The new Skoda Kodiaq SUV has finally been unveiled at a glitzy ceremony in the German capital of Berlin.
Using design cues taken from the latest Superb, the Kodiaq features sharp creases and angular lights, as well as the brand’s trademark vertically-barred grille.
Inside, the SUV boasts a best-in-class seats-down luggage bay of 2,065 litres, which shrinks to 720 litres with the second row upright. Higher-spec cars will also be offered with seven seats.
A new infotainment system is a prominent feature, with the standard ‘Swing’ 6.5-inch touchscreen radio system of basic cars replaced by an eight-inch unit on more luxurious variants. It boasts an in-car communication system that picks up the driver’s voice and plays it back through the rear speakers so passengers can better understand, as well as a special off-road display and an optional wireless hotspot.
There’s a new suite of driver assistance gizmos, too, in the form of a 360-degree top-down manoeuvring camera; a trailer assistance system, which takes over the steering when reversing a trailer or caravan, and a so-called crew protection system, which can detect an impending accident and pre-tension the seatbelts, in addition to closing the windows and sunroof.
At launch, the engine range will consist of two diesels and three petrols, with capacities ranging between 1.4 and 2.0 litres. The most economical of the five is the 148bhp diesel, which returns 56.5mpg and 131g/km.
Two 1.4-litre petrols sit at the foot of the range, both featuring Active Cylinder Technology, which allows them to cut two cylinders under light load in a bid to improve economy, while at the other end of the spectrum are the 2.0-litre 178bhp petrol and the 188bhp diesel.
The standard gearbox will be a six-speed manual, but an automatic will also be available with either six or seven speeds, depending on the engine, while four-wheel drive will be offered on the more powerful 2.0-litre units.
jmckeown@thecourier.co.uk