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Towing

12K views 17 replies 5 participants last post by  Kodiconvert 
#1 ·
Hi all

Just joined the forum and 99.9% certain I am going to place an order this week. Just curious if anyone has the 2.0 TSI and tows a 1500kg caravan and how the car/engine fares? I've been driving diesels for 20 years now but wanting to change back to petrol. Hoping it is more than adequate (and improved) now its 190bhp even though the torque is unchanged from the 180 version at 320nm (rather than the diesels 400)
 
#2 ·
No first hand experience yet. My 2.0 TSI has been produced and should be on its way to the Netherlands. According to the Belgium Skoda site the towing specs are the same as the old 2.0. It can tow 2200kg so I am hoping this is more then sufficient for my 1500kg caravan and 1800kg boat-trailer.

But would love to hear people with first hand experience in towing with the 2.0 TSI (even the "old" 180ps version)
 
#3 ·
I have a 2.0 TSI, but as yet I haven't towed my caravan, and probably won't until around April.
Although the torque figure is down on my previous Hyundai Santa Fe diesel, this car has more get up and go than the Hyundai, so I don't envisage problems. Having said that, I don't tow large distances, so how the Kodiaq will fare if you do is unknown (to me).
What I do anticipate is pretty poor fuel consumption as the Kodiaq is already around 10mpg worse than the Hyundai, even without a caravan behind.
 
#4 ·
I've read various reports of the mpg for the TSI and to be honest they appear to be similar to what I have been getting from my diesel Sorento.

As a matter of interest what mpg have you been getting?
 
#5 ·
The reasons are convoluted, but I haven't paid major attention to my mpg until recently. Thus far I've seen anywhere between 21 and 31mpg on the onboard computer, most of which has been local driving, and I have a distrust of the computer figures as all the ones I've owned previously have been optimistic.
I've just started to use the tried and tested method of brimming the tank and working out the mpg from litres used and mileage driven. The last time I filled up I'd averaged 25mpg which was again mainly local driving.
The car is capable of achieving better than that if you drive steadier than I do. I find this engine encourages spirited driving. :D
 
#7 ·
Agree that website is a little confusing. I have had it confirmed from Skoda that the towing weight is reduced from 2000kg to 1875 because I am having the pano roof, however that is not an issue for the weight i will be towing. Looking at the cars weight and the 'van it will be running at 80% so well within the 85% guideline.
 
#8 ·
old man said:
The reasons are convoluted, but I haven't paid major attention to my mpg until recently. Thus far I've seen anywhere between 21 and 31mpg on the onboard computer, most of which has been local driving, and I have a distrust of the computer figures as all the ones I've owned previously have been optimistic.
I've just started to use the tried and tested method of brimming the tank and working out the mpg from litres used and mileage driven. The last time I filled up I'd averaged 25mpg which was again mainly local driving.
The car is capable of achieving better than that if you drive steadier than I do. I find this engine encourages spirited driving. :D
Thanks for this. About what I expected - and I agree with your last sentence. I am looking forward to being able to 'make haste'!

Have you regretted the move away from the Santa Fe in any way? I read that the space inside the Kodiaq is greater than the SF and Sorento - but sitting in it and measuring the boot it is smaller!
 
#9 ·
Have you regretted the move away from the Santa Fe in any way? I read that the space inside the Kodiaq is greater than the SF and Sorento - but sitting in it and measuring the boot it is smaller!
Apart from the 5 year Hyundai guarantee, no I haven't. Don't get me wrong, the Santa Fe (2015) was a nice car and I found the seating a bit more comfortable than the Kodiaq. My seats are manual in the Kodiaq and I've read that the electric ones are better, a comment borne out by the electric seats in a previous Skoda Superb I owned which was more comfortable than my Kodiaq.

I bought the Santa Fe to replace the Superb because I thought it would tow my current caravan better, but I was wrong. The Superb and my van were a more stable combination than the Santa Fe with my van in tow. The downside with the Superb was that the car weight was a little low (although not illegal) for the caravan I have. The Kodiaq should address that as it's a heavier vehicle.

I bought my Kodiaq off the shelf, so it has no reversing camera. That's something I didn't think I'd miss, but I do. I also wish I had front parking sensors too as I'm finding this car harder to judge where the front is than the Hyundai.

