KODIAQ MOMENTS

Skoda's flagship SUV returns with a petrol heart

- Rivan RS

Among the many excellent cars I was sad to say goodbye to after BS6 norms kicked in, the Skoda Kodiaq was right up there. Thankfully, Skoda's flagship SUV is back after a near-two-year hiatus, and it's got more than a handful of changes, the most important of which is under the bonnet. Gone is the decently punchy 2.0 TDI engine, and in comes the now ubiquitous 2.0 TSI engine. You do see this engine in a variety of Volkswagen Group cars — from Skoda's Octavia and Superb to the Volkswagen Tiguan and Audi Q2 — but that takes nothing away from just how good it is.

Refinement is absolutely top-notch, as there's barely a murmur at idle, though the level of sound-deadening is also quite high. Perhaps the best bit about this 1984cc four-cylinder turbo petrol engine is that it plays the beast and the gentle giant with equal poise. There's an even, and firm, shove from about 1500 rpm onwards, which doesn't stop until the redline. The sound from the exhaust matches the surge in motion, so much so that you may find yourself pushing the car harder than necessary. And that's Kodiaq moment number one.

The Kodiaq's cabin is plusher than some more expensive SUVs