Skoda announces permanent seven-year warranty

Skoda has become the first European brand to offer a full seven-year, unlimited-kilometre factory warranty, matching industry leaders Kia, GWM and MG.

The Czech brand’s longer new warranty, which has been offered previously as part of sales promotions, applies permanently to all new and ex-demonstrator vehicles delivered from this month (as of September 1).

The new cover is included as part of the Volkswagen Group brand’s national drive-away pricing structure and is claimed to be valued at between $1150 and $1670 depending on the model and variant.

To this end, owners of existing Skoda vehicles still within their own warranty period (purchased within the past five years) can purchase the two-year extension.

Having been a European front-runner when it came to the adoption of a five-year warranty in January 2017, Skoda is now one of just four brands in Australia to offer seven-year/unlimited-km aftersales coverage (including Kia, MG, GWM and Haval), with the vast majority of others offering three- or five-year programs.

Only Mitsubishi outdoes the Czech marque for warranty duration, but the triple-diamond brand’s 10-year extended warranty program is capped at 200,000km and only available to private buyers and small businesses (with up to five vehicles), and only if they service their vehicle at a Mitsubishi vehicle for the first 10 years; otherwise the standard five-year/100,000km warranty applies.

According to Skoda Australia director Michael Irmer, the brand prides itself on “ease of ownership, peace of mind and more metal for the money”.

“Seven year’s warranty is full cover without common exclusions such as infotainment systems or starter batteries,” he said.

“We remain intent on becoming a leading brand in the sphere of lifetime ownership experience in Australia.

“Providing a wholly European vehicle with innovative and emotional product, combined with an ease of ownership is something we are truly passionate about.”

The countdown is now on to see which other car-makers, including Skoda’s sister brand Volkswagen, jump on the seven-year warranty bandwagon in Australia.

Kia, for one, has long offered a 10-year warranty in the US, and Kia Australia has always said would consider extending its pioneering aftersales offer if others matched it.