Kodiaq Was Highly Anticipated — and It Became an Event
The Kodiaq promotional campaign began in the spring of 2016. I clearly remember the huge bear featured in the first teasers and the crossover hidden under a thick cover. On the one hand, marketing was doing its job — and that’s perfectly normal. On the other hand, there were genuine reasons for interest and, in some cases, even excitement. Škoda was entering a new segment for the brand — the SUV market.
People were waiting for the Kodiaq. More precisely, they were waiting to see what Škoda would bring to the crossover segment. Yes, the brand already had the Roomster. It sold reasonably well, but the Škoda Kodiaq became the company’s first true SUV.
It wasn’t just a new vehicle — it was a statement of intent and a new role for the brand.
Calm Practicality
The Škoda Kodiaq is one of the most popular midsize SUVs in Europe. Why do people choose it? In my opinion, the answer is quite simple: practicality. Nothing about this crossover is annoying. Everything is logical, everything is easy to understand, and everything works exactly as you expect.
It may sound banal, but one of Škoda’s slogans — Simply Clever — describes the Kodiaq’s character perfectly.
However, calm practicality isn’t the only reason behind its success. There’s another factor that’s hard to ignore: a sensible balance between price and quality. The Kodiaq is no longer a budget-oriented vehicle. For €45,000–50,000, buyers get not a “bare minimum” car but a wide range of choices.
Petrol or diesel, mild hybrid or plug-in hybrid, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive — it’s all available. Personally, I don’t really understand the appeal of front-wheel drive in a crossover of this size and weight, but that’s a matter of individual priorities. Clearly, those versions have their buyers as well.
Subjective and Biased
At this point, I’d like to share my personal view of the Škoda Kodiaq. In short, I wouldn’t buy one. Why?
- I’m not a fan of crossovers in this particular form factor. To me, it’s neither fish nor fowl. Off-road, its clutch-based all-wheel-drive system will overheat fairly quickly once the terrain becomes genuinely challenging. And on the highway? A 150-horsepower engine feels underpowered for a vehicle of this size. Choosing a more powerful version is an option, of course, but with such a high center of gravity, it still doesn’t sound particularly appealing to me.
- Yes, a diesel Kodiaq can tow a boat or a camper trailer quite well. But I own neither, and that’s simply not my lifestyle.
- Our children are already grown up, so we no longer need a vehicle designed to transport a large family.
- To my eye, the Kodiaq’s design is a bit too utilitarian. It lacks a distinctive spark or character.
- For parking and city traffic in general, the Kodiaq is simply too large. Managing it isn’t impossible, but why add unnecessary stress?
- And finally, the price. Fifty thousand euros… Of course, there are plenty of people who will buy a Kodiaq and never regret spending that money. But personally, with all due respect to Škoda, that’s simply too much for a Czech brand.