While the Škoda Kodiaq reached our shores in 2023, it was quickly updated in 2024 with the iteration we can still buy. Thus, Škoda has focused on incremental updates over the last couple of years, considering it is already selling so well, despite being a premium vehicle. Model Year 2026 brings with it another host of updates, primarily focusing on the middle Sportline trim, flanked on both sides by the more affordable Lounge trim and the top-shelf Laurin & Klement (L&K) trim. We did receive the L&K trim for review, and not the Sportline, but we will make do, dear reader, and bring you a summary of the Škoda flagship on our shores, as it now is in 2026.
The handsome lines of the Škoda Kodiaq have remained unchanged, and that’s a good thing, because it is a rather good-looking car. While its cousin, the Volkswagen Tiguan, hides its bulk, the Kodiaq embraces it, creating a large silhouette, which is nevertheless quite svelte in form. Imagine an NBA player — big and tall, yes, but athletic too. That’s the silhouette of the Škoda Kodiaq for you. Visually, the 2026 Sportline trim gets the horizontal lights, which were previously exclusive to the L&K (that’s a theme that’s going to repeat itself a few times over the course of this review). I also love the black grille surround on the Sportline, which makes the Kodiaq look more contemporary.
The Kodiaq has one of the best interiors in its price class, hands down. The quality of materials, the interplay of the textures and the colours, all of it makes the cabin feel properly premium. The tactility of the dials is great too, though a little more resistance would have stopped me from overshooting the desired number of clicks. Also, while I understand this is entirely my personal opinion, I feel that multifunction knobs shouldn’t have more than two functions, which will make them just switch between the two, instead of the three-function setup here, which makes it cycle and thus not possible to figure out which mode it’s in unless you take your eyes off the road. Also, combining the volume control for the passenger and the drive mode selector for the driver, along with the AC blower speed for both in a single dial, is irritating at best, hazardous at worst. The 2023 model had a row of switches that worked much better than the setup here, but this is the one we’re stuck with for now.
That being said, the Kodiaq is packed to the gills with features, particularly in the L&K that we drove. However, for model year 2026, the Sportline customers will get to enjoy a host of features previously exclusive to the L&K and the 360-degree camera. As for the L&K exclusive features, it is the only one that comes with massaging seats, but unfortunately, those are also paired with ventilated seats, as the Sportline still continues with seats that are heated only. Also, the Sportline, despite being more expensive than the 5-seater Lounge, doesn’t get access to the drive modes (Eco/Normal/Sport/Offroad/Snow/Individual) and hill descent control.
That being said, the Kodiaq is lovely to drive as it has always been. The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol makes 204PS and 320 Nm, which means the Kodiaq can sprint to 100kmph in around eight seconds, despite the roughly 1,800 kilos of mass it carries. Also, the body control of the Kodiaq is phenomenal, without compromising ride quality—try as we might, we couldn’t get a cornering shot with any kind of noticeable body roll, despite gliding over broken tarmac and unpaved roads alike. Brakes are the same story, and actually the ABS calibration on gravel was way better than I expected it to be—the Kodiaq stopped without any drama on our gravel test route despite braking from over 60kmph.
Overall, the 2026 updates aim to sweeten the deal on the Sportline trim. However, the fact remains that the Kodiaq is a bit outclassed in terms of features in its segment, unless you opt for the top-of-the-line L&K trim. On the other hand, even the Lounge trim gets the phenomenal powertrain, suspension, and braking systems that are found on the more expensive variants, and for someone who is less interested in features and more interested in interacting with their machines on a winding road, few SUVs make as much of a case for themselves as the Kodiaq.
Words: Sayantan De
Photography: Swapnil Dhawale
