Challenging the norm. Brilliant City car with excellent off road ability – Skoda Kodiaq.
The Skoda Kodiaq is a mid-size family SUV praised by many for its driving experience, looks and practicality. It excels as a daily driver in the city, but what is also impressive is the Skoda Kodiaq’s off road ability. Just like its namesake the wild and powerful Alaskan Kodiak bear, the Kodiaq is safe and mighty, equally at home on and off the road.
Power & Drivetrain
Taking a look under the hood, the Skoda Kodiaq offers plenty of power in all circumstances. Both the Kodiaq and Kodiaq Sportline houses a 132kW turbocharged 2.0 TSI Petrol engine that offers up to 320Nm of torque and guarantees outstanding dynamism and high performance. It is light and efficient, with a fuel consumption of 7.5L/100km.
The Kodiaq RS is driven by the most powerful engine in the Skoda range: a turbocharged 4 cylinder 2.0 TSI diesel engine with 176kW of power and 500Nm of torque. This means you’ll know when you feel that instant accelerator response, and the extra boost in the mid-speed range. You’d never expect an SUV to be that sporty, but that’s what makes the Kodiaq RS the best of the beasts. And despite the extra grunt, the diesel is even more efficient, running at a fuel economy of just a touch over 6L/100km.
All engines are paired with a 7-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) automatic transmission that ensures quick and smooth transition between gears, and four-wheel-drive.
Tackling all Terrain. A Smart 4×4
With its generous 187mm of ground clearance, an intelligent 4×4 system, extremely rigid chassis and a set of indispensable electronic assistants specifically meant for off-road driving, the Kodiaq will take you that much further.
Owing to its ground clearance, the higher driving position always give you a clear visibility of what is happening in front of and around you, allowing you to plan your path forward and tackle all manners of terrain with ease. This perfect overview is complemented by the customisable Virtual Cockpit (ie. digital instrument panel) which offers a choice of five display layouts. The Dynamic Chassis Control and Driving Mode Select allow you to match the car’s characteristics to your mood, offering Normal, Sport, Eco, Comfort (requires DCC), Snow and Off-Road (both only with 4×4 drive) modes. The progressive steering, delivering improved steering control, is a special feature.
The new Skoda Kodiaq is great at driving on unpaved roads and gravel, and equipped for every contingency. The intelligent four-wheel drive system with electronically controlled multi-plate clutch deals with the slightest change under the Kodiaq´s wheels in milliseconds. This means it will automatically and immediately engage the all-wheel-drive when it detects a loss of traction, giving you back greater control of the vehicle.
Skoda Kodiaq’s Intelligent Off Road Mode
The Kodiaq’s intelligent Off Road mode can be turned on and off with the push of a button in the cabin within easy reach of the driver. It is designed to adjust the characteristics of the engine, electronic assistants and stability control systems. Tapping the button changes the infotainment screen to a range of configurable displays including front wheel angle, elevation above sea level and a compass.
What’s more useful is the function’s Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Assist offering braking assistance, and the Area View system.
Hill Descent Assist uses sensitive automatic braking to maintain a constant speed when driving down steep slopes, so you can stay focused on the pedals and on corrective steering.
And should you ever need to stop halfway up a hill, Auto Hold or Hill Hold Control will help keep the car from rolling backward.
Sometimes you will find yourself in a bit of a tricky situation where you cannot see past an obstacle or determine what is around the next corner. Normally this means you would need to get out of the car and look at what you actually have ahead of you, but not in a Kodiaq. Skoda’s Surround Area View system lets you see not only what’s ahead of the car and around it but also a bird’s-eye view of the car from the comfort of the driver’s seat, displayed conveniently on the infotainment screen.
The Ultimate Weekend Warrior, Disguised as a Clever City Car
Once Off Road is switched on, the accelerator responds less sensitively, and it operates only at speeds of up to 30 km/h, with the purpose of allowing you to handle difficult terrains such as negotiating steep embankments and uneven rocky trails. The Off Road mode is fitted as standard on all models sold down under.
From sandy beaches to sand dunes, dirt tracks and rocky roads, the Skoda Kodiaq possesses the off road ability to take on any challenges presented by the keen off-roader or weekend warrior.
Also Read : Every Skoda Kodiaq Review is overwhelmingly positive. Here’s Why.
