Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

132 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

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koda’s Kodiaq SUV is named
after the largest carnivorous
mammal on earth, the Kodiak
bear, but as far as seven seaters
go it’s light, manoeuvrable and
compact. More like a koala.
The 132 (as in kilowatts of
power) TSi 2.0-litre turbopetrol,
tested here, is priced at $44,190.
When you’re carrying kids
around, you want a wagon that
makes life easy and stress-free.
The Kodiaq does just that with
a power-operated rear tailgate,
keyless entry and starting, a
big boot that can be extended
to almost 2m long with the
60/40-split middle seats folded
fl at, rear-window sunblinds,
parking sensors, a rear camera
with moving guidelines,
electric safety locks for the back
doors, and seat belt indicators
for all positions.
You can never have too much
storage, either, and Kodiaq
has compartments all over the
place, including two gloveboxes
(one chilled) and a drawer under
the driver’s seat.

Then there’s the genius stuff,

which you don’t know you want

until you’ve got it.

How about an umbrella and

a small rubbish bag holder in

each front-door pocket, plastic

protectors that pop out from

the edge of each door when it’s

opened, preventing dings to

adjacent cars, an LED torch in

the boot, and two tablet holders

for rear-seat passengers?

Infotainment includes a big,

bright eight-inch touchscreen,

Apple CarPlay and Android

Auto, navigation, voice control

that works, a USB port and two

SD card slots.

You sit high, with clear vision

in all directions, in a fi rm,

comfortable seat.

The elevated middle row has

adjustable legroom on each side

and adjustable backrests too.

Kids won’t feel entombed and

there’s plenty of space for adults.

Two back seats fold up from the

fl oor. They’re fi ne for young kids,

but very tight for teens and adults.

Folding and sliding the middle

seat forward for access requires

two hands and a bit of effort.

Sportline specifi cation, with

20-inch alloys, Velvet Red paint,

Alcantara leather sports seats and

shift paddles, adds $4000.

Our test car was fi tted with the

$2600 Tech Pack option, which

includes adaptive suspension.

On Comfort and Normal

modes, the ride is supple,

controlled and quiet.

Speaking of options, if you want

the full safety worksburger, you

need to tick the $4900 Luxury

Pack box, which includes the Tech

Pack. That’s ridiculous.

It adds blind-spot monitoring,

surround and bird’s-eye-view

cameras, lane keeping and rear

cross traffi c alert to the standard

safety kit, which includes radar

cruise, nine airbags and automatic

emergency braking, though only

from below 30km/h.

Kodiaq is one of the best

drives in the class. Although

performance is solid rather

than spectacular, its 2.0-litre

turbopetrol engine is tuned to

operate almost like a diesel, with

deceptively strong shove available

from low revs, using a light right

foot. It works effi ciently with the

seven-speed transmission.

With a weight advantage of

at least 200kg, plus all-wheel

drive, precise steering and quality

Pirelli tyres, Kodiaq feels much

more agile, well balanced and

car-like than larger seven-seater

SUVs. It will also tackle a dirt

road with confi dence.

If you don’t need six or seven

seats every day, but just want to

carry a couple of extra kids from

time to time, the Skoda Kodiaq

could be the Goldilocks family

wagon you’re looking for.

SKODA KODIAQ FROM $44,190

THINGS WE LIKE

 Seven seats in a light, compact SUV

 Loaded with intelligent, family-

friendly design

 Strong and safe

 Agile, confi dent handling and a

comfortable ride

 Works well on a dirt road

 Refi ned, tractable performance

 Good value and long warranty

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

 The back seats aren’t exactly

spacious

 VW Group cars can be

temperamental

 Expensive servicing

SPEX (132TSi)

 Made in the Czech Republic

 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

seven-speed automated manual/

all-wheel drive

 132kW of power from

3900-6000rpm/320Nm of torque

from 1400-3950rpm

 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds (claimed)

 6.6L/100km highway; 9.3L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO²

emissions are 176gkm. Fuel tank is

60 litres

 Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

 Max towing weight 2000kg (80kg

towball download)

 Standard: Nine airbags, stability

control, automatic emergency

braking, radar cruise, seven

seats, camera, parking sensors,

tyre pressure monitoring, Apple

CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth,

voice control, navigation, leather/

Alcantara seat facings, power

tailgate, side-window blinds, dual-

zone air, 19-inch alloys

 Redbook future values: 3yr: 56%;

5yr: 41%

Safety

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money

Overall

STARS

compare with ...

Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento,

Mazda CX9, Peugeot 5008, Toyota

Kluger, VW Tiguan Allspace

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