Skoda Kodiaq live and unleashed

Grin and bear it - Skoda's joined the SUV set

From the beaming board members and their scripted corporate platitudes to the trapeze artists swinging above, awkward interview with a sporting celebrity (1987 Tour de France winner Stephen Roche in this case) and even a specially composed song, the glitzy launch of the new Skoda Kodiaq ticked all the boxes for A Big Unveiling. Which is kind of appropriate because it's a big car, both physically and in what it represents for Skoda.

Admittedly seven-seater school-run SUVs are not a PH staple. But for those generally wary of the whole rush to tower above other road users Skoda's anti-snobbery appeal might just be enough to offset the unease. Certainly there's an unpretentious fitness for purpose at the heart of most of the brand's cars, not least the Octavia vRS we've been running on the PH Fleet for the past few months. If a sense of that car's 'does what it says on the tin' honesty can be combined with the 4x4 attributes the world seems in thrall to Skoda could be onto a winner.

There was certainly no lack of bluster at the launch event. From the mayor of the Alaskan city of Kodiak - cringingly shown rebranding itself as 'Kodiaq' in a promo film for the unveiling - to the entire Skoda board it was smiles all round. With occasional bear noises over the PA system, just to hammer the point home the new car will be as tough as its namesake. Though hopefully a little less carnivorous.

Anyway. To the car. Of all the related MQB-platformed crossovers the Kodiaq is by far the largest, being 4.7 metres overall in length. This makes it 337mm longer than a SEAT Ateca and over 200mm longer than a VW Tiguan, freeing up space for a seven-seat option and enough interior space to fulfil all your lifestyle aspirations, at least if the promo vids are anything to go by.

Engines comprise the usual TDI and TSI choices, topped by a 190hp diesel and 180hp petrol both coming with all-wheel drive and a brand-new wet clutch seven-speed DSG as standard. Lower spec versions, including a 150hp 1.4 petrol, use a variety of six-speed manuals and six- or seven-speed DSG and can be had in front- or all-wheel drive. For its size a kerbweight of just over 1,600kg for a 1.4 TSI all-wheel drive is pretty impressive. In its most potent form it'll tow up to 2,500kg, meaning it'll be well up to pulling your track day toy of choice to the circuit if you wish to apply a more PH measure of 'lifestyle'.

The styling is solid, if perhaps not quite as inspirational as claimed in the presentations at the launch. There's a nice balance between SUV swagger and typical Skoda modesty and some clever touches, some stylish like the web-like detailing in the rear lights and others functional (or 'Simply Clever' in Skoda speak) like the ice scraper in the fuel flap and neat pop-out door protectors. At the moment Skoda is pushing a Superb-like premium vibe; a spokesman said a more off-road inspired 'Outdoor' version (as offered on the Yeti) wouldn't be an impossibility further down the line.

Pricing is to be confirmed but, for comparison, the Ateca range starts at £17,990 and the Tiguan at £22,510. The equivalent versions of the key 190hp TDI engine with DSG and all-wheel drive are £29,990 and £31,760 respectively, leaving the Skoda some wriggle room to nestle between its two related stablemates. Given its extra size if you choose 'metal for the money' as your measure of value the Kodiaq will be ahead of the SEAT and VW by some margin.

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lord trumpton

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