Skoda Kodiaq, this up to seven-seater family SUV has been on the market for a long time. It was only recently that this model received a proper engine and the associated RS specification. At first glance, maybe a little illogical connection, but believe me, it works very well. Skoda is simply good at its RS models, as a result, it is not an uncompromising sports tool, it is usually a car that does not lose any of its original spaciousness and practicality, and is also equipped with a more aggressive exterior and more dynamic driving characteristics. And that's exactly what the new Kodiaq RS is like.
In recent years, the RS models have significantly filled the sales columns of the Skoda car company. It could therefore be expected that the Kodiaq model will also receive this top specification. After the Scout and Sportline variants comes the top version of the RS. The "heretical" Kodiaq was equipped with a two-liter diesel biturbo with an output of 240 horsepower and a considerable 500 Nm of torque. All this in conjunction with a seven-speed DSG automatic and all-wheel drive.
Unfortunately, I started my weekly editorial test in a rather unconventional way. I brought the tested Kodiaq RS home on a tow truck. Immediately after picking it up and driving about two kilometers I managed to get a flat rear tire. I note the rear, so it was not an unbraked corner :-). But it was my fault, I admit it. Unfortunately, however, a situation has arisen when you find out that you have a three-centimeter hole in the tire, instead of a reserve, there are batteries and only a repair adhesive kit in the trunk, and to make matters worse, the watch shows you six in the evening. My initial idea to get another spare wheel was quickly dispelled by the size of the brakes themselves. The assistance service then offered me just to tow the car to the service center. The promise of another bike being delivered the very next day directly from a Skoda Auto representative was enough consolation for me to get the car towed to my place of residence. The bike was delivered successfully the following day, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the representatives of the Skoda car company for their prompt cooperation in solving this situation.
RS exterior
The exterior appearance of the Kodiaq RS is based on the Sportline version. And that is the design of the Kodiaq, which is already very cool in itself. The Kodiaq RS then takes this look a little higher. The car is peppered with different bumpers, the rear is additionally equipped with a continuous reflector across the entire width of the car. The rear part also has a pair of effective exhaust tips. Unfortunately, we can only dream about the functionality of both terminals. In the front part, there is an RS plaque with a red colored letter "V", which is located on the front mask. The car then sits on twenty-inch Xtreme wheels, the design of which I already raved about in the previously tested Octavia RS 245.
In my opinion, the external appearance of the "heresy" Kodiaq cannot be disliked. Skoda simply knows its "sharp" models.
RS interior
The Kodiaq RS interior pampers you with a combination of leather and Alcantara with ubiquitous red thread stitching. The front sports seats with an integrated backrest have good lateral guidance. As a result, however, they are very comfortable and spacious. I drove the vehicle from Prague to Opava in one day and back and I have no complaints about the seats. The positions in the second row of seats have very good legroom, and the backrests are the same as the front positions with the RS logo. In addition, the tested piece had a seven-digit specification, with access and space in these positions it is somewhat similar for cars of this class. The access is quite difficult and there are few places.
Regarding the dashboard, everything that we already expect from Skoda cars takes place here. The interior is well ergonomically designed, it is clear and spacious.
Driving impressions
The two-liter biturbo engine is already quite well-known from the group's cars, but it appeared under the hood of a Skoda vehicle for the first time. In this case, this potent engine cooperates with a seven-speed DSG automatic, which is quite regularly not to be faulted. On the contrary, I would praise him for his logical elimination and the effort to "sail" as often as possible (idling), even without activating the economic driving mode. Furthermore, it uses the powerful torque very actively, sometimes even surprisingly, and does not undercut it in any way. So if you don't shift the paddles under the steering wheel yourself, don't expect some frantic, sporty shifting of gears from the dual-clutch gearbox.
Kodiaq RS has familiar driving modes, from Eco, Normal, Comfort, Sport and Individual to Snow mode. From there, the great diversity of the car's driving behavior develops. This is because the choice of mode classically affects the operation of the transmission, chassis, steering, or the sound of the car.
In the Eco, Normal and Comfort modes, we will experience a quite classic Kodiaq driving performance. The power steering is very active, the transmission shifts very early (in the context of the already mentioned large torque on which the car can rely, really early), the chassis is very comfortable Kodiaq, in Comfort mode it is pleasantly buoyant and rocking. The chassis very well disguises its twenty-inch alloy wheels, which are shod with 235/45 R20 tires. With the choice of driving mode, the intensity of the "fake" sound of the engine, which comes from the "sound generator", which is located in the lower part of the car, also changes. The aforementioned sound of the car is the result of a new solution that the automaker calls Dynamic Sound Boost. This is not a sound signal going into the interior of the car from the relevant audio system, it is a new solution that has a kind of "repeat" located at the left "functional" tailpipe. The intensity of the sound effect that is released into the exterior therefore depends on the selected driving mode. The presentation of that fake sound to the exterior, in this case, seems to me somewhat more defensible than the distribution to the audio system inside the car.
The most intense sound is quite logically presented in the Sport mode. In this mode, the chassis itself stiffens noticeably, the steering stiffens and the gearbox works significantly more intensively. The individual mode allows individual settings to be combined and personalized.
The spectrum of driving profiles and the driving characteristics associated with them are really wide. Kodiaq can be very tame and buoyant, on the other hand, it can harden considerably. But let's not look for a pure sports car in it, even if it has plenty of power. The 500 Nm of torque in connection with the all-wheel drive can pull really well. The start with the Launch-Control system activated is quite a decent fire, just in the context of all-wheel drive. When, unlike the already mentioned Octavia RS 245, you don't have the slightest problem with transferring the car's power directly to the road.
Evaluation
The Skoda car company knows how to balance its RS models very well. The cars have their original practicality and efficiency, yet they have a stylish appearance and can also offer dynamic driving characteristics. All this for quite acceptable purchase prices. And as I mentioned in the introduction, the same is the case with the tested Kodiaq RS. The Skoda Kodiaq RS is therefore a car that has received a noticeably sportier coat, and the interior has a decent combination of alcantara, leather and red stitching. Thanks to the two-liter biturbo engine and AWD drive, it can also offer a sharper driving style. However, it is still a spacious car, which can also be a seven-seater, and in which if you spend the whole day on the road, it will not leave any consequences on you.
Looking at the price list, you can buy a Skoda Kodiaq RS from 1,189,900 CZK including VAT. For the stated purchase price, you simply get a lot of music, namely a very well-equipped car with a powerful engine. So I would rate the price as adequate. Skoda Kodiaq RS then as a great car that can really offer a lot.
