2026 Skoda Kodiaq Specs, Review, Features
2026 Skoda Kodiaq Specs, Review, Features – We like the second-generation Skoda Kodiaq because it builds on the tried-and-true formula of the first model. The interior has been upgraded from the original Kodiaq and is now spacious, efficient, and packed with clever innovations. Because of its special combination of abilities, the most recent model of the car took up our Best Large SUV category at the 2024 Auto Express New Car Awards.
Unlike rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, not all Kodiaqs have seven seats. Because of this, the car’s starting price is around £37,000, which is slightly cheaper than those versions. Gasoline, diesel, and plug-in hybrid vehicle choices are available in addition to SE, SE L, and SportLine trim levels. 2026 Skoda Kodiaq Specs
Table of Contents
2026 Skoda Kodiaq Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior & Interior
The Skoda Kodiaq’s external design is better than the previous model, with sharper lines and a few more angles. The inside is comparable, with digital dials, more shapes, and a large central touchscreen that incorporates a number of well-known Skoda features.
With most of the functions on the main touchscreen, the Kodiaq’s layout is similar to that of the most current Superb family car. Beneath the central air vents are three rotary dials with digital screens that control different climatic settings. The two-spoke steering wheel, which is a common design among Skoda vehicles, has two neatly knurled volume and station-selection buttons (SportLine models change this out for a sportier three-spoke wheel).
The Kodiaq has rather good material quality overall, and the gray plastic trim on the doors and the middle of the dashboard has been given a unique look that is in between rubber and cloth. The central armrest for the back seats is also exceptionally comfortable.
The three separate rotary climate controls are a wonderful addition, although they do appear a little flimsy. The silver surface gives the knobs the appearance of being made of metal, even though they are plasticky to the touch and move about in your fingers as you use them. They also look to be badly manufactured due to the lack of smoothness in the rotating action.
All Kodiaqs come with a 13-inch landscape display, which is squarer than many rival systems. The home screen has large tiles that may be configured to highlight the most frequently used functions, while smaller shortcut buttons are dispersed over the top and bottom of the screen.
The system works well and looks beautiful, even though the flat screen design makes it hard for the driver to reach the farthest corners. The live feed from the reversing camera is also less clear than the rest of the screen.
Skoda’s “Simply Clever” solutions include a lipstick-sized screen cleaner that makes it possible to get rid of greasy fingerprints from the screen. A 10.25-inch driver’s display with several configuration possibilities, including the ability to show navigation maps, is also available. It may be controlled with the steering wheel. Although an eight-speaker system with a DAB radio is standard, the Convenience Plus Package includes a 12-speaker Canton sound system for all trims. 2026 Skoda Kodiaq Specs
2026 Skoda Kodiaq Specs
Engine & Performance
Even though a number of its rivals are switching to hybrid powertrain, the Skoda Kodiaq is making more conservative electrification decisions. The base model in the range is a 1.5 TSI four-cylinder petrol engine with 148 horsepower, minimal hybrid assistance, and a cylinder-deactivation mechanism that steps in when the throttle is not fully depressed. This machine runs well, with a reported 0-62 mph time of 9.7 seconds, or 9.9 seconds for the seven-seat version. Standard features include a seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox and front-wheel drive.
The 2.0 TDI diesel has two power outputs: 190 horsepower with four-wheel drive and 148 horsepower with front-wheel drive. The former takes 9.6 seconds (or 9.8 seconds for the seven-seater) to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph, whereas the more powerful car finishes the sprint in exactly eight seconds. Both are equipped with the 1.5 TSI’s twin-clutch seven-speed automatic gearbox.
The Kodiaq iV plug-in hybrid has 201 horsepower and can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 8.4 seconds. It has front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission.
The harsh Roads Package, which offers extra underbody protection to protect delicate regions from harsh terrain, is the best option if you want to off-road your Kodiaq. If you simply need a car to get there, we found that the two-wheel drive model still managed muddy rural tracks very well. Although the VW Group’s MQB platform supports the Kodiaq’s large body, the Skoda is made for comfort, even if a number of sporty hatchbacks with agile handling share the same architecture.
The first of the four engine options available for the Skoda Kodiaq is the 1.5 TSI e-TEC 150, which generates 148 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque and sends power to the front wheels via a seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox. The SE version of this engine produces a 0-62 mph time of 9.7 seconds and a top speed of 128 mph, while the seven-seat version has a 0-62 mph time of 9.9 seconds and a peak speed of 127 mph.
Similar to the 1.5 TSI, the 2.0 TDI 150 has front-wheel drive, 148 horsepower, and 360 Nm of torque. It also has a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. The seven-seater can attain a peak speed of 126 mph and reach 0-62 mph in 9.8 seconds, while the five-seater can reach a high speed of 127 mph in 9.6 seconds.
Choose the more powerful 2.0 TDI 193 with four-wheel drive, which produces 400 Nm of torque and 190 horsepower. The top speed is 134 mph, while the official time from 0 to 62 mph is 8.0 seconds. Every vehicle with this setup has seven seats.
