√2022 Skoda Kodiaq review: Australian launch

The fantastic Skoda Kodiaq has been given the midlife update it deserves, and we take two of the three new variants for a spin.

What we love

New turbo petrol Kodiaq RS is fantastic
Comfortable and quiet, like a family car should be
Still the choice for an overly pragmatic family

What we don’t

Safety tech is on the options list
Looks a little dated inside
No diesel option

Introduction

The Skoda Kodiaq is one of my personal favourite seven-seat SUVs.

I honestly believe the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq may be the goldilocks car for the average-sized Australian family. Sure, it sits in the Large SUV class according to VFACTS, but it’s actually a pinch smaller than key rivals like this year’s Drive Car of the Year class-winning Toyota Kluger, the Kia Sorento, and Mazda CX-9.

However, internally it’s larger than all of those three cars. That’s just the start of why the brand’s first SUV is simply clever, and also why it deserved the update it did. It remained largely unchanged in Australia since 2017, with new models like the diesel-only Kodiaq RS added in the years since.

Now having undergone a midlife update, Skoda Australia took the opportunity to tweak and adjust the Kodiaq SUV range based on things like the current market, foreseeable production constraints from the semiconductor shortage, and customer demand.

Off the back of such analysis, one change is a 180kW/370Nm turbo petrol engine for the 2022 Kodiaq RS model that replaces its mediocre diesel driveline from before.

Let’s discover what’s new with the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq range, its pricing, and what two of the three versions offered in Australia are like to drive.

Key details	2022 Skoda Kodiaq
Price	From $52,990 drive-away
Colour of test car	Race Blue metallic
Options	–
Price as tested	$74,990 drive-away (Kodiaq RS)
Rivals	Kia Sorento \| Mazda CX-9 \| Toyota Kluger

Inside

In light of the current production constraints, Skoda has attempted to keep options to a minimum and ensure the breadwinners in the range are a relatively simple affair.

The 2022 Skoda Kodiaq is offered in the same three models as before: Style, Sportline, and RS. All models in the range are powered by the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, which in Style and Sportline trim makes 132kW/320Nm, and in RS trim 180kW/370Nm.

All three cars in the range use the same wet-clutch seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and are all-wheel drive.

The 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style is the entry-level model and starts from $52,990 drive-away. On top of things like an electric tailgate, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus the brand’s latest 9.2-inch infotainment system, the facelifted model gains new interior ambient lighting, an improved version of Skoda’s digital instrument cluster and USB-C charging points.

That’s on top of completely new styling front to back and tweaks made to the chassis underneath. Three options can be fitted: a Tech Pack ($3000), a Luxury Pack ($6500), and a panoramic sunroof ($1900).

As the sunroof is self-explanatory, the Tech Pack adds adaptive suspension with adjustable stiffness and off-road mode, a fantastic 12-speaker Canton sound system, and foot-operated operating of the standard-fit electric tailgate.

The latter provides a whole host of upgrades, not limited to: Matrix LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, heated and ventilated front seats, 360-degree parking camera, three-zone climate control, and plenty more.

Next up in the range is the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline. This middle-trim model is expected to be the second-best seller in the range, as it essentially takes what’s good about the entry-level Kodiaq style and makes it fancy.

The biggest gets for coughing up $5000 more – or paying $57,990 drive-away – are styling, design and tech upgrades. On the outside, the Sportline model receives a fully painted front bumper (it makes a big difference!), 20-inch wheels, and Matrix LED headlights as standard.

Other performance extras include a sporty progressive steering rack as standard, an onboard performance monitor, and drive-mode selection out of the box.

Inside, an Ultrasuede or ‘Suedia’ trim is used for its seats and door panels, and it also comes with a nice-looking three-spoke sports steering wheel. Options are similar to before, with a Tech Pack ($2900) adding the same things as before, and a Luxury Pack ($3700) adding the same stuff as before, sans Matrix LED headlights, as they come as standard.

You can also have a sunroof ($1900) or swap the suede seats for leather ones with added ventilation ($1900).

Sitting at the top of the range, and expected to become nearly half of all sales, is the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq RS. Offered for $74,990 drive-away with no other decision to make other than picking a free colour from a list, it’s clear that Skoda believes the RS will be the pick for its clients.

Compared to the outgoing and very popular 2021 Skoda Kodiaq RS diesel, it has the most revisions. The biggest changes are the introduction of a more powerful 2.0-litre petrol engine and the stacking on of equipment.

Things like front and rear heated seats, manoeuvre brake assist, traffic jam assist, and even a spare wheel have been added as standard to the package. That last point is a huge one, too, as it shows Skoda has sweated the details to make the Skoda Kodiaq RS assimilate better here in Australia.

