Skoda has released further details of its Kodiaq SUV. At 4.70 m long, with up to seven seats and the claimed largest boot in its class, the Kodiaq is the brand’s first large SUV. The company says that from early 2017, its latest model will showcase all of the brand’s strengths: characterful design, extraordinary interior space and innovative technology.

“With the Skoda Kodiaq, we are striking out in a new direction and opening up new markets,” says Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier. “With our first large SUV, we are conquering a new segment for the brand – and new customer groups. Our new addition to the Skoda model range is truly as strong as a bear: it makes the brand even more attractive thanks to its concept, striking design and as the first Skoda that has the option of always being online and thereby offering more comfort, safety and real-time information. The Skoda Kodiaq is at the forefront of Skoda’s extensive SUV campaign.”

Skoda Board Member for Technical Development, Christian Strube, added, “The Skoda Kodiaq offers all of our brand’s strengths: well-thought-out functionality, superior interior space and excellent value for money. The largest boot compared to the competition and the optional third row of seats alone make our new SUV the ideal companion for day-to-day demands. And when it comes to driver assistance systems, infotainment and connectivity, the Skoda Kodiaq proves Skoda’s innovative capabilities, offering the technology of higher classes and therefore putting itself at the top of its segment.”

In designing the Kodiaq, Skoda’s Head of Design, Jozef Kabaň, and his team are said to have been inspired by traditional Czech crystal glass art, also reflected in the SUV’s highly contoured surfaces.

The Skoda Kodiaq is 4,697 mm long, 1,882 mm wide and 1,676 mm tall (including roof rails); its wheelbase measures 2,791 mm. The Kodiaq is based on Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix (MQB) in which strict lightweight construction plays an important role. For the body, a combination of hot-stamped metal sheets forms the ultra-strong backbone. With the entry-level TSI engine and front-wheel drive, the large SUV weighs just 1,452 kg (without driver), or 1,540 kg with the 1.4 TSI engine and all-wheel drive.

Torsional stiffness, construction, comfort and crash safety are also superior and the large SUV achieves a cx value of just 0.33.

The Skoda Kodiaq is just 40 mm longer than the Skoda Octavia, but offers a larger-than-average interior for the SUV segment. The interior length is 1,793 mm, elbow room is 1,527 mm in the front and 1,510 mm in the rear. Head room is 1,020 mm in the front and 1,014 mm in the rear. Rear legroom measures up to 104 mm.

As an option the front seats can be heated, ventilated and adjusted electronically; the latter also includes a memory function. The Skoda Kodiaq’s rear seats can be folded in the ratio 60:40, can be moved lengthways by 18 cm as standard and the angle of the backrest is individually adjustable. Two more seats in the third row are available – the Kodiaq is Skoda’s first 7-seater.

As an alternative to the standard fabric seats, a fabric/leather combination and leather or Alcantara are offered. Optional ambient lighting adds an individual touch to the interior and is built into the door trims and can be set to ten different colours.

With a volume of 720 to 2,065 l (5-seater with the rear seats folded down), the Skoda Kodiaq is claimed to offer the largest boot within its class and if the optional folding passenger seat is chosen, the SUV can transport items up to 2.80 m long. An electrically operated tailgate is available, and can (as an optional extra) be opened with the firm’s virtual pedal system. The Skoda Kodiaq with the TDI/DSG/4×4 drivetrain can tow a trailer weighing up to 2.5 t with an electrically retractable tow bar.

The ‘Simply Clever’ features available in the Kodiaq include door-edge protection: which deploy automatically thanks to preloaded springs when opening the car door and prevents the metal edge of the door from coming into contact with a garage wall or an adjacent vehicle.

Skoda’s large SUV is available with a wide range of driver assistance systems. One innovation is Trailer Assist: when the Kodiaq is towing a trailer, the system can take over steering when reversing slowly. Additionally, while reversing, the new Manoeuvre Assist will brake as soon as an obstacle is detected behind the vehicle. The system is controlled using an enhanced function of the rear parking sensors.

The Area View system is also a first for the brand: the surround-view cameras, which are located in the front and rear as well as the wing mirrors of the Skoda Kodiaq, come with wide-angle lenses and allow views of the area immediately surrounding the car to be displayed on the monitor. These include a virtual, top-down view and 180-degree images to the front and rear.

Front Assist including City Emergency Brake comes as standard and, using radar, can detect dangerous situations involving pedestrians or other vehicles in front of the car. If necessary, the system warns the driver and, when required, partially or fully applies the brakes. City Emergency Brake is active up to 21 mph. The optional Predictive Pedestrian Protection complements Front Assist.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is also radar assisted and helps the driver to maintain the selected speed and the desired gap between the Skoda Kodiaq and the car in front. Lane Assist, Blind Spot Detect and Rear Traffic Alert help the driver to stay in lane, make changing lanes safer using the rear radar and help when manoeuvring in reverse. If the car is fitted with Lane Assist, ACC and DSG transmission, Traffic Jam Assist comes as an additional function and maintains speed and applies the brakes in slow-moving traffic. Additionally, the car will be kept in lane up to speeds of 40 mph thanks to the Lane Assist function.

