I have been driving my Kodiaq for just over a week and I am one very happy customer. Having read the comments of other owners I had quite high expectations and have certainly not been disappointed. As many have said already the first thing you notice is the comfortable and smooth ride around town, on winding country roads and motorways. It definitely feels and drives like a premium car in my opinion. All the features and equipment work very well once you get used to them and combine to make journeys relaxing and enjoyable.
I have been driving manual diesels for the last 20 years but decided to move to the DSG 150 diesel as it suits my driving style. I have read quite a few comments about the DSG being slow off the mark but I completely disagree. In eco mode with stop start activated the car will turn off the engine just before you come to a halt at traffic lights. You sit there all quiet and relaxed waiting for the amber and then squeeze the accelerator and before the green you are on your way. If you are in sport mode by the time the DSG hits 3rd you are way ahead of everybody else. A small turn of the wheel when you are at a red light will start the engine if you want to be even quicker off the mark. I honestly can't see why anyone would want a faster car; I even left a BMW for dead that seemed keen to beat me away from one set of lights.
In terms of real world consumption, I have been very impressed with how frugal the Kodiaq has been in the first week. I was expecting around 40mpg from the 150 diesel DSG 4x4, but I am achieving much better than that. Most of my journeys have been between 7 and 20 miles with 2 to 4 people on winding A roads, around town and short runs on the motorway. I have mostly been using eco mode with the odd blast in sport mode for a bit of fun. The worst consumption was 44.1mpg and the best 57.6mpg. My last 5 journeys have all been over 50mpg. After only 250 miles I have averaged 48.7mpg.
Area View works very well with the front and rear sensors and is both helpful and reassuring when you are manoeuvring in tight spots. Blind spot detection is very helpful and will flash in your mirrors and vibrate the wheel if you try and pull out or move back in when there is another car in your path.
Car play works very well as does the DAB radio; I have only lost DAB reception once so far. The standard audio quality is really very good and is plenty loud enough for me.
I have managed to activate the front assist warning and braking a couple of times on one particular uphill sharp bend but have learned to keep applying small steering movements so the Kodiaq knows I am in control and this avoids the front assist being activated.
The combination of drive modes and active suspension give the Kodiaq very different personalities. In Eco mode (normal suspension setting) the car is very quiet and relaxed, coasting whenever you lift off the throttle. In comfort mode you seem to float along the road soaking up the undulations and surfaces. Some have said the Kodiaq wallows too much in comfort mode, but this may be if you are pressing on which you won't be in comfort mode, so I like it as do the passengers. Sport mode stiffens up the car quite a bit and is not a mode I will be using a lot but when you want to have some fun on roads with good surfaces you can do so and then knock it back into eco mode with the gear lever and relax again. I find the normal suspension setting allows the Kodiaq to handle very well and in all modes the amount of roll around corners is very small for a car of this size.
The adaptive LED lights are simply fantastic. The light is pure white and on unlit roads makes me feel very safe as I can see everything and everybody else can see me!
Overall this is one fantastic car. Never bought a Skoda before but I will certainly be recommending the Kodiaq to anyone considering an SUV.
I have been driving manual diesels for the last 20 years but decided to move to the DSG 150 diesel as it suits my driving style. I have read quite a few comments about the DSG being slow off the mark but I completely disagree. In eco mode with stop start activated the car will turn off the engine just before you come to a halt at traffic lights. You sit there all quiet and relaxed waiting for the amber and then squeeze the accelerator and before the green you are on your way. If you are in sport mode by the time the DSG hits 3rd you are way ahead of everybody else. A small turn of the wheel when you are at a red light will start the engine if you want to be even quicker off the mark. I honestly can't see why anyone would want a faster car; I even left a BMW for dead that seemed keen to beat me away from one set of lights.
In terms of real world consumption, I have been very impressed with how frugal the Kodiaq has been in the first week. I was expecting around 40mpg from the 150 diesel DSG 4x4, but I am achieving much better than that. Most of my journeys have been between 7 and 20 miles with 2 to 4 people on winding A roads, around town and short runs on the motorway. I have mostly been using eco mode with the odd blast in sport mode for a bit of fun. The worst consumption was 44.1mpg and the best 57.6mpg. My last 5 journeys have all been over 50mpg. After only 250 miles I have averaged 48.7mpg.
Area View works very well with the front and rear sensors and is both helpful and reassuring when you are manoeuvring in tight spots. Blind spot detection is very helpful and will flash in your mirrors and vibrate the wheel if you try and pull out or move back in when there is another car in your path.
Car play works very well as does the DAB radio; I have only lost DAB reception once so far. The standard audio quality is really very good and is plenty loud enough for me.
I have managed to activate the front assist warning and braking a couple of times on one particular uphill sharp bend but have learned to keep applying small steering movements so the Kodiaq knows I am in control and this avoids the front assist being activated.
The combination of drive modes and active suspension give the Kodiaq very different personalities. In Eco mode (normal suspension setting) the car is very quiet and relaxed, coasting whenever you lift off the throttle. In comfort mode you seem to float along the road soaking up the undulations and surfaces. Some have said the Kodiaq wallows too much in comfort mode, but this may be if you are pressing on which you won't be in comfort mode, so I like it as do the passengers. Sport mode stiffens up the car quite a bit and is not a mode I will be using a lot but when you want to have some fun on roads with good surfaces you can do so and then knock it back into eco mode with the gear lever and relax again. I find the normal suspension setting allows the Kodiaq to handle very well and in all modes the amount of roll around corners is very small for a car of this size.
The adaptive LED lights are simply fantastic. The light is pure white and on unlit roads makes me feel very safe as I can see everything and everybody else can see me!
Overall this is one fantastic car. Never bought a Skoda before but I will certainly be recommending the Kodiaq to anyone considering an SUV.