As a final note, the new RS makes 4kW more, is nearly half a second faster to 100km/h, and is now Skoda’s most powerful SUV in Australia.

	2022 Skoda Kodiaq
Seats	Seven
Boot volume	270L seven seats up / 765L third row folded / 2005L second row folded
Length	4697–4699mm
Width	1882mm
Height	1655–1685mm
Wheelbase	2790–2971mm

Infotainment and Connectivity

Every version of 2022 Skoda Kodiaq uses the same 9.2-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, voice control, and two USB-C inputs.

Despite its software interface looking cheap, and as if Skoda’s programmers had raided an archive of poor stock imagery, the hardware is powerful enough to support a decent resolution rate and reacts quickly to inputs.

The addition of wireless charging alongside Apple CarPlay makes the interior a genuinely cable-free affair, and we can report the Qi wireless charging pad does not cook your phone when using wireless Apple CarPlay like it once used to.

Previously, we’ve experienced Qi wireless chargers making phones so hot that wireless Apple CarPlay begins to slow down, and even crash the car’s infotainment system, given it’s simply mirroring what’s on your phone.

As a test, I left my phone in the wireless charging bay and used Apple CarPlay heavily for two hours straight – still in a Spigen wireless-charging-capable case – and it never once got too hot to operate or slow down.

If you’re not buying the top-of-the-range RS, you should still consider the Tech Pack for its 12-speaker Canton sound system. Having been upgraded for the facelifted model with an extra two speakers, it is now even better than it already was.

Although it lacks some clarity, it faithfully reproduced Jane’s Addiction’s Just Because by placing Dave Navarro’s melodic guitar licks front and centre, and provided Incubus’s 11am the room to sound big, ambient and atmospheric.

Safety and Technology

The 2022 Skoda Kodiaq range is covered by a five-star ANCAP safety rating having been tested back in 2017.

However, some advanced driver-assist systems do not come as standard. What does come on all models are nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking front and rear, and parking sensors at both ends.

Things like adaptive lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring remain optional on both the Skoda Kodiaq Style and Kodiaq Sportline models.

In the case of the entry-level Kodiaq Style, the options package for the extra safety kit costs $6500. On the more expensive Kodiaq Sportline model it costs $3700. Consider it a must-have package.

The flagship Skoda Kodiaq RS comes fully loaded with every piece of safety kit on offer.

	2022 Skoda Kodiaq
ANCAP rating	Five stars (tested 2017)
Safety report	Link to ANCAP report

Value for Money

Skoda has upgraded its service and aftersales package to suit today’s modern consumer.

On top of offering a subscription-based servicing model, customers can buy five- or seven-year service packs too. A five-year service pack costs $1800 on regular Skoda Kodiaq models, and $2000 on the Skoda Kodiaq RS. A seven-year service pack costs $2700/$2900 respectively.

At a glance	2022 Skoda Kodiaq
Warranty	Five years / unlimited km
Service intervals	12 months or 15,000km
Servicing costs	$1800/$2000 (5 years), $2700/$2900 (7 years)

If you wish to subscribe via monthly payments instead, prices vary on the distance you travel. For example, if you expect to cover 15,000km each year, it costs $44.50 per month for the first three years, then $89 per month for the remaining two.

If you add tyres into your maintenance plan, prices increase to $59/$118 respectively. It’s worth noting that the subscription pricing can also be run through a salary sacrifice scheme, meaning you can pay for it with pre-tax dollars with the right financial arrangement.

It also includes benefits like a courtesy vehicle at every service, and every possible item including brake fluid, wipers and batteries.

Fuel Usage	Fuel Stats
Fuel cons. (claimed)	8.2L/100km – Kodiaq Style
Fuel cons. (on test)	7.5L/100km
Fuel type	95-octane premium unleaded
Fuel tank size	60L

Find your nearest bp

Driving

For the launch, we spent half a day driving an entry-level yet fully optioned 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style from North Sydney’s busy central business district out to the Southern Highlands area of New South Wales. After an hour or so commute down different motorway surfaces, you arrive on fast, flowing and beautiful country roads.

The drive program saw us tackle the immediate roads around Bendooley Estate in Berrima with the entry-level Kodiaq Style, then swap into the Kodiaq RS to do the same thing before heading back into Sydney.

First cab off the rank is the entry-level model, however, and it’s probably all the car a contemporary Australian family needs. Performance from the 2.0-litre turbo four is good enough with just myself on board, but it’s the 320Nm torque figure that’ll likely save you most with a few kids on board.

