A midlife update has improved on what was already a very good large SUV, even if some glaring omissions dull its shine ever so slightly.
How much does the Skoda Kodiaq cost in Australia?
If there’s one thing Skoda knows how to do well, it’s offering almost-premium motoring in a relatively affordable package. The mildly updated 2022 Skoda Kodiaq only serves to underscore that reputation. In a good way.
While the 2022 model-year update brings only minor changes to the brand’s large SUV, the reality is not much change was needed, the Kodiaq already an impressive seven-seater, family SUV.
But, each successive model year demands updates, and in the case of the Skoda Kodiaq range, those updates run to subtle exterior an interior enhancements.
A new grille, framed by revised bonnet and front bumper designs, is joined by a new rear bumper and LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators.
Inside, subtle tweaks to the steering wheel have improved usability, while tech-heads will love the new-for-2022 wireless smartphone mirroring and inductive charging functions.
The Kodiaq range encompasses just three variants – Style, Sportline and RS – all with easy-to-understand national drive-away pricing.
The entry into the range is the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style priced at $53,990 drive-away. Sitting in the middle, the Kodiaq Sportline commands a $5000 premium listing at $58,990. That extra outlay adds some cosmetic enhancements, inside and out, but leaves the 132kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo under the bonnet untouched.
An engine ‘touch-up’ is reserved for the hotter Kodiaq RS, which packs a more powerful 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo petrol under the bonnet for its $74,990. For that outlay, the Kodiaq RS will dispatch the benchmark sprint from 0–100km/h in just 6.6 seconds.
No such shenanigans for our test car, though, the entry-level Kodiaq Style, which packs plenty of punch in terms of standard equipment and overall design.
Highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and push-button start, a powered tailgate, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, door edge protectors, a 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a configurable digital driver display, dual-zone climate control, faux-leather and suede seat trim, and tablet holders for the second row.
It’s a lot of car for the money, with features not always found standard inside its main rivals.
Those looking for a seven-seat SUV could look at Toyota Kluger, which in its most basic all-wheel-drive form, the GXL, asks for $62,851 drive-away.
Similarly, a Mazda CX-9 in all-wheel-drive Touring trim wants for similar money to the Kluger, at $62,660 drive-away, while a Hyundai Santa Fe Active AWD sits somewhere between the Kodiaq and the Toyota and Mazda at $58,568 drive-away.
That makes the Kodiaq Style’s starting price of $53,990 drive-away a very attractive proposition, with even some wriggle room left over to add some optional goodies.
Our test car came fitted with two – the $2200 Tech Pack that adds in dynamic chassis with drive modes, park assist, off-road mode, and the sleep package with sunshades for the rear window and rear headrests with fold-out wings; and the $6700 Luxury Pack that adds matrix LED headlights, tri-zone climate control, lane assist with adaptive lane guidance, electric front seats with memory function, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear outboard seats, and leather seat trim.
Along with its hue of $770 Moon White metallic paint, our test Kodiaq rolls out of the showroom and into your driveway for $63,660.
Unless you’re planning to regularly venture off-road or throw the Kodiaq at some corners in a meaningful way, you could save yourself a couple of grand and do away with the Tech Pack. The Luxury Pack, on the other hand, lifts what is an already impressive experience to another level, and makes it a compelling proposition when compared against some of its heavy-hitting rivals.
| Key details | 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style |
| Price | $53,990 drive-away |
| Colour of test car | Moon White |
| Options | Tech Pack – $2200 – Adaptive suspension – Hands-free tailgate opening – Park assist – Off-road mode – Sunshades for rear window – Rear fold-out headrests Luxury Pack – $6700 – Matrix LED headlights – Tri-zone climate control – Lane assist – Electric front seats with memory – Leather seat upholstery – Ventilated front seats – Front and rear heated seats – Massage function front seats – Exterior mirrors with memory function – Auto-dimming rear-view mirror Metallic paint – $770 |
| Price as tested | $63,660 drive-away |
| Rivals | Toyota Kluger | Mazda CX-9 | Hyundai Santa Fe |
How much space does the Skoda Kodiaq have inside?
It’s familiar territory inside the Kodiaq, the usual Skoda hallmarks evident even at a glance.
The cabin remains nicely understated, a clean design that is pleasing to the eye. The contrast-stitched dashtop looks great, while the grey marle accents on the door trims and dash add a contemporary air. Its seats are comfortable and with electric adjustment, thanks to the optional Luxury Pack, finding the ideal driving position is a cinch.
We love the new steering wheel – finished in perforated leather – which has incorporated rollers (instead of more traditional switches) for controlling some of the Kodiaq’s infotainment functions. The rollers fall easily under thumb and make for a more intuitive user experience.
