Skoda Kodiaq gains more space and new plug-in hybrid option

Skoda has revealed the new Kodiaq.

The new car has grown by 61mm in length, while its width of 1,864mm and total height of 1,659mm has translated into more interior space. Skoda states that passengers in the third row can now expect more head room, while luggage space has also increased, with the five-seater version offering 75 litres more space than before, while the seven-seater variant gets a 70-litre increase in cargo capacity.

Squared-off wheel arches and a solid rear bumper give the Skoda Kodiaq a rugged exterior look

Up front, the car gets a large grille, available with a horizontal light strip. This grille is flanked by head lights that a divided by a L‑shaped LED strip serves as the daytime running light, parking light and indicator, allowing the SUV to retain its four-eyed look. These head lights are also now available as matrix LED items complete with crystalline elements.

These will mirror taillights that are available with an animated welcome function and dynamic indicators, and come connected by a red light bar with a crystalline structure. Skoda states that the standard head and taillights for the Kodiaq also exclusively utilises LED technology.

In the cabin, the changes are more dramatic. The Skoda Kodiaq now combines a free-standing 13-inch infotainment display alongside a 10-inch Virtual Cockpit. A 10-inch central multi‑touch display is offered as standard.

The head lights of the car are now divided by an L‑shaped LED strip, while at the rear the SUV gets a D-pillar that is finished in gloss black (The Dark Chrome pictured is also available as an option)

This infotainment display sits above three new 'Skoda Smart Dials' - rotary controls that each carry a digital colour display, and allow quick access to vehicle functions including the air-conditioning settings, as well as to adjust the seat heating or ventilation. The centre of the three controls can be configured to adjust the volume of the infotainment system, or fan speed, as well as to change between different driving modes or to alter the zoom level on the navigation system.

The car also now gets a steering-column mounted gear selector, freeing up space in the centre console for storage.

Skoda states that all textiles used for the seat upholstery, the carpets in the cabin and the luggage compartment as well as the headliner are made of 100% recycled polyester, while the leather utilised for higher trim vehicles is tanned in an environmentally friendly way using residues from coffee bean processing.

The SUV is now available with a free-standing 13-inch infotainment system while its gear selector lever is now mounted on the steering column

The Skoda Kodiaq is being offered with petrol options including a 148bhp 1.5-litre paired to a mild hybrid system that utilises a 48V belt-driven starter-generator and a lithium-ion battery. A 201bhp 2.0-litre unit is also offered. Both these engines come paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

A 201bhp plug-in hybrid drivetrain is also available, which utilises a 1.5-litre engine paired to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission as well as a 25.7kWh battery that can be charged at a maximum of 11kW via an alternating current source, or at 50kW via a direct current charger. Skoda states this drivetrain will give the Kodiaq an electric-only range of 100km.

Skoda has produced a total of 841,900 Kodiaqs to date, and the car has found customers in 60 markets worldwide.