BBC Top Gear India – July 2019

(singke) #1

July I


Skoda Kodiaq vRS


                        60  lakh        
(estimated ex-showroom )

WE SAY: THE CZECH SUPER
SUV IS NOTHING LIKE YOU
EXPECTED AND EVERYTHING
YOU NEED

    Agasti  Kaulgi

S


standard 2.0-litre diesel mill that we’re
talking about. This one gets twin-turbo
chargers that help it develop 236 bhp
and 500 Nm of spin. Yeah, that’s a lot.
Unlike a lot of diesels on the market, this
one isn’t sluggish and doesn’t like to run
only at low revs. It’s got the enthusiasm
that’s expected from a Skoda with a
vRS badge stickered and loves to pile
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rush through the rev range and inherent
nature of the diesel gets you more torque
that you expect no matter where the
needle is pointing.
This one isn’t one of those SUVs that
sounds great only on paper. It’s proved
its mettle and has won the title of the
quickest 7 -seat SUV to go around the
Nurburgring. Now, that’s something,
right? Well, to achieve that, it’s not only
the engine, but the entire package that has
allowed to challenge the ‘ring and come
out as a winner. The engine is mated to a
quick-thinking seven-speed transmission
that does the job of sending the right
amount of power to the right wheel all
the time. It wastes no power in spinning

wheels or anything like that and gets
straight to the business. Even with a kerb
weight of around 1. 9 -tonne, this one does
a 0 - 100 kph drill in 6. 9 seconds and goes
onward to a top speed of 220 kph.
Apart from just being fast in a straight
line, this one knows how to handle the
twisties. It’s based on the dynamic MQB
platform and that allows it to manage its
weight rather well in the corners. And
over that, it’s got the AWD system that
makes sure that it’s got the traction that
it needs to go hot into a corner and come
out facing the right direction. On the ride
S_\[aVa ́``aVÞR_aUN[aUR`aN[QN_QPN_Oba
isn’t back breaking.
To make you feel special, the interior
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`aRR_V[TTRa`N¼NaO\aa\ZAUR`RNa`a\\
get the vRS badges and overall, it looks
much sportier than the regular Kodiaq.
Skoda India has plans of getting the RS
here in limited numbers, but there’s no
QR»[VaVcRQNaRWb`afRaD\_aUaURdNVa,
Hell, yes.

PHOTOGRAPHY:    

MANUFACTURER

uper SUVs. What’s the
»_aaUV[TaUNaP\ZRa\
your mind when someone
says that word? A massive
V 8 breathing under that hood and a
0 - 100 kph time that can make some
sportscars shy away? Well, Skoda always
UNNQVÞR_R[acVRd\[aUV[TN[QaUR
Kodiaq RS - their idea of a fast SUV- too, is
QVÞRR[aS\ZdUNa\aUR_`aUV[X
Believe it or not, Skoda has plonked a
puny 2.0-litre oil-burner into this Kodiaq,
added a bit of carbon and a few badges to
announce to the world that this isn’t your
standard Kodiaq. Wait, wait, wait. Dont
draw conclusions just yet. This isn’t the


The RS  gets    a   flat-bottom 
steering and a healthy
dose of carbon fibre

A   small   2.0-litre   oil 
burner but makes 236bhp
and 500Nm of spin

VERDICT: A great
driver’s SUV that’s got
loads of power and
behaves well through
the twisties.

1968cc, 4cyl,   twin    turbo,  diesel, 
236bhp, 500Nm, 7A, AWD
0-100kph: 6.9 seconds,
Top speed: 220kph
Kerb weight: 1880kg

SPECIFICATION


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