Refreshed and Relevant

The Škoda Kodiaq may not be a car that one would associate with a high-speed track and an off-road course, but we are glad we got to drive it on both at Natrax

- Joshua Varghese

THE MOST PREMIUM Škoda on sale in India has been given a few updates and we went to Natrax in Indore to see what is new. Of course, since we went all the way there, it would have been a shame if the car were not let loose on their remarkable test-tracks. Here are is our impression following a brief experience.

The most significant change on the exterior of the Kodiaq is its aerodynamics. Škoda have modified the rear spoiler with finlets which, they claim, allows the car to slice through the air better. We drove only the top-of-the-line Laurin and Klement (L&K) model and the aesthetic updates are minimal on that one. Chrome garnishes on the grille and windows, special 18-inch wheels, and roof-rails painted silver are a few elements that set it apart from the other variants on offer, but, barring the improved aero, there are hardly any changes when compared to the earlier L&K.

The cabin continues to be a three-row seven-seater layout as before with the first couple of rows offering the best in terms of comfort and space. While the front seats have the advantage of being electrically adjustable and also boast of a heating/cooling function, the second-row seats make up for it with a thoughtful split head-rest that extends down to form a neck pillow-like structure, quite useful for a quick nap. Placed right above the wheel-arches, the third row offers just enough room for children. All the seats are wrapped in beige perforated leather upholstery and they are plush and comfortable. With all rows up, the boot space is a meagre 270 litres but it can be expanded to a voluminous 2,005 litres by folding down the second and third rows.