The total torque figure is also lathered on for over 3500rpm in full, meaning the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style still has a relatively thick and fat powerband despite being the entry-level model.

It’s also the same engine used in the mid-spec Kodiaq Sportline model, too, just in case you’re wondering. One thing I will reserve judgment on is what it’s like carrying four adults until we get one into the Drive garage for more thorough testing. Still, it feels punchy off the mark, and largely because it has seven nice and easily spread gear ratios to work with.

Although the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic used in the Kodiaq employs wet clutches – the type known to be smoother than dry-clutch transmissions – it still suffers from some ever-so-slight low-speed hesitation issues. Up a slight, off-camber hill where a quick burst of acceleration was needed, the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style took a while to get its act right and move me through the intersection.

Given how good dual-clutch calibrations are nowadays, it’s a small quibble but worthy of a mention. Our entry-level Kodiaq Style test car was equipped with the optional Tech package that includes adaptive suspension.

In the typical Volkswagen Group way, the system works well and suffers from brand hierarchy issues. Whereas more modern Volkswagen and Audi suspension products have a huge spectrum of operation from soft to stiff, to intervals in between, the Kodiaq just offers soft and slightly firmer.

It’s not a real issue, however, as both tunes are fantastic for Australia. In comfort mode, the ride comfort is brilliant, and the noise suppression material another critical part of the premium step-up play.

Despite wearing decent rubber, the cabin inside is wonderfully quiet and vibration-free. Things like road-surface changes were less obvious than usual. Out of the big smoke and through a country lane it still feels calm and composed, but when pushed it will feel heavy.

It would have no problem tackling country road trips, and could deal with the odd unsealed road even if it’s a bit rocky. However, it’s for someone who wants fuss-free motoring, unlike the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq RS that appeals to those chasing a bit of exhilaration too.

Even though ‘performance’ and ‘SUV’ somewhat juxtapose each other, it’s always nice when a brand gets it just about right. The 2022 Skoda Kodiaq RS is finally that car having ditched the oddly geared diesel powertrain and overly stiff suspension tune.

This new 2.0-litre petrol car is far more of a peach, and sweeter in every way than before. Not only is it more powerful, but it’s half a second faster to 100km/h. It’s also smoother and far more modern, which overall makes it pretty much better in every way.

On top of that, the suspension tune in the Skoda Kodiaq RS feels better than before. In the regular comfort mode – and like the entry-level Kodiaq Style – it’ll have a tendency to reveal its weight quicker than you’d think. Call it passive safety from the brand most loved by anoraks.

However, in sport mode the Kodiaq RS will give back more than the others. It’s enough to keep you happy on a quick back-road jaunt by staying stable and planted, but also feels fast out of the corners thanks to its punchy turbo petrol powertrain.

The gearing of its seven-speed dual-clutch is now better aligned for Australia, as it always felt like the old diesel Kodiaq RS was geared to cruise at speeds we don’t often use in Australia.

Given how bloody practical and ‘just right’ the package is, adding a slice of performance just makes it better. I can imagine most who buy the RS won’t carve corners like the few I did, but it’s the sensation of torque, power and stability that will no doubt get people over the line.

It also looks fantastic, despite the weird basket-weave aero-looking 20-inch wheels. It makes fake engine noises, which I have to admit are not half-bad, and its seats are far more sporty than the car is, but both of those things are okay too.

The RS still maintains the good ride comfort and noise suppression found in the entry-level model, but is far better and faster than the old Kodiaq RS diesel it replaces.

Key details	2022 Skoda Kodiaq
Engine	2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power	132kW @ 3900–6000rpm / 180kW @ 5250–6500rpm (RS)
Torque	320Nm @ 1400–3940rpm / 370Nm @ 1600–4300rpm (RS)
Drive type	All-wheel drive
Transmission	Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power to weight ratio	75.4kW/t / 100.6kW/t (RS)
Weight (tare)	1750–1790kg
Tow rating	2000kg braked, 750kg unbraked
Turning circle	12.2m

Conclusion

Overall, the improvements made across the range help keep the Skoda Kodiaq fresh and competitive in 2022’s marketplace.

The Sportline model also looks quite appealing, but we sadly didn’t get time to drive it on the day. Given it sits as a halfway point between the entry-level Kodiaq Style and Kodiaq RS, it may be the ideal value pick for the style-conscious and European car customer.

The biggest surprise of the lot is the breadwinning 2022 Skoda Kodiaq RS, however, as it’s finally become the performance SUV it was always destined to be.

We plan to get each and every Skoda Kodiaq through the Drive garage for reviews in Sydney and Melbourne, so stay tuned for more detailed coverage in the coming months.