Driving the new Skoda Kodiaq: why this is the ultimate road trip car

If you’re in the market for a comfortable, practical and economical family SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq is likely to be on your shopping list. The latest model has received high praise, and we’ve been living with one for the past few months to see what all the fuss is about.

If you’re in the market for a Kodiaq, practicality is likely to be high on your list of priorities. Well, with a cavernous 910-litre boot (345 litres more than you get in a Nissan X-Trail) you won’t be left wanting for luggage space. We use our Kodiaq as a camera support car on video shoots and it swallows up all of our kit with ease.

There’s plenty of space for passengers in the rear as well, and getting comfortable behind the wheel is easy thanks to almost endless adjustment in the seats and steering wheel. Once you’ve settled in you’ll find loads of storage cubbies to empty your pockets into, as well as some handy cupholders to accommodate that essential Venti cold brew.

In terms of tech, all Kodiaqs get a massive 13.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s a pretty easy system to get to grips with thanks to the clear menu layout, and it’s responsive to your touch as well. Unlike a Volkswagen Tiguan, the Kodiaq has physical climate control knobs which are much easier to use on the move than the touchscreen-based systems you get in many other SUVs these days.

Now it’s time to hit the road, and we’ve covered thousands of miles in our Skoda over the past few months. Around town it’s not as intimidating as you may expect a car of this size to be. You get good all-round visibility, and the suite of surround-view cameras make tight car parks much easier to negotiate.

It’s on the motorway that the Kodiaq really shines though, because it’s an extremely accomplished long-distance cruiser. We’ve used this as a camera tracking car on video shoots, spending as much as 10 hours a day behind the wheel. The seats are comfortable and supportive, the suspension makes it comfortable over bumps and there is very little wind noise in the cabin.

Our car has the 2.0-litre diesel engine and four-wheel drive, and it’s a powerful unit with plenty of punch for overtaking, although it is a bit rattly when you floor it. Still, we managed to get 47mpg on a 300-mile journey over the winter. Diesels may be falling out of favour with buyers, but the Kodiaq makes a strong case for this engine for motorway mile munching.

When you think about what you want from a road trip car – comfort, practicality, decent fuel economy and an easy-to-use cabin – the Kodiaq is a seriously strong contender. It may not be as flamboyant to look at as a Peugeot 5008, but as an honest workhorse it’s hard to beat.

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