Skoda Kodiaq PHEV review: Trish Whelan, Irish Car

Skoda introduced a plug-in hybrid variant to its Kodiaq SUV line-up last year in the form of the Kodiaq iV, joining the two 2.0 TDI 150hp and 193hp diesels, the latter mated to a 4x4 all-wheel-drive transmission. 

While the original large 7-seat Skoda Kodiaq was one of the Czech brand’s best-selling models with over 12,000 vehicles delivered to Irish families since 2017, the iV PHEV version is only available as a 5-seater. The car stands 1,674mm high, is 1,864mm wide and has an increased wheelbase to 2,790mm. It also has chrome roof rails and tinted windows. 

The exterior has crisp, elegant lines and a distinctive light signature that I’m sure won’t date for many years to come. It can be fitted with up to 20-inch wheels. The iV badge at the rear distinguishes this as the PHEV version. Light beams into the cabin through the panoramic sunroof (€1,680) making it bright and airy. The very well laid out dash has the new easy-to-use 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment display as well as the navigation system. These were part of the Technology pack at €1,471. A 10.25-inch driver’s information cluster shows all the relevant information including your digital speed. There are three large knobs for the climatronic air conditioning system and front seat heaters. 

A stand-out feature for me was the beautiful tan-coloured Cognac leather upholstery which, besides looking so good, proved very comfortable for both myself and my front seat passenger. The driver’s seat comes with power seat adjustments including lumbar support and three memory seat settings. 

You can charge two mobile phones wirelessly in the Phone Box compartment in the dash. There’s a USB port beside the rear view mirror while the small USB ports over the storage compartment allow data transfer as well as charging. Storage areas include two gloveboxes, a deep area below the slidable centre armrest and huge door bins. You can lower the second row of seats at the touch of a lever. There’s a highish tunnel for the person seated in the middle seat to manoeuvre their feet around, but rear knee room is more than generous and head space absolutely fine for most adults. You’ll also find two lightening USBs, a 12V socket and an air conditioning control panel. 

My car had a power tailgate and high boot floor, some hooks and a handy net for securing luggage. An under floor area is for storing cables. 

Trims are Selection, Selection+ (my car) and Sportline. Each is well specced. My Selection+ trim had seven airbags, Adaptive Cruise control, Hill hold control, Forward collision warning, Rear Assist, front and rear parking sensors, trailer hitch preparation (towing weight braked is 1800kg, unbraked 750kg), rear view camera system, and three child seat anchors. 

This was the 1.5 TSI 204hp petrol coupled with a DSG 6-speed gearbox. The electric motor and powerful 25.7kWh lithium-ion battery allow for an emission-free electric range of over 100km in the WLTP cycle which is more than enough for most people’s daily commutes. The selector gear lever located on the right of the steering column includes a S mode which allows the gears to change at higher speeds. Drive modes are Comfort, Eco, Individual and Sport. To activate pure electric drive, you select the E-mode function. The model ditches the very back two seats of the 7-seater to make room for the big battery but still leaving 745 litres of luggage capacity which can be expanded with the second row of seats folded down. 

The Kodiaq PHEV has a claimed fuel consumption of 0.4-0.5 L/100kms. My fuel return - driving mostly in hybrid mode - came in at 7.2L/100kms (-0.6 kWh/100km). Torque is 250Nm and from 0-100km/h takes 8.4 seconds. Annual road tax is €140. I was able to get an excellent driving position and found this big car very easy to drive and even to manoeuvre. Handling was also very good; steering was perfectly weighted. Full marks for the excellent blind spot detector, on the inside of the side mirrors, that shows a large warning light when a vehicle is approaching from either side. Skoda sell a lot of diesel cars and the Kodiaq 7-seat diesel returns around 4.5/5.5 L/100kms and is priced from €53,970. 

A real niggle, as in many new cars, was the Lane Assist feature which in this case was far too sensitive, almost taking over the steering if it detected I was not in the centre of my lane, when indeed I was driving correctly in my lane. I turned it off, as usual. 

Charging the PHEV with a DC fast charger to 80pc takes 25 minutes, but most owners will charge at home overnight. Diesels are priced from €53,970; the mHEV 7-seater from €54,68; my PHEV car €63,290. Optional equipment and metallic paint added another €4,166 taking the price of my car as tested to €67,456. The standard version of the Skoda Kodiaq was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP in 2024 along with its sibling Skoda Superb.