Driver Alert detects signs of fatigue in the driver and prompts the driver to take a break while Emergency Assist, only in combination with DSG transmission, is a further function of the ACC and Lane Assist combination. Should the danger arise that the driver is unable to drive, the system can bring the large SUV to a standstill.

Crew Protect Assist, available in a choice of two variants, closes the windows and sunroof, and tensions the seat belts automatically in the event of an impending accident. If you have an accident, the Multi-Collision Brake, which comes as standard, prevents any further uncontrolled movement of the Skoda Kodiaq. The camera-based Travel Assist with Traffic Sign Recognition displays speed limits and other road signs as images on the in-car computer as well as the navigation system.

Skoda Connect presents innovative mobile online services, navigation, information and entertainment in Kodiaq and helps with remote access to the vehicle as well as assistance. It is comprised of two categories: the Infotainment Online services provide more information and real-time navigation details. Care Connect provides remote access as well as assistance.

Infotainment Online includes online traffic information, which shows traffic flow on the chosen route in real time. The Google Earth services (available for the Columbus system) embed the route into a topographical view from Google; Google Street View (available for the Columbus system) displays a street view of the destination. Map updates as well as fuel prices, parking information, online news, weather information and ‘My Points of Interest’ services round off the infotainment package. Infotainment Online services are provided free of charge for the first year after purchasing a new car and are available at an extra cost thereafter.

The third Care Connect service is Remote Access. Skoda now also offers the Skoda Connect app, which can be used to access and control additional services. For example: the smartphone will alert the owner if their car is being moved by a third party in an unauthorised manner – be that too fast or outside a specified area. Using the app, the route planner can be transferred from home to the navigation system in the car.

For the first time, the SmartLink all-in-one app also integrates SmartGate – alongside Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink. All of the popular services are available in just one app: navigational data, music and news as well as all relevant vehicle data via the car’s infotainment system.

The Swing infotainment system with its 6.5-inch screen comes as standard. It can be supplemented with a smartphone Bluetooth connection and Skoda SmartLink. SmartLink supports the use of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLinkTM in the car. When the customer connects their phone to the USB port, the relevant setting is shown on the infotainment display.

The optional Bolero infotainment system features a high-definition 8.0-inch touchscreen, including the In-Car Communication (ICC) function. The hands-free microphone records the driver’s voice, and transfers it to the back seats via the rear speakers.

The Amundsen navigation infotainment system builds on the capabilities of the Bolero system with a navigation function as well as a special display mode for driving off-road or even in narrow car parks. The top-of-the-range infotainment system, the Columbus navigation system, adds a 64-GB flash memory and DVD drive. An optional LTE module facilitates high-speed online access. Using a WLAN hotspot (optional), passengers can use their mobile devices to surf, stream and send emails at their convenience.

The optional Phonebox charges a smartphone inductively using the Qi standard and connects to the car aerial – both processes occur wirelessly. The Canton Sound System features ten speakers, including a subwoofer, and has a power output of 575 watts.

Five powertrains, two TDI (diesel) and three TSI (petrol) engines, make up the engine range at the launch of the Kodiaq.

The 2.0 TDI is available in two versions. The first version generates 148 bhp and 251 lb ft. The top-of-the-range version delivers 187  bhp and 295 lb ft. On average, the entry-level TDI consumes 5.0 l of diesel (56.5 mpg and 131 g CO2/km) per 100 km. The most powerful diesel engine accelerates the large SUV from 0-100 km/h in 8.6 s and reaches a top speed of up to 130 mph.

The Kodiaq is available with various transmission technologies. Depending on the engine, there is a 6-speed manual gearbox or DSG transmissions with six or seven speeds.

The new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is making its debut in a ŠKODA and has been designed for powerful engines with torque of up to 443 lb ft.

The driver can operate the 7-speed DSG in automatic mode, or control it manually using the gear lever or steering wheel paddles. In Eco mode the Kodiaq will coast at speeds above 12mph when the driver takes their foot off the accelerator. The all-wheel-drive system with electronic control is available for most engine variants.

The MacPherson front struts consist partially of aluminium; the steel four-link rear axle absorbs the longitudinal and transverse forces separately.

As an optional extra, Skoda is making Driving Mode Select available. It allows the driver to adjust the operation of the engine and DSG management, power steering, air conditioning and other systems in Normal, Eco, Sport and Individual modes. The all-wheel-drive versions also offer Snow mode, which adapts the operation of the ABS, ASR and ACC (if fitted) systems, as well as the engine management and electronically controlled, all-wheel, multi-plate clutch to slippery road conditions.

Adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) is also available as an option, and is integrated into Driving Mode Select. Here, electric valves control the work of the shock absorbers depending on the situation.