Skoda confirms UK price for new Kodiaq vRS
The latest big easy comes with 265hp and seven seats as standard. But cheap it ain't...
It’s very likely that the Skoda Kodiaq is one of those cars: beloved by those who own one for its size and typically thought-out functionality, and considered a bit much by those who don’t. Mainly for its size. The vRS version is the same but more so because it implies a go-faster attitude. And with 265hp installed in the newest derivative - and the most torque in any current combustion-powered Skoda - the flagship has the trouser length to back this up. Which, in an exclusively seven-seat model, is fairly hard to come by.
Accordingly, Skoda UK probably expects repeat buyers to fall on the new vRS like it were a tennis ball in a dog kennel. Which would explain the pricing. We suggested it would be knocking on the door of 50 grand when the car was revealed last year, but we were wrong - the new vRS starts at £52,595. This is a large enough figure to draw in plenty of similarly-sized rivals, not least the retro-inspired and hybridised Hyundai Santa Fe. But the Santa Fe does not get the 2.0-litre TSI from a Golf GTI, nor come with a sporty badge. That combination will likely be good enough for some.
For the happy few, a predictable layer of vRS goodness is all present and correct: inside, you get model-specific seats, a sports steering wheel and plenty of black microsuede; outside, there’s a redesigned front bumper, 20-inch wheels and stainless steel exhaust tips. Underneath, uprated brakes and adaptive chassis control are standard equipment alongside quicker reacting progressive steering. There’s even an Off-Road mode to take full advantage of the all-wheel-drive system, should repeatedly charging to 62mph in 6.4 seconds prove insufficiently fulfilling.
There is a kicker, though. Likely conscious that asking a non-devotee to part with more than 50 big ones for a Kodiaq is going to send them all to Hyundai’s front door, Skoda has introduced a new petrol engine to the line-up - for £45,255 (coincidentally what you would’ve paid for a vRS back in 2021) you can now have a seven-seat, all-paw SE L with a 204hp 2.0-litre TSI. For £47,755, you can have it in Sportline trim, which (not coincidentally at all) undercuts the £49,255 you’ll pay for a seven-seat, AWD 215hp Santa Fe. Either way, order books open on January 16th.
Both serve different niches to the Golf R, which also uses the same engine - so why restrict them so much?
BMW seats 4-5 with little room in the back for adults and a small door opening. The Kodiaq takes 5 adults, 2 kids and a dog no problem.
When a lower powered petrol Skoda costs over £50k, then the German stuff and faster & higher performance cars WILL COST MORE than this.
"OMG a 600+ bhp Hyundai costs £60k "
Time to move on folks !
te?I feel like Chinese stuff will be the default for cheap and (hopefully) cheerful before too long.
On a personal note I really like it but How the times have changed eh?
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