Comparison - Škoda Kodiaq RS 2019 - vs - Volkswagen Touareg V6 Executive 2019
General
Also called:
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Also called:
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Expert Reviews
There are plenty of seven-seat SUVs to choose from if you've got a large budget, but what if you're looking for something that's got all the space but is more reasonably priced? Well, then the Skoda Kodiaq should be on your shortlist, because its attractive entry-level price certainly makes it appealing to big families looking for value for money.
It's actually Skoda's first ever seven-seater car, and its first large SUV. It shares some of its underpinnings with other VW Group SUVs including the Audi Q2, Seat Ateca and Volkswagen Tiguan, but the larger Kodiaq is more of a rival for the Nissan X-Trail, while the higher-end and pricier versions compete with the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe and even Land Rover's Discovery Sport.
The entry-level versions of the Kodiaq come with five seats as standard, but it’s the seven-seat versions that have by far the most appeal. Engine options range from a 121bhp 1.4 petrol all the way up to a punchy 188bhp 2.0-litre diesel, and there’s also a choice between front and four-wheel drive and manual and automatic (DSG) gearboxes.
The Kodiaq is the first seven-seater for the Czech manufacturer, and the start of a rollout of SUV models due to hit showrooms over the next four years.
Kodiaq is named after the Kodiak bear which inhabit the Kodiak islands in Alaska. For some handy dinner table trivia, the car is spelt with a ‘q’ not a ‘k’ as a tribute to Alaska’s native Alutiiq people who identify an animal by ending its name with a ‘q’. That and there’s already a Chevrolet Kodiak and, you know, lawyers.
Pros
Practical, spacious and clever - like a Skoda should be
Comfortable seats, and comfortable ride
Upmarket interior, especially the touchscreen
Cons
Front design perhaps a little awkward
Lacklustre midrange response from both engines
Third row quite tight
The Skoda Kodiaq is the Czech company’s first seven-seater SUV and a real reason to worry for rival models such as the Nissan X-Trail, Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.
The Kodiaq strikes a good balance when it comes to offering comfort and agility. Well, ‘aglie’ might be too strong a word, but for a car of this size, the big Skoda suffers from little body roll even if you power through corners quickly. More important is the cosseting ride, which you get in all but 19-inch wheeled models. It shields passengers from big bumps and broken road surfaces, with only smaller high-frequency jolts catching the chassis out. We drove a model with 19-inch wheels and although the ride wasn’t uncomfortable, you did feel most bumps in the cabin.
Pros
Superb build quality
Hugely practical interior
Seven-seat option
Cons
Stiff ride with big wheels
Some wind noise at motorway speed
Top-spec diesel noisy
The name sounds odd, but the Touareg offers a comfortable ride and spirited performance—something we all can understand. Its 3.6-liter V-6 makes 280 hp and is mated to an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The Touareg is large, comfortable, and solid—plus it’s equally at home both on and off the pavement. A standard touchscreen infotainment display is functional but dated; the optional adaptive cruise control and automated emergency braking, however, are well engineered and effective.
