5 things you need to know about the 2017 Skoda Kodiaq

The 2017 Skoda Kodiaq arrives here later this month, these are the five things you absolutely need to know about it. Just one engine at launch When it arrives here later this month, the 2017 Skoda Kodiaq will only be available with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 132kW and 320Nm of torque. It drinks a combined average of 7.6L/100km and is mated to a seven-speed DSG. A 140kW/400Nm turbocharged diesel engine (5.0L/100km combined) will arrive later this year. When it goes on-sale here later this month, the Kodiaq will be priced from $42,990+ORC and will be available only in all-wheel drive. Read our news piece outlining what your coin will get you HERE. Room to move On the inside, the seven-seat Kodiaq boasts an interior measuring 1793mm long, offers 1527mm of elbow room in the front and 1510mm in the back. There’s 1020mm of headroom in the front and 1014mm in the back and rear legroom measures 104mm and the seat backs can be angled and moved forwards by 18cm. In normal-speak, this thing is roomy. The boot grows from 720 litres to 2065 litres with the second-row seats folded down. You can open the boot by poking your foot under the rear bumper. Infotainment The Kodiaq offers a capacitive touch glass screen which measures between 6.5-8.0-inches depending on the specification. There are physical buttons, thank goodness, to quickly access shortcut functions. In the top-spec Kodiaq, you can get an in-car communication system that allows you to record your voice and play it back to those in the back seat… great for those times when all you hear from the backseat is, ‘are we there yet?’. There will be native navigation as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity and tablet holders are an extra-cost option for those in the back seat; tablets can be charged either via 230V or USB sockets. Tuning the car Skoda is offering its Driving Mode Select system on the Kodiaq, allowing the driver to tweak engine and DSG management, power steering behavior, and air conditioning. The settings are: Normal, Eco, Sport and Individual… all-wheel drive models get Snow (it does not have a speed limit). Snow Mode tweaks the ABS, ASR and engine management and the all-wheel drive system to better handle slippery roads. Adaptive Dynamics Chassis Control is also available for the Kodiaq and depending on the setting, will adjust the performance of the active shock absorbers – settings are Normal, Comfort, and Sport. Surprise and delight The Kodiaq will get clever little things, like two umbrellas hidden in the front of the car in their own compartments, as well as door-edge protectors that spring out when the door is opened and slip back when it’s closed. There’s also an electric child safety lock for the rear doors and sleep headrests as cost options for the back seats. In all, Skoda says the Kodiaq will feature 30 ‘simply clever’ features. Read our first drive review of the new Skoda Kodiaq.