Dual-zone climate control is standard, although our optioned-up Kodiaq wears tri-zone. But no matter the number of zones, accessing those functions via the chunky and tactile dials located just under the 9.2-inch infotainment screen is a tactile pleasure. No fancy touch-sensitive sliders, no menus and sub-menus buried three-deep inside a screen. Bravo.
The usual Skoda touches are ever-present, including flocked door bins (to minimise the annoying rattles of stowed objects), a small litter bin for when you just don’t know what to do with your gum or lolly wrapper, the ubiquitous umbrella located inside the driver’s door, and even a handy little slot for the Kodiaq’s key in the centre console.
And flip-out door protectors are a nice touch, helping to cushion the blow of doors hitting objects (such as another car) if they’re too close or you’re a little careless. Skoda knows how to package interiors. This one’s no different.
The second row is generous in germs of space, with seats that slide fore and aft, as well as featuring reclining seat backs for extra comfort. Tablet holders in the front seat backs are great for kids on long road trips, while separate climate controls (optional) will keep them cosy, as will the optional heated seats.
Not so smart is the lack of USB charging options, those confined to the second row left to squabble over the lone 12V plug if they want to keep devices topped up.
While the second row remains spacious and comfortable, the same can’t be said for row three, which is awkward to clamber into and tight on space once there. Leg and knee room are compromised, although headroom is surprisingly decent. Still, think of the Kodiaq as a 5+2 and you’d be on the money, seats six and seven best saved for occasional use.
It’s better news in the cargo area where there’s a small but acceptable 270L of space available with all three rows of seating in use. That expands to 765L with the third row stowed and a mammoth 2005L with both rows folded away.
A word to the wise, though, folding the second row will necessitate the seat being slid back into its rearmost position, otherwise the headrests will catch on the front seat backs. It’s a mild annoyance at first, but one you’d get accustomed to with prolonged ownership.
A space-saver spare lives under the floor that also features a handy compartment for storing the cargo blind when not in use.
| 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style | |
| Seats | Seven |
| Boot volume | 270L to third row 765L to second row 2005L to first row |
| Length | 4697mm |
| Width | 1882mm |
| Height | 1660mm |
| Wheelbase | 2790mm |
Does the Skoda Kodiaq have Apple CarPlay?
A slick 9.2-inch touchscreen housed nicely inside the dash anchors the Skoda Kodiaq’s infotainment system. It’s a decent set-up, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as inbuilt satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity (for those who eschew smartphone mirroring).
Wireless phone charging is also standard, while a pair of USB Type C points and a single 12V plug provide options for charging and connectivity. There are no USB points in the second row, however, which is a bit of a misstep in our opinion.
The touchscreen looks sharp, and its simple menu structure makes for an easy and intuitive user experience.
As 12-speaker premium Canton sound system was previously available as part of the Tech Pack, but it’s been deleted for now owing to the global semiconductor shortage. That has seen the Tech Pack drop in price (from $2900 to $2200). You’ll have to make do with the standard audio system; speaker count undisclosed.
Missing in action? DAB+ radio, which continues to confound us. Surely, including digital radio doesn’t carry a huge cost impost. It’s long been a gripe with the wider Volkswagen Group, with the eponymous VW brand only adding DAB+ to its range earlier this year. Is Skoda next in line? We hope so.
But the Kodiaq claws back a lot of points for its excellent digital driver display which, borrowing from Volkswagen Group stablemate Audi, it has dubbed ‘Virtual Cockpit’. As well as providing sharp graphics and clear instrumentation, its configurable functionality is easy to use and offers a breadth of information, literally under your thumb via the steering-wheel-mounted controls.
From simple data such as speed and engine revolutions to full-screen route guidance, we reckon Skoda has outdone its more premium Audi sibling in how it’s implemented this tech. Its clean and uncluttered interface, as well as the wealth of information it can access, is delightful to behold.
Is the Skoda Kodiaq a safe car?
The Kodiaq earned a five-star ANCAP safety rating back in 2017 when the model first launched. It scored an excellent 92 per cent for adult occupant protection, 77 per cent for child occupant, 62 per cent vulnerable road user, and a middling 54 per cent for its safety assist systems.
The global chip shortage means some technologies like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and surround-view cameras have been deleted for now. And they’re usually only available as part of the $6700 optional Luxury Pack, one area where we believe Skoda has missed the mark.
That leaves autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors doing the heavy lifting. There’s also a driver attention monitor, and our test car was fitted with lane-keeping assist as part of the aforementioned Luxury Pack.
