Test drove the Kodiaq yesterday, and here are my initial impressions.
1.
Looks and Exterior: It is classy. It is elegant. It is suave. I like it.
Looks are a matter of personal taste, but no one would call this car uninspiring. It may not have the sheer size or street cred of the competition, but its not meant for that. If an uninitiated observer was accompanying you, and you told him to look out for a 7seater SUV, he would definitely overlook the Kodiaq. This is not the Kodiaq's fault, neither is it the observer's. It's simply our conditioning and what we have adopted as the accepted definition of SUV.
//The car doesn't roll up its sleeves, spew a few punch dialogues, shatter the glass and enter into the scene. It's not that kind of a brute. It simply pulls up alongside, in a nicely tailored suit, with cubans between its fingers. That headlight array and killer alloys look smashing!
It's got style. You can't take that away from the Kodiaq.//
The car is dwarfed by the colossal Storme when I parked alongside. It is not the car that I would ideally Upgrade to from that rowdy Storme. The Endeavour 3.2 is the natural progression up the ladder. But by the end of the test-drive, the Kodiaq did put a smile on my face in made me introspect dreaded questions like "What if"???. That counts for something. Read on....
2.
Interiors and Features This is the KODIAQ's forte. Step in and it feels like you are wrapped in luxury. Everything is well made and clean cut. Everything from that beautifully grippable steering to that chunky gear shifter exudes luxury. Both passenger and driver get electrically adjustable seats. Nice contoured seats draped in rich light coloured leather. The twin glove boxes give lots of space for storage. Small yet significant and nifty clever details like the umbrella holder, the dustbin, the door protection system, the neck pillow 'tusks', give you the much appreciated 'feel good' factor. Hands free parking and hands free boot opening with the virtual pedal are super cool features. This car would make a perfect companion for creatures of the night. Those Smashing alloys and killer headlight arrays set in a black Kodiaq would be my weapon of choice.
The second row seating is a stretched out nice place to be in. It's the best second row I've sat on, in a long time. The head room is ample in both the rows. I don't know if its the low seating, or the extra leg room the second row gets, its uber comfortable. The family will love it. But the middle passenger might not be as pleased as the other two if you're going five up.
And that awesome panoramic sunroof opens up to the heavens above.
Build quality is supreme and no compromise on safety with 9 airbags and a perfect 5 NCAP rating.
Third row is an excuse. I won't even put my kid there. It's very cramped and a squeeze. This is a sore point for me.
//If I was coming back from a tired day at work and had the keys of the Fortuner, Endeavour and the Kodiaq to choose from, I would pick the third. This is the car to pamper yourself in. This is the Spa drive for the tired soul.//
3.
Engine and Ride
The ride quality was excellent over good and bad roads alike, true to its monocoque underpinnings. The turning radius was wider than what I would've liked. The steering was nice and made flicking the car around look easy.But personally, I would rate the Endeavours steering more 'joyful' in comparison.
The 2.0 litre Engine is my biggest let down with this car. Power and pull are 'adequate' thanks to the lighter kerb weight. But 'adequate' just won't do when I say it in the same line as 40 lacs. Skoda must have offered the higher rated option to us, to make this neat car more likeable. This motor does get the job done, but doesn't punch your gut and plaster a silly grin on your face. In contrast, that brutal 3.2 is reason enough to get the Endy home. A better engine would have definitely completed the package.
My Verdict: A wonderful car. Fully loaded. Understated and Under rated. If you are shopping around in that segment, and are not very gung-ho about road presence, don't skip this Skoda. Give this friendly brown bear a chance.
This is one SUV your family would love.