now most places that have this car are selling it with semiconductor optimised status. I'd rather wait till next year. It might get a redesign as this version has been around for a while now. Nothing worse then buying a car at the end of its life cycle.

[greenchutneyman]

Does the virtual cockpit show Android auto Google maps? Or you can only see their inbuilt maps???

[Richard-slwe]

Skoda, please add a diesel option to the range. 147Tdi Sportline will be good. Prices are now getting a little silly!!