On or off the road, the new Kodiaq will get you to your destination in comfort and style, as FACT’s Chirine Halabi discovers.

Over the years, we at FACT magazine have had the privilege of test driving an extensive array of vehicles produced by a large number of brands. In some cases, we’ve been lucky enough to experience several models from a single marque. However, every now and then, we get the opportunity to experience something completely new. This month, FACT’s Chirine Halabi got behind the wheel of the new Kodiaq, our foray into test driving a model by Czech automaker Škoda.

The precise, sharp lines of the Kodiaq’s exterior design endow the vehicle with a muscular beauty, ensuring it radiates an essence of both power and prestige. This 4×4 SUV is as robust as it is beautiful and looks equally at home on the city streets as the mountain trails. The raised central strip of the bonnet draws the eyes down to its full LED headlights, whilst the sharply drawn fog lamps are located at the height of the radiator grille for protection during off-road adventures.

At the sides, the sharp edges combined with smooth surfaces create an interplay of light and shadow, whilst the square wheel arches and protective sill covers add to the vehicle’s all-terrain capabilities. Also noteworthy are the 20-inch Xtreme anthracite alloy wheels that are fitted as standard. From the rear, the vertical black extensions merge with the roof spoiler and border the rear window, thereby improving the aerodynamics of the Kodiaq. Silver roof railings highlight the appeal of its exterior, whilst the LED crystalline rear lights are deep-seated into the fenders.

Slipping inside the vehicle, we were greeted by a comfortable environment that felt organised and spacious. Ambient lights run along the inside of the car and, with 10 colour options available, the mood can be set for whatever journey lies ahead. A panoramic sunroof supplies the option of additional natural light as well as an abundance of fresh air. All of the materials used are of a good quality, the front seats offer plenty of support, and the multifunction sports steering in perforated leather wheel feels great in hand. We found the Škoda Connect infotainment system to be intuitive, user-friendly, and easy to navigate. The rear seating of the seven-seater model has plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room on offer, and up to seven people can comfortably travel in the three-row seven-seater Kodiaq.

This vehicle has obviously been designed with road trips in mind as it provides a multitude of storage spaces – there’s a jumbo box storage compartment in the front armrest, an upper storage compartment by the front passenger seat, another storage compartment in the lower part of the dashboard, and a driver’s storage box located directly below the steering wheel. There are also front door compartments, a sunglasses compartment above the interior rear-view mirror, bottle and mobile phone holders as well as a removable unibag designed for transporting longer items. The boot itself is electronically operated and offers 835 litres of luggage space, which increases to 2065 litres with the rear seats folded down. This compartment also offers a variety of hooks and nets to secure goods, and sports a double floor that places the bottom of the luggage compartment on the loading edge level, allowing for easier handling of cargo.

By the time we started up the Kodiaq’s sporty-sounding 2.0 TSI turbocharged petrol engine, we were more than ready to hit the tarmac. This capable engine produces 132KW 180 horsepower. and 320Nm of torque. This – coupled with an automatic sevenspeed DSG transmission – enables the 4×4 to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds and reach a respectable top speed of 212km/h. The Kodiaq handles very well, even on the sharpest of bends. Its responsiveness ensures that the driver always feels in complete control of the driving experience, a feeling enhanced by the solid braking system. Although we spent only a little time in an off-road environment, the all-terrain capabilities of this SUV were obvious. We couldn’t help but wish we had more time and a mountain dirt road to play with.

The Kodiaq has also been equipped with an array of drive and safety assist features to keep passengers safe on the roads. These include the Travel Assist system, predictive adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, lane assist, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic alert, park assist, crew protect assist, and multi-collision brake as well as a multitude of airbags throughout the cabin. You can rest easy knowing that the expert craftsmen at Škoda have kept the well-being of you and your family at the forefront of the vehicle’s design. ✤

“The precise, sharp lines of the Kodiaq’s exterior design endow the vehicle with a muscular beauty, ensuring it radiates an essence of both power and prestige.”

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