In a direct comparison of driving the two vehicles with no van on the back, I much prefer the Kodiaq. It's quieter, quicker and goes round bends in a far more stable manner than the Hyundai. I have the 5 seater (as was the Hyundai) and although I haven't compared figures or taken any measurements, there certainly seems to be more passenger room front and back than the Hyundai. With regard to boot space. I took it to France last Sept just after buying it. I packed the boot with pretty much the same paraphernalia that I usually take and the boot seemed to swallow it all in much the same fashion as the Hyundai did. There's nothing scientific here, it just all went in with no drama. From memory the Hyundai boot seemed longer i.e the space between hatch door and the seat backs, whereas the Kodiaq doesn't seem as long but there's more space between the boot floor and the roof. Or at least there was until I fitted a spacesaver wheel and a false floor.

One thing to bear in mind with the Kodiaq, is that the 7 seater has a lower nose weight limit than the 5 seater, which is very aggravating if you need 7 seats and tow a van. I deliberately sought out a 5 seater because of this as my van nose weight is always around 100kgs.

Overall, and this might be due to my German heritage, I like the fact the Kodiaq has a Germanic feel to it, whereas the Hyundai still has a slightly fussy Asian feel to it. They have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years though and I certain;t wouldn't be dismayed if I had to go back to a South Korean car.

Hope this helps :)
 
#12 ·
Thinking about what I wrote yesterday regarding boot space, my observations were based on having the rear seat backs folded when going on holiday.
With the rear seat backs upright, I think the Hyundai probably had the bigger boot, which could explain why there seems to be more rear passenger space in the Kodiaq.

Once again, nothing scientific or measured here, just my impressions.
 
#13 ·
Thanks for the replies. Sorry I haven't replied sooner but for some reason I didn't get alerted to your posts nor see them before now.

Your observations are pretty much the same as mine. Re boot space in comparison to the Sorento the Kodiaq's boot space is smaller;

Rear seat to hatch S=113cm K=108
Width between inner wheel arches S=107cm K=103
Boot aperture height is also down about 40mm (but I think the inner height may be better in the Kodiaq.

Given these differences I don't understand how all the press reports/specs say the Sorento volume with seats down is 1660litres and the Kodaiq 2005l. Even so I have placed an order! The Hyundai 5yr and Kia 7 yr warranties are only valid if you plan on keeping the car that long. As I am on my 3rd Sorento since March 2015 its not of great value to me. I have plans to keep the K for 4 years and have signed up to have the 4th year warranty so i'm covered.

Thanks for the offer to meet. I have driven the 1.5TSi and was impressed so hoping the 2.0 will be even better. I am over in the East near Frome so unfortunately not that close.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for this. I have not seen these images before (despite my hours of research online). Where are they taken from, can you share the link please?
 
#16 ·
Well, last month I didn't get a definitive answer from the dealer about whether the factory fit towbar electrics were wired to provide circuits to the caravan for the fridge and charging system, so I asked Skoda Customer Services via the web. I have just received my 3rd update below.....

Message:

'Further to your recent enquiry dated 14 January 2019. I am sincerely sorry that I have not yet been able to provide an answer to this query.

I am still awaiting some information from our Product Marketing Team. I do sincerely apologise for any inconvenience which this delay may have caused. No discourtesy is intended.

I will of course provide an update as soon as I have further information'.

Kind regards

Dean Goodwin
Customer Relations Advisor

Fortunately in the meantime (and before placing my order I found a dealer that did confirm the full wiring and also reading other forum threads.
Surely its not that difficult for Skoda UK to find out - in hindsight I should of taken a wiring test kit into the showroom, lol
 
#17 ·
Kodiconvert, slightly off your topic because I tow with the 190 Tdi 7 seater, but it is the best tow car I've owned.
Still have my Volvo XC60 but the Kodiac knocks spots off it.
The factory towbar has a 13 pin electric socket carefully incorporated in the forged neck of the towbar.
Electric deployed and stowed ( tho you need push it up to click to lock it away for the last few inches).
It powers my fridge ok too.

Gas Automotive exterior Auto part Metal Fashion accessory


Automotive parking light Tire Wheel Car Automotive lighting
 

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#18 ·
Thanks Stevie.

Useful to see the eye on the tow ball for the breakaway cable to. Didn't notice that on the car in the showroom.

Must admit the socket in the base of the bar is very neat.
 
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