Should you buy a Skoda Kodiaq?

Yes, we highly recommend the Skoda Kodiaq. It’s been a huge success for Skoda for very good reason – it’s not only among the best SUVs you can buy, it’s also one of the best family cars if you’re in the market for a larger vehicle. As a seven-seater SUV it offers flexible practicality, and is keenly priced versus the competition. After testing one for six months we can also confirm this second-generation Kodiaq is easy to live with and has very accomplished road manners.

This latest version is longer and roomier than the original Kodiaq, with more space for passengers and luggage. The cabin benefits from a revised design that has a greater emphasis on sustainable materials and some clever control solutions that are both modern-looking and easy to use. The engine line-up includes fuel-saving mild-hybrid petrols, diesel power that will suit long-distance drivers, and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that’s cheap to run and tax efficient.

With over 70 miles of electric-only driving range, the Kodiaq plug-in hybrid certainly offers the opportunity to keep your costs down. However, it is only available with five seats when every other engine in the Kodiaq has the option of seven. There’s no 100% electric Kodiaq, either, with that role falling to the five-seat Skoda Enyaq. Even so, with a broad choice of engines and a selection of trim levels that are all generously equipped, the Kodiaq offers something for almost everyone.

What’s new?

The latest addition to the Mk2 Kodiaq range is the sporty vRS model, introduced in 2025. Driven by a 280hp turbo petrol engine, this performance flagship looks the part with sharpened exterior styling and more heavily contoured – but still very comfortable – front seats. We’ve been testing it alongside our 190hp diesel long-termer, and the good news that even the Kodiaq vRS is a consummate family car. On the flip side, this does mean it’s not super-exciting to drive. Competent in all respects, but not thrilling.

Moving on to the Kodiaq in general, there’s a choice of three regular trim levels – SE, SE L and Sportline – in addition to the vRS. Standard equipment includes full LED lighting, heated front seats, a 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a stack of driver assistance technology. Choose the SE L for its upgraded Matrix LED headlights, leather upholstery, electric boot and keyless entry, while Sportline gets bespoke styling inside and out (similar to the vRS) and extra tech in the form of adaptive cruise control, variable suspension, paddleshifters for the standard fit DSG automatic transmission and sound-deadening acoustic glass.

Rivals include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Peugeot 5008 and Volkswagen Tayron (the VW being essentially the same car as the Kodiaq underneath). The Kodiaq offers better value pricing than all of them, in our opinion, and that’s without factoring in the cheaper five-seater versions Skoda offers. However, the Santa Fe and the Sorento are available as seven-seaters with plug-in hybrid power, which, as mention above, the Kodiaq is not.

At Parkers we’ve always been a big fan of the Skoda Kodiaq, and this latest version has consistently left us seriously impressed. We’ve comprehensively assessed it abroad and in the UK, and this review includes our Kodiaq long-term test that underlines just how thoroughly familiar we are with this model. You can find out more about how we test cars if you want a better understanding of our process.

Over the next few pages we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the second-generation Skoda Kodiaq – covering its practicality, what the interior is like, what it’s like to drive and what the running costs are. Keep reading.