Putting the Š into SUV

I have yet to visit Czechia, a country that I only know second-hand through friends’ stories about its beauty and majesty. And of course, any car enthusiast worth one’s salt knows of Laurin & Klement, the pioneering Czech firm in Bohemia that became the largest car manufacturer in Austro-Hungary. L&K was known for quality and its contributions to motoring: we have them to thank for motorcycles where the engine is in the lower area of the frame, which became the international standard. The name made it into the 21st century as a luxury trim level for Škoda, which took over the original firm in 1925.

What has always been remarkable about Škoda was how even nationalization could not dim its engineers’ passions: the rear-drive Rapid coupés of the 1980s, and the emergence of the Favorit, a considerably better hatchback than anyone else in the eastern bloc could create.

And now, under Volkswagen, comes a full Škoda line, and sitting atop its crossover range is the Kodiaq.

Coming to the close of its first generation, the Kodiaq is not going out quietly. The VRS is the sporting model of the big SUV line, and it makes for an imposing beast. The shape might date from 2016, when Škoda was all about rational, straight lines, but the stylists have put in aggressive details to signal that there’s more lurking beneath. A more aggressive spoiler and bumper design, the appearance of twin exhausts down the back, and 20-inch alloys that are flashy without being distasteful, with discreet chrome surrounding a mosaic pattern of diamonds. Full LED Matrix headlights, black roof rails, grille and door mirrors complete the VRS look.

It’s still a large, heavy vehicle at a shade under 4·7 m and weighing 1,752 kg, but it’s propelled by the familiar turbo two-litre TSI unit from the Volkswagen Group, which gives the Kodiaq plenty of oomph (245 PS, 370 Nm). Start the car and a burbling noise is piped into the interior. The idea is to stir your emotions, making you think you’re in a Golf GTI. It’s not terribly realistic in that you can pick up the slightest delay, and you can switch it off by going into eco mode.

Other interior details signal the same sporting intention: the red stitching around the steering wheel and gear lever, and atop the dashboard; the configurable red display that could look at home on a gaming laptop more than a car; and subtle VRS badging around the cockpit. The DSG paddles work well for downshifting, and the driving position, although high, at least can be made to feel sporting. The sport seats are comfortable and, with their red stitching, complete the look.

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It is Golf-like in that you eventually don’t sense the bulk, the all-wheel-drive transmission keeping the big car gripped to the road, and making it an able handler. However, all these don’t quite propel the Kodiaq into hot hatch territory—that high seating position reminds you that, ultimately, this is a very spacious and usable crossover, albeit one with more power that you can plant properly on to the road.

It more than still excels on that front. The Kodiaq cabin is, as always, spacious and generous, and miles better than the comparable Toyota Highlander’s. In Europe, Škoda is always one to reward you with more room than its competitors, and the Kodiaq is no exception. The 10·25 in display is sensibly designed, and, like all Volkswagen Group units, particularly easy to find your way around. Everything is designed sensibly and practically—those virtues don’t change just because you’ve picked the top, sporting model.

We even saw 29 mpg (Imperial) or 9·74 ℓ/100 km, which is respectable given the power output and the weight of the Kodiaq.

We had some delays having the music from our phone kick in—not a massive issue considering you haven’t passed the length of your street when it does. Once it does, the 10-speaker Canton sound system is excellent, with its 625 W output.

These days, with even the police having opted for Škodas here in New Zealand, you sense that the brand has become more widely accepted than ever. The Kodiaq has become a familiar shape, but the VRS brings just enough excitement into the range, for the buyer who wants to balance practicality with some pizzazz and extra grunt. Ultimately, practicality remains the Kodiaq’s game—there’s an innate sensibility that comes with every Škoda. •

Our test car was provided by Gazley Škoda.

Jack Yan is founder and publisher of Lucire.

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