What we like:

Perky engine

Practicality of 7 seats and great 2nd row legroom

Comfort and agility for a large SUV

What we dislike:

There is some turbo lag

In 2018 we named the Skoda Kodiaq our Car of the Year. Some six years have passed and we wonder if the Kodiaq is still the award-winning car that we loved?

Is it worth it to buy a Skoda Kodiaq?

Certainly, it has to deal with a far tougher market now than in 2018. COE premiums are still gobsmackingly high and now more than ever, there are new all-electric entrants to the market in all shapes and forms to disrupt the car market.

It is with some comfort and nostalgia that the Kodiaq remains very much the same albeit with some light yet purposeful changes. Aside from the Kodiaq RS with the hot engine and all wheel drive, the Sportline 1.5 TSI is the only other Kodiaq variant now available in Singapore.

We wouldn’t complain, as it comes with a whole lot more equipment than the Ambition trim that sits below it, including 19-inch Triglav rims, full LED matrix headlights, sports seats with suede, Sportline design package and a leather sports steering wheel, among others. It makes the Kodiaq Sportline feel like a baby RS of sorts.

Is the 1.5 TSI enough for the Skoda Kodiaq?

With all of these extras, the Sportline weighs slightly heavier than the Ambition trim, and this results in a 0.1 second slower 0-100 km/h sprint at 9.8 seconds and a different VES band (C1, versus B for the Ambition). Performance wise, the difference is just academic as the Sportline still has the same feisty 1.5-litre engine that punches out 110 PS and 250 Nm. For a 7 seater SUV, the Kodiaq has a surprising turn of speed once the engine comes on boost. The turbo lag is largely eliminated if you just drive in Sport. It’s quite enough power on tap for the Kodiaq if you think the RS is just that too much to pay for.

Is the Skoda Kodiaq good for a long drive?

I like how the car rides and handles, and I think it’ll be great for a long drive, say, up to Malaysia. It is pretty plush and body control is admirable for something so practical.

Can you sleep in the back of a Skoda Kodiaq?

I’m not really sure as I haven’t tried it. But speaking of which, the 7 seats is a real boon as there is only one other SUV in the Kodiaq’s price range that offers this, which is the Peugeot 5008. With the third row seats up, there is still usable boot space, which speaks volumes about how Skoda has cleverly packaged the Kodiaq.

Is the Skoda Kodiaq still a winner?

Time has clearly been kind to the Kodiaq. Even in today’s world, the Kodiaq still remains very much relevant and appealing, offering a lot of car for the money - especially where 7 seater SUVs are concerned.

Photos by James Wong

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