2024 (74) Škoda Kodiaq 1.5 TSI iV 204 SE 5dr DSG

Skoda's Kodiaq gets PHEV tech. Jonathan Crouch takes a look at the iV model.

Ten Second Review

Skoda has finally worked out how to package its Kodiaq large family SUV with PHEV tech. It hasn't yet worked out how to do so with seven seats. Still, if you don't need that, this capable Kodiaq iV Plug-in Hybrid's worth a look.

Background

Though Skoda is currently very focused on its EV technology, the Czech brand knows it must also provide more credible Plug-in Hybrid options to its customers, given the increasing number of them that aren't quite ready for a full-EV step. That's just what's offered by this Kodiaq iV, the first Plug-in Hybrid Kodiaq in this successful SUV model line's history. This model gets what the Volkswagen Group calls its 'second-generation' PHEV system (rather than the rather limited 'first generation' set-up that featured on earlier Octavia and Superb iV models). Which means, primarily, a much bigger 25.7kWh battery, allowing for an impressive EV range. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

With this MK2 Kodiaq, probably the biggest news on the engine front is the availability for the first time of a PHEV drivetrain. The iV Plug-in Hybrid model in question use a sizeable 25.7kWh battery pack which is supposed to be able to offer EV driving range of up to 71 miles. The engine that cuts in at the end of all that is broadly the same 1.5-litre TSI four cylinder unit as by the mild hybrid model but with the PHEV, this 150PS powerplant is mated to six rather than seven-speed auto transmission and works in concert with a 118PS electric motor, contributing to a total system output of 204PS. Which doesn't sound a great deal to propel over 1.9-tonnes of Czech real estate. Still, you won't notice the disparity unless you find yourself driving in the kind of manner a typical Kodiaq owner probably never would. And the drive stats are competitive enough - 62mph in 8.4s en route to 130mph. Replicating those stats would involve selecting 'Sport' mode (rather than 'Hybrid' or 'Normal'). You don't buy a Kodiaq prioritising engaging driving dynamics, but nevertheless, Skoda promises these should be improved as a result of this second generation model's switch to the VW Group's latest MQB Evo platform, a lightly evolved version of the MQB chassis used before. There's the option of a redeveloped 'DCC Plus' Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive damping system which now uses two-valve technology to control suspension rebound and compression (replacing the old single-valve system). Expect ride quality to be significantly improved as a result.

Design and Build

Apart from the 'iV' badgework and an extra charging flap, there's nothing visual to designate to your neighbours that you've bought a Plug-in Hybrid Kodiaq. The second generation version of this family SUV has been styled with elements of the brand's 'Modern Solid' philosophy that was previewed by the recent 'Vision 7S' concept car. Squared-off wheel arches house the segment's usual big rims, while the heavily sculpted bonnet flows down into a prominent hexagonal grille featuring the company's latest badge. There's a coloured D-pillar insert and you can also have an optional LED light strip running across the front end. As you'd expect these days, there's a better quality screen-heavy interior waiting for the driver inside. And to compensate for the way those displays have inhaled many of the previous knobs and buttons, Skoda has inserted three so-called 'Smart Dials' below the centre stack vents. The outer two have fixed settings, but the middle one can be customised to control various preferred functions - like fan speed, audio volume or drive mode. This arrangement - and the fact that it's no longer necessary to allow for the fitment of a manual gearbox - has allowed the designers to clean up the look of the dash area and create more storage space, a quest aided by the auto gear selector's move from the centre console to the steering column. We mentioned screens; the 10-inch instrument panel TFT set-up can be paired with an optional head-up display and there's a 'floating' centre monitor that'll be either 10 or 13-inches in size, depending on the spec you choose. Further back in the car, the second row slides and reclines as before. But because of the under-floor PHEV system battery placement, it's unfortunately not possible to have a third seating row - as you can with more conventionally-engined Kodiaqs. Still, you get a decently-sized 745-litre boot, though that's 165-litres less than in a conventionally-engined five-seat Kodiaq. With the rear bench folded, that's extendable to 1,945-litres.

