Since its debut in 2016, this seven-seat SUV has been one of Skoda’s finest offerings, winning hearts with its practicality, smart design, and budget-friendly price tag.

Now, in its second generation, the Kodiaq returns with updates that aim to keep it ahead of the pack.

Familiar Looks, Fresh Details

At first glance, you might mistake this for a minor facelift rather than a full-fledged new model. 

The Kodiaq’s trademark silhouette (stretched bonnet, confident stance, and robust proportions) remains intact.

Updates include a bolder front lighting strip, a reimagined Skoda badge, and stylish wraparound rear lights. Even the new “Bronx Gold” paint adds a touch of glamour. 

It’s evolution over revolution, and that’s not a bad thing. After all, why fix what isn’t broken?

For existing owners peeking out their windows before the morning school run, the new Kodiaq will feel like an old friend with just a hint of a makeover.

Space, Sustainability, and Smart Upgrades

Stepping into the second-generation Skoda Kodiaq feels akin to entering a well-thought-out family home; a place where practicality and comfort are cornerstones.

Skoda has built on the solid foundation of the first generation, improving usability, introducing sustainable materials, and ensuring that every inch of space is used wisely.

Although the Kodiaq has grown only slightly in length, its interior space has been optimised to impressive effect. The 2.8-metre wheelbase remains unchanged, yet second-row passengers are treated to almost absurd levels of legroom, staying true to Skoda’s reputation for passenger comfort.

In the third row, adults may find themselves a little cramped, but it’s perfect for kids or short journeys. Headroom, meanwhile, has been increased across the board: 106cm up front, 102cm in the middle, and 92cm in the back.  

Even with all seven seats up, the Kodiaq offers 340 litres of cargo space, equivalent to what you’d find in a Volkswagen Golf.

Fold down the third row, and that figure jumps to 900 litres.

Many of the interior materials are crafted from recycled plastic bottles, and if you opt for leather, you’ll find it tanned using coffee bean waste instead of traditional chemicals.

This eco-conscious approach doesn’t come at the cost of aesthetics; the materials feel premium, look stylish, and contribute to a fresh, airy ambience.

Skoda has also steered clear of the dark plastic-heavy interiors of the past.

Positioned where the gear lever used to be, the rotary Smart Dials controls allow you to adjust everything from air-conditioning temperature to audio volume.

It’s a refreshing nod to functionality in an age of often overly complicated touch-sensitive controls.

Meanwhile, the gear selection has been moved to a twistable stalk on the steering column. It’s intuitive and ensures you won’t accidentally shift gears when reaching for the wipers.

What’s Under the Hood?

Beneath its familiar exterior, the Kodiaq has undergone significant changes, including its first foray into electrification.

Sharing much of its underpinnings with the latest Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Octavia, the Kodiaq offers a variety of powertrains tailored to diverse needs. 

Singapore-bound units get a 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology and 250Nm of torque, giving you a century sprint time of 9.9 seconds.

How’s the Ride?

Unlike its Volkswagen Tiguan cousin, which opts for sharper handling at the expense of ride quality, the Kodiaq embraces its role as a family SUV by prioritising comfort.

It leans and rolls predictably through corners, ensuring a smoother, more forgiving ride; a trade-off that will hardly bother those ferrying a carload of sugar-fuelled children.  

The steering, while clear, lacks tactile feedback, and the Kodiaq exhibits a bit of body movement when pushed into tighter bends. Take corners too aggressively, and you’ll encounter understeer, but it’s a forgivable flaw given the Kodiaq’s focus.

Skoda has also paid attention to aerodynamics, reducing the Kodiaq’s drag coefficient from 0.32 to 0.28. This refinement doesn’t translate into neck-snapping acceleration but significantly enhances cabin quietness, especially during highway cruising.

Engine noise becomes more noticeable only when pushed hard, subtly encouraging a smoother and more composed driving style.

Respectable Fuel Economy

For a vehicle of this size, the Kodiaq returns competitive fuel economy figures.

During testing, the 1.5-litre engine achieved 13.7km/litre, close to Skoda’s claimed 15.2km/litre figure.

A Comfortable All-Rounder

The new Skoda Kodiaq doesn’t attempt to be the sharpest SUV on the market, but that’s precisely its charm. It excels in areas that matter most to its target audience: comfort, practicality, and refinement.

While performance enthusiasts may look elsewhere, families and long-distance commuters will find much to love in the Kodiaq. It’s one that’s been thoughtfully tailored to make the journey as enjoyable as the destination.

Skoda, it seems, has once again hit the mark. Simply clever.