The most powerful Kodiaq model at the moment is the five-seat Kodiaq iV plug-in hybrid, which has 201 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque (a vRS is apparently in the works). Although the hybrid system’s increased weight hinders its performance, it can still accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 8.4 seconds and achieve a top speed of 130 mph. 2026 Skoda Kodiaq Specs
2026 Skoda Kodiaq Fuel Economy
The Skoda Kodiaq can be utilized in every driving situation since it offers diesel, plug-in, and hybrid power options that provide the highest efficiency under different conditions. As long as the battery is maintained charged, the plug-in version will be great for city driving, with a claimed electric range of 75 miles.
The seven-seat SE version’s claimed 46.3 mpg is reasonable for a large gasoline-powered SUV like the Kodiaq, and the mild hybrid offers a kind of compromise if you don’t have the capacity to charge. This will be difficult to do in the real world, though, if you often drive with a full load of passengers.
The diesel should not have too much of a penalty when fully loaded or towing, and it will be able to give respectable long-distance economy. The 2.0 TDI will have a range of 650 miles and get the claimed 51.7 mpg. The Kodiaq iV plug-in hybrid’s 25.7kWh battery, which is situated beneath the boot floor, is said to have a maximum range of 75 miles when completely charged. If you can keep the battery charged, you could probably drive for a day on electricity alone, even if it’s reassuring to know that the gasoline engine is there to support it.
A 40kW DC charging rate has been added to the latest version of the VW Group’s plug-in hybrid powertrain. Consequently, an 11kW wallbox takes two and a half hours to fully charge, but the Kodiaq’s battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent capacity in less than 30 minutes.
2026 Skoda Kodiaq Safety Features
As the name suggests, the latest Skoda Kodiaq is a new version of the MQB Evo running gear from the VW Group, which served as the base for the original Kodiaq. This suggests that in order to further improve reliability, the current car should apply the lessons learned from the previous one.
Since the Kodiaq’s gearboxes and engines—including the plug-in hybrid system—have been honed over the years and are utilized in several other VW automobiles, they ought to operate without a hitch.
Skoda ranked 23rd out of 32 in the latest Driver Power manufacturer poll, which isn’t as high as it has been in previous years, but it is still second only to Cupra, which came in 18th place inside the VW Group.
After obtaining the best possible results in the side and pole impact tests, safety experts Euro NCAP awarded the Skoda Kodiaq the highest possible grade of five stars.
All versions are equipped with an autonomous emergency braking system that can recognize bikes and pedestrians. It also has a blind spot warning system that warns you of incoming traffic when you open the door and of any cars adjacent to you when you change lanes on the highway. You get a front and rear cross-traffic alert to warn you of anything crossing your path when you leave a parking space or junction when your visibility is obscured. A traffic sign recognition system will notify you when the speed limit changes, and a driver attention and drowsiness monitoring system will warn you if it senses that you are falling asleep. We tried to get it to intervene by acting like we were tired, but it seemed reluctant.
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Lane departure warning
- Blind spot monitoring
- Lane keep assistance
- Traffic sign recognition
2026 Skoda Kodiaq Release Date & Price
Starting at under £37,000, the Skoda Kodiaq is more affordable than many of its rivals. When compared to competitors, the entry-level Kodiaq is similar to smaller, more compact SUVs, despite the fact that it may look expensive for a Skoda. Higher-spec vehicles are also more reasonably priced than most of their seven-seat rivals.
For the money, you get a family SUV with plenty of space and practical amenities. The Kodiaq iV plug-in hybrid offers a considerable range on electricity alone in addition to the normal gasoline and diesel alternatives. Seven seats are available on higher-spec vehicles (which are also available on the rest of the lineup), and front and four-wheel drive are options.
Beginning with the base five-seat SE, the Kodiaq lineup includes a 1.5-liter TSI 48V mild-hybrid petrol with 148 horsepower, a 2.0-liter TDI diesel with the same output, or a plug-in hybrid with 210 horsepower that is based on the 1.5 TSI petrol but has a 25.7-kWh battery for an electric range of up to 75 miles. All versions come with Skoda’s DSG automatic transmission as standard.
With the exception of the PHEV, the SE L, which starts at just over £40,000, has seven seats as standard. For around £46,000, the SE L may also be equipped with a more powerful 2.0-liter mild-hybrid diesel engine that produces 190 horsepower and has four-wheel drive. Soon, a 1.5-liter plug-in hybrid with a similar output and a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with 201 horsepower will be accessible.
The Kodiaq SportLine costs £2,500 more than the SE L and has body-colored lower trim, sharper 20-inch alloy wheels, gloss-black grille surround and mirrors, and a more aggressive look on the inside and exterior. Skoda also includes semi-microsuede upholstery and DCC dynamic chassis control, and the 4×4 variant has an off-road mode. Though a more powerful and athletic Kodiaq vRS is expected to arrive, SportLine is presently the top model in the selection.
Skoda offers three trim levels in addition to four “Design Selections.” They are based on the Enyaq electric SUV, according to Skoda, and have “coordinated colours and materials.” Whereas “Loft” features seats upholstered in gray recycled fabric, “Lounge” features gray suede microfibre upholstery with a combination of wool, synthetic leather, and x-shaped yellow stitching. “Suite Black” has perforated faux leather with grey stitching, while “Suite Cognac” has black leather upholstery with x-shaped embroidery in a “Cognac” brown hue.
Note: The details included in this blog post are derived from pre-release material that was accessible when the article was written. If you want the latest information, you should check official sources or call your nearest dealership.
