The Skoda Kodiaq was chosen as one of the first cars to mark the rebirth of Skoda in Singapore after the Czech brand left the scene in 2013.

Named after the Kodiak, a large brown bear found in Alaska, this seven-seater SUV is pretty huge despite not being a full-sized, large SUV. As a 5+2, the car wins the interior volume race easily compared to the rest of our entrants in the SUV category.

And with all seven seats used, there is still 270 litres of boot space available, increasing to a very useful 630 litres if the last-row seats are folded.

Elsewhere in the cabin, the quality of the fit and finish in the Skoda is almost on par with a similarly classed Volkswagen SUV such as the Tiguan. Combined with a clutter-free dashboard and plenty of adjustment available in the driver seat and steering wheel, it is easy to get comfortable in the car.

One of our favourite features is the built-in umbrella slots in the front doors, akin to those you would find on a Rolls-Royce - a thoughtful feature all cars should have.

Another plus for the Kodiaq is its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that produces a healthy 178bhp and 320Nm of torque. Paired with a fast and smooth-shifting dual-clutch gearbox, the Kodiaq feels light and brisk, be it in the city or the open highways.

And going by Skoda's reasonable prices, the Kodiaq sure makes for an unbeatable bang-for-buck family SUV.