Introduction: The Bear from Mladá Boleslav
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the second-generation Škoda Kodiaq, a Czech crossover SUV that has been roaming our planet since 2016, but in 2025 it’s come back bulked up, dressed in a sharper suit, and ready to wrestle rivals. Named after the mighty Kodiak bear of Alaska, this SUV clearly believes it’s part wildlife documentary, part luxury lounge.
And before you ask—no, it won’t steal your picnic basket, but it will steal about ₹48.69 lakh ex-showroom (for the L&K trim you see here). That’s about the same amount it would take to bribe three bears and a forest ranger to look the other way.
Exterior: Black Tie Grizzly
From the front, the grille has a horizontal light strip, like it’s permanently ready for a nightclub entry. The LED headlights come with a “welcome effect”—a sort of automotive handshake, except instead of shaking hands, the car winks at you like a Czech bartender who knows you’ve ordered too many Becherovkas.
The D-pillar is dipped in dark chrome, which Škoda calls “premium,” but it also looks like the bear accidentally walked through a jewellery shop.
And the mirrors? Electrically adjustable, heated, auto-dimming, memory function, boarding spots, integrated turn signals, cameras, and even a Škoda logo projector. Honestly, at this point, I’m surprised they don’t also make you a cappuccino.
All this sits on 18-inch “Mazeno” alloy wheels wrapped in Hungarian Hankook tyres with something called Kontrol Technology, which sounds like something you’d find in a Soviet-era aircraft manual.
Dimensions: Big, but not “bus stand uncle” Big
At 4.7 metres long, 1.8 metres wide, and 1.7 metres tall, it’s not exactly skyscraper SUV territory, but big enough that parking valets will hate you. Kerb weight? 1,825 kg, or roughly the size of 15 medium-sized bears stacked into an IKEA flat-pack.
Ground clearance is 155 mm, which in SUV terms is like wearing stilettos to go trekking—you can, but you probably shouldn’t.
Safety: Like Driving with Nine Bubble Wraps
Euro NCAP slapped it with a full 5 stars, so congratulations—this SUV is officially safer than your internet password. It has 9 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, traction control, ISOFIX mounts, and something called Pre Crash proactive passenger protection, which basically means if the car thinks trouble’s coming, it tenses up before you do—like a nosy aunt at an Indian wedding.
There’s also a 360° camera, hill start assist, hill descent control, cross differential system, and even a driver drowsiness monitor. So if you start dozing off, the car will nag you awake, like your maths teacher in Class 9.
Interior: Czech Crystal Meets Family Lounge
Inside, the Kodiaq is like a Prague concert hall mixed with an IKEA showroom. Brown eco-leather upholstery with suede options, ambient mood lighting, and 13 speakers pumping 725 watts of Canton sound. It’s so powerful, your in-laws in the third row will complain about the bass rattling their dentures.
There are massage seats with 8 programs, thigh support extenders (fancy word for “lazy-boy lever”), and memory functions so the car always remembers you, even if your spouse doesn’t.
The dashboard is dominated by a 12.9-inch touchscreen—which, thankfully, comes with its own cleaning cloth. This system does Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, FM, USB, MyŠkoda Plus app integration, and probably TikTok if you ask nicely.
The 10.24-inch virtual cockpit behind the wheel looks so sharp it could double as a gaming monitor. And yes, it has two wireless chargers with cooling, because god forbid your iPhone gets sweaty.
Practicality: Fold, Flip, and Haul
This is a 7-seater SUV, but let’s be honest—the third row is really for kids, yoga masters, or people you secretly don’t like. Boot space is 281 litres with all seats up, but fold the third row and you get 786 litres. Flatten everything and you’ll have 1,976 litres—basically a small Prague apartment.
And when you’re carrying IKEA furniture, the automatic door-edge protectors ensure your paint job survives your neighbour’s Maruti 800 parking skills.
Engine & Performance: Turbocharged Schnitzel
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged TSI petrol engine, churning out 201 horsepower and 320 Nm torque. Mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic, it delivers a respectable 14 km/litre, or about half if you drive like a rally driver late to his own wedding.
There are 6 drive modes—Eco, Normal, Sport, Off-road, Snow, and Individual. Basically:
- Eco: Pretend you care about mileage.
- Sport: Forget mileage exists.
- Snow: Because somewhere in the Czech Republic, someone still thinks we get snow in India.
- Individual: Set it up to feel like your own personal rollercoaster.
All-wheel-drive, electronic differential lock, torque distribution magic—it’s like the car is constantly doing PhD-level mathematics just to keep you pointed straight.
Verdict: The Gentleman Bear SUV
The Škoda Kodiaq is what happens when a grizzly bear goes to finishing school in Prague. It’s tough, spacious, safe, and luxurious, with enough clever touches to make a German engineer weep with jealousy.
At nearly ₹50 lakh, it isn’t cheap—but then again, try finding another SUV that can haul 7 passengers, massage your spine, play a rock concert, park itself, and still be named after a bear.
This isn’t just a car—it’s a family-sized Czech crystal decanter on wheels. And in true Škoda style, it’s practical, premium, and just quirky enough to make you grin every time you drive it.
