Skoda Kodiaq Spotted Testing In India For The First Time — Launch Imminent?

The Kodiaq is a 7-seater SUV from Skoda and will rival Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.

Updated: Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 11:44 [IST]

Skoda has a few new models lined up this year, like the new Octavia, the vRS and their new flagship SUV, the Kodiaq.

Skoda Kodiaq Spotted Testing In India For