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

The post 2026 Škoda Kodiaq First Drive Review first appeared on Turbocharged.

The standard version of the SUV, for comparison, has a maximum power output of 204PS along with 320Nm of max torque. Additionally, the RS claims a naught-to-hundred time of 6.4 seconds, along with a top speed of 231kmph.

The Kodiaq RS is Škoda’s nod to city-dwellers looking for comfort as well as performance on both on-road and off-road situations. However, considering the outrageous performance on offer, it may not be as affordable as the regular Kodiaq. Ergo, with this expected price point, it puts up a respectable fight against other luxury SUVs such as the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the BMW X1, and the Audi Q3. Furthermore, if the price difference between the standard Kodiaq and the RS isn’t too high, it might stage a coup over one of its own.

The Kodiaq RS is currently available in several international markets, including Germany, UK, and select countries in the Middle East.

The post Škoda Unveils Kodiaq RS in India, scheduled to launch in June 2026 first appeared on Turbocharged.

Skoda has applied its latest ‘Modern Solid’ design language to the new Kodiaq, which used to sport a clean, somewhat monolithic design earlier. The new design has introduced many more curvy creases, bling elements, and looks contemporary and fairly more attention-grabbing than the old one. The Sportline trim is targeted at the enthusiasts with its blacked-out exterior trim and 18-inch alloys of an athletic design. The Selection L&K variant looks posher with its LED-bejwelled grille, dashes of chrome and aero aesthetic 18-inch alloys. A wide range of appealing exterior colourways are on offer.

The interior, which was already a nice place to be in, has been thoroughly re-designed and ups the premium quotient by quite a bit with upscale materials while also packing in many latest tech features. The Sportline gets a sporty, all-black interior while the Selection L&K features Cognac leather upholstery. The 13-inch infotainment screen and the 13-speaker Canton sound system it controls are a highlight. A customisable ’smart dial’ with an embedded screen that can switch between controlling the seat ventilation (only for Selection L&K variant), fan speed, and drive modes is a signature ‘Simply Clever’ touch. A panoramic sunroof, 10-inch digital instrument cluster, sliding and reclining rear seats, customisable ambient lighting, ventilated front seats with massage function (only for Selection L&K variant) and park assist are some of the other tech highlights.

So far as the powertrain is concerned, the trusty 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol EA888 motor has been retained along with the 7-speed DSG and all-wheel drive. Power is up to 204PS from 190PS while the torque output remains 320Nm. Safety features include nine airbags, parking sensors (front and rear), electronically locking differential and driver attention and drowsiness monitor. There is no ADAS though. The new Kodiaq is significantly more expensive than the older one, which used to retail for around ₹37 lakh, ex-showroom. Now because of the increased price, this SUV will compete chiefly with the Toyota Fortuner (top variant), Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Meridian, Citroen C5 Aircross, and its own cousin, the newly launched Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line.

The post 2025 Skoda Kodiaq Launched first appeared on Turbocharged.