New look and tech for upgraded Skoda Kodiaq

The 2021 Skoda Kodiaq has been officially revealed following a lengthy teaser campaign, bringing fresh designs and more technology – including a more powerful new petrol engine for the top-shelf Skoda Kodiaq RS.

As expected, the upgraded Skoda Kodiaq RS ditches the outgoing model’s muscular 176kW/500Nm 2.0-litre biturbo-diesel engine (176TDI) in favour of the same 180kW/370Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (180TSI) that powers the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Therefore the new flagship of the large seven-seat SUV line-up will offer 4kW more power but 130Nm less torque. However, while Skoda has not revealed acceleration figures, it says that because the new engine is over 60kg lighter and the new seven-speed DSG automatic transmission weighs 5.2kg less, “this power unit’s performance is even better”.

Local specs are yet to be announced, but Skoda Australia has confirmed the upgraded Kodiaq range – including the new 180TSI RS – will be available to order here by September, followed by first deliveries in December.

Alongside the 2021 Skoda Kodiaq RS, mainstream variants will continue with a carryover 132kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (132TSI), but Aussies won’t have access to Europe’s 110kW and 140kW 1.5-litre TSI turbo-petrol and 110kW and 147kW TDI turbo-diesel engines.

Elsewhere, the first update for the large SUV since it arrived Down Under in June 2017 and was named 2020 carsales Best Family SUV brings a new front-end design punctuated by a new bonnet, grille, bumper and slimmed-down LED headlights as standard – with the option of full LED Matrix tech for the first time.

While the Kodiaq RS gets an updated version of its more aggressive front-end, mainstream variants feature aluminium-effect details on their front and rear bumpers, new alloy wheels measuring up to 20 inches, a new gloss-black rear spoiler and finlets at the back edge of the rear window.

Inside, the 2021 Skoda Kodiaq brings new decorative strips, additional contrasting stitching, enhanced LED ambient lighting functions and upgraded Crew Protect Assist with additional rear radar sensors to detect the potential for rear-end collisions.

The headline act though will be Skoda’s latest 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster with four different layouts – fitted as standard in Sportline and RS models, which also gain an additional Sport mode.

In Europe, this is an optional extra for mainstream variants, as are perforated-leather seats with multi-way electric seat adjustment, ventilation and massage function, Eco seats trimmed in recycled ‘vegan’ materials and an upgraded 10-speaker CANTON sound system.

There are no other changes to the 4.7-metre Skoda Kodiaq’s seven-seat interior, which can swallow up to 2065 litres of cargo.

Since its European release in 2016, Skoda has sold more than 600,000 examples of the Kodiaq, which apart from the Czech Republic is now also made in China, India and Russia.