Market and Model

Skoda offers this iV PHEV powertrain with all three of its Kodiaq trim levels - 'SE', 'SE L' and 'Sportline', but only with the five-seat cabin format and only with front wheel drive. Prices start from around £42,000 and extend up to around £47,000. Think in terms of around £3,000 more than the conventional 2.0 TDI 150PS diesel model and around £5,500 more than the conventional 1.5 e-TEC 150PS mild hybrid petrol variant. Base 'SE' spec includes most of what you'd want. That means 18-inch silver alloy wheels in a 'Mazeno' design, LED headlamps, front fog lights, LED tail lights, all-round parking sensors, power-folding mirrors and black roof rails. Inside with base 'SE'-spec, there's heated front seats, a 10.25-inch 'Virtual Cockpit' instrument display, a rear view camera and a wireless charging mat ambient lighting and the neat configurable 'smart dials' with their coloured displays. Media tech's taken care of by a 13-inch central touchscreen with navigation and voice control, plus Skoda's 'Smartlink' system giving wireless 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto'. With mid-level 'SE L' trim, you get a much nicer 'ecoSuite Black Design selection' interior, furnished in a combination of real and artificial leather. Other standard 'SE L' features include larger 19-inch 'Rapeto' silver alloy wheels, 'intelligent' Matrix LED headlamps, animated LED tail lamps, keyless entry, rear privacy glass and a power-operated tailgate. Inside with 'SE L'-spec, there's 14-way powered adjustment and memory settings for the front seats, plus silver roof rails and a variable height boot floor. Finally, the 'Sportline' version comes with 20-inch 'Ria' anthracite alloy wheels, metallic paint and a sports styling pack, along with Skoda's 'Lane keeping system plus' semi-automatic vehicle control system, which includes 'traffic jam assist' to effectively drive the car for you in stop/start urban driving. Inside with 'Sportline' trim, there's a bespoke 'Sportline Design Selection' interior trimming package, featuring microsuede interior trimming, Sports Comfort seats, a sports steering wheel and aluminium pedals. Plus acoustic side and rear windows and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Cost of Ownership

As we told you in our 'Driving' section this 1.5 TSI iV Plug-in Hybrid model now has a much larger 25.7kWh battery pack which is supposed to be able to offer driving range of up to 71 miles. That's a little down on the equivalent Superb but significantly better than a key segment rival, the PHEV version of the Peugeot 5008. Another sector rival the Kia Sorento PHEV, does even worse, returning only 35 miles on battery power, but can (unlike the iV version of this Kodiaq) be ordered with seven seats. Skoda reckons the Kodiaq iV model's electric mileage figure will allow many families to use the car as an EV, given German market research suggesting that 95% of journeys are less than 31 miles long and 99% are shorter than 71 miles. The brand claims that with petrol and electric power sources combined, the Kodiaq iV PHEV's range would stretch to over 620 miles. As usual with PHEVs, that EV range skews the combined cycle fuel figure well into fantasy land (here, it's quoted at up to 691.5mpg); in reality, you probably wouldn't do much better than would be the case with a frugally-driven diesel variant (and with the PHEV, you'd have to put up with a smaller fuel tank too). But the important thing is that the HMRC believes the iV model's quoted CO2 figure - up to 9g/km - so a low Benefit-in-Kind taxation rating is guaranteed - 5% in this case, compared with 32-37% for the conventionally-engined models. The PHEV battery supports DC charging at up to 50kW and that means a 10 to 80% battery top up will take around 25 minutes, while the 11kW on-board charger allows full home battery replenishment to take as little as 2 hours. A more typical 7.4kW garage wallbox would need around four hours.

Summary

Skoda doesn't (yet) offer a full EV of this Kodiaq's size. But the 71 mile EV capability of the iV version of this Czech SUV means that you might feel you don't need an EV if your main driving is around suburbia. It's disappointing though that, unlike Hyundai and Kia, Skoda hasn't yet found a way of designing a Plug-in Hybrid SUV of this kind with seven seats. To be fair, Kia and Hyundai charge you quite a lot more that privilege and if two seating rows are enough for you, then this Kodiaq iV looks an interesting (if much pricier) alternative to the diesel variants that are still deservedly popular in the mainstream Kodiaq range. Like more conventional versions of this car, it gets an enormous boot, a well-crafted cabin and some clever interior touches - and matches it all with a super-low BiK tax rating. You can see why Skoda thinks it might sell a few of these.