Technical Specifications

Skoda Kodiaq Mild Hybrid (Selection)

Engine: 1,498cc 4-cylinder Turbocharged, Mild Hybrid
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Power: 148 bhp
Torque: 250 Nm
Gearbox: 7-Speed (A) DSG
0-100km/h: 9.9 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 205 km/h
Fuel Economy: 15.2 km/litre (claimed)

Price: S$216,900 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Skoda Centre Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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This is Skoda’s first foray into the EV market in Singapore. Built on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform, this Czech shares the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5 and the Audi Q4 e-tron.

It’s a packed family, but the Enyaq still manages to charm with a lil’ bit of Skoda’s practical magic.

Simply clever

While its siblings actively do away with ‘old school’ buttons and switches, the Skoda Enyaq shines with enough dedicated controls to prevent you from going insane.

Yes, some controls still need to be accessed from the 13-inch infotainment screen, which can be annoying on the move. But, at least you get a row of quick-setting buttons underneath it, and a set of physical controls on the steering wheel.

This is miles better than the haptic buttons found on the Volkswagen ID.4, and it amplifies the Enyaq’s user-friendiness.

There’s plenty of room for both front and rear passengers, and the boot is large at 570 litres; the SUV-styled variant bumps that up to 585 litres.

If you need more space, folding down the rear seats gives you a massive 1,610 litres.

The interior design, especially the sports seats, does give you that vRS flair. They’re comfortable, supportive, and electrically adjustable for the driver. There’s also a special vRS steering wheel that feels nice and chunky, just the sort of thing you’d want in a “sporty” car.

Add in the nice sound system and some hidden umbrella pockets in the door cards, and you have a vehicle that can easily take on whatever a family can throw at it.

It looks smart

Skoda has put effort into making the Enyaq fit in with the rest of the Skoda range, and the distinctive design language offers a sense of familiar comfort for fans of the brand.

We do like the front, and it looks great at night with its Crystal Face grille. However, the rear is a little… jellybean-shaped.

Personally, we would opt for the SUV-styled variant, but to each their own. Coupe SUVs are getting more popular in today’s market, so there is clearly a demand for them.

And it is quick

Skoda has decided to give its Enyaq a bit of a power boost by slapping on an extra motor and blessing the car with a vRS badge, hoping to turn this big, family-friendly EV into something a little more exhilarating.

Power sits at 389bhp and 545Nm, identical to the ID.4 and ID.5 GTX models from Volkswagen. This pushes the Enyaq to achieve a century sprint time of 5.5 seconds.

But ride quality takes a hit

Sounds impressive, and you can smoke other drivers off the line. But, in doing so, Skoda’s engineers also stiffened the suspension to make the Enyaq handle better around corners, and the result is a ride that’s a little too harsh. Whether you’re on city streets or highways, you’ll feel every undulation.

There’s traction aplenty, thanks to the AWD setup, and the vRS does have some serious acceleration between bends. But it’s not exactly what we’d call “fun to drive.”

You’re more likely to feel like a passenger in your own car as it bounces you around, rather than feeling like you’re fully in control. 

There are redeeming factors though

On the plus side, visibility is great all round apart from the narrow rear window. Minor inconvenience though, as the car’s camera array removes any hesitation when parking.

And while the Enyaq vRS doesn’t offer one-pedal driving, it does have a ‘B’ mode and shift pedals to adjust regenerative sensitivity, a major plus point over the ID.4.

Chief of which is range

The Skoda Enyaq vRS claims it can achieve up to 547km on a full charge. In real-world driving, it does come close, which is impressive for an EV of this size.

We managed to average 17.7kWh/100km, which easily allows the car to scoot around for a week before needing a juice-up.

Charging times are decent too, as the Enyaq can take up to 175kW. With a fast public charger, you can go from 10% to 80% in about 28 minutes. 

Is the vRS worth it?

The standard Enyaq is an excellent car; spacious, practical, and well-priced. But this vRS version? The decision mainly comes down to you.

You still get all of the practical features, but performance-wise, despite being fast, the Skoda Enyaq vRS just doesn’t deliver enough enjoyment to justify its sportier stance. And we can confidently say most folks do not need the power bump over the regular model.

Our money’s on the regular Enyaq, and you’ll probably be a lot happier in it too.

Technical Specifications

Skoda Enyaq Coupe vRS

Powertrain: Dual Electric Motors, All-Wheel Drive
Power: 290kW (389bhp)
Torque: 545Nm
Gearbox: Single Speed (A)
Acceleration: 5.5 Seconds (0-100km/h)
Battery Capacity: 82 kWh
Drive Range: 547 km
Energy Consumption: 5.0 km/kWh (claimed)

Price: S$260,900 with COE (accurate at the time of this article)
Contact: Skoda Singapore

Photo Credits: Sean Loo (@auto.driven)

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