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
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
DESTINI REWRITTEN
With a pretty major design overhaul, has the Hero Destini 125 found a new footing altogether?
OLDIE'S GOLD?
History makes yet another comeback with the BSA Gold Star 650. Is it what you were hoping for?
THE HIGH OF THE TIGER
Triumph's big cat is in its most ferocious avatar yet
LAUGHTER HOURS
This! This is the greatest single of all time!
BULL'S EYE?
Audi's new flagship SUV — or a budget Lamborghini Urus?
DARK HORSE
The Alcazar is now available in a new avatar, and the multi-faceted SUV deserves more attention than it got in the past
CURVV-BALL!
Tata's new mass-market SUV coupe may have more than a few tricks up its sleeve
GIVEN A RAISE
The EQS SUV looks like an EQS sedan on stilts but it offers a lot more than that
FOR MUCK'S SAKE!
No scooters, commuters or old bikes... this year's Pune Off-road Expedition was serious work
ALL THE WAY UP!
Exploring the vast landscape of Ladakh with Renault India's lineup - why would we say no?!