The safety of occupants shouldn’t, to our mind, be optional, certainly not with a starting price the other side of $50K. If the product planning spreadsheet fell in our laps, we’d make wireless smartphone mirroring optional and bundle in extra safety tech as standard.
Nine airbags cover all three rows of occupants.
| 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2017) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
How much does the Skoda Kodiaq cost to maintain?
Skoda covers the Kodiaq with its standard five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. That balloons out to seven years’ surety with the purchase of a seven-year prepaid service pack priced at $2700.
Five years of scheduled servicing can also be prepaid for $1800, not unreasonable. The Kodiaq’s servicing schedule is every 15,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.
In something of a novelty, Skoda also offers a monthly subscription for servicing. It’s not the most cost-effective way to keep your Kodiaq spick and speck.
The Essential plan starts at $44.50 per month for the first 36 months, swelling to $89 per month thereafter. Over five years of ownership that runs to $3738, or just shy of $2000 more than the prepaid service plan.
A Complete Plan paints an even grimmer picture, $59.50 per month for the first 36 months ballooning to $118 per month thereafter. Total over five years? Try $4974. That outlay does cover all consumables, including tyres, brake rotors, wiper blades and the like, something prepaid service packs typically don’t cover. And monthly plans also offer a courtesy car for the duration of the service.
Comprehensive insurance runs to $1254.17 per annum on a comparative quote from one of Australia’s leading insurers and based on a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW – insurance estimates may vary based on your location and driving history.
| At a glance | 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style |
| Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1800 (3 years) $2700 (5 years) |
Is the Skoda Kodiaq fuel-efficient?
Skoda says the Kodiaq Style will use 8.2L/100km of 95-octane unleaded on the combined cycle.
Our week, covering a typical-use-case scenario saw an indicated 8.5L/100km. That’s a decent return against Skoda’s claim. The fuel tank measures in at 60L.
The Kodiaq Style emits a claimed 186 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 8.2L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 8.5L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 60L |
What is the Skoda Kodiaq like to drive?
The turbocharged 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet makes a middling 132kW and a meaty 320Nm. And it’s the torque figure that ensures the Kodiaq is no slouch.
Whether moving off from standstill or accelerating on the motorway, there’s a pleasing surge available under foot. Every single one of those 320Nm are available from 1400–3940rpm, giving the Kodiaq a nicely fat torque curve to play with.
A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic sends drive to all four wheels, and it’s here we face a mild annoyance. As can be typical of dual-clutch transmissions – although as the tech has evolved, increasingly less so – there are signs of hesitation when moving away from standstill. It’s mild, and it can be driven around by flicking the gear selector into ‘S’ for Sport, but doing so brings a level of enthusiasm to the drivetrain that can prove counter-intuitive around town.
Out on the open road, however, that enthusiasm comes to the fore, the Kodiaq, even in this entry-level specification, a willing participant in some spirited driving. The steering feels sharp, the throttle response (in Sport mode) excellent, and its ability to remain flat through some more adventurous cornering commendable.
That’s partially down to the adaptive suspension fitted to our test car as part of the optional Tech Pack, which makes a decent fist of keeping the big SUV lithe and connected to the road.
Its true test, though, comes in Normal and Comfort drive modes, the dampers doing a good job of isolating the cabin from most minor road nasties and bumps. Cabin noise, too, is kept to an acceptable level.
And while the transmission does display some hesitancy from standstill, once out on the move there are no such signs. Instead, the DSG is commendable for its slick and intuitive shifts, keeping the Kodiaq within the right rev range to exploit its healthy dollop of torque.
Sitting at cruising speeds does little to fluster the Kodiaq. It’s easy to imagine this could be a decent tool for family road trips, the big SUV settling into a relaxed and easy 110km/h while chewing up the kays in comfort and quiet.
| Key details | 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style |
| Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 132kW @ 3900–6000rpm |
| Torque | 320Nm @ 1400–3940rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 75kW/t |
| Weight (tare) | 1750kg |
| Spare tyre type | Space-saver |
| Tow rating | 2000kg braked 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 12.2m |
Should I buy a Skoda Kodiaq?
It’s hard not to suggest the Kodiaq is a sensible choice for buyers in the large SUV segment. At its core, the Kodiaq Style is well-priced – certainly against the big sellers in the segment.
But those options soon add up, and the exclusion of some fundamental safety technologies shouldn’t be overlooked. Other quibbles include the lack of digital radio, while the hesitancy from the DSG from standstill can grate a little. And the third row, as handy as it is, is best saved for short-haul trips only.
But, as a large SUV capable of ferrying five in comfort, the Kodiaq presents a decent case for consideration.
From its stylish interior and its practical touches to its mostly impeccable road manners, the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style will serve the large SUV needs of a lot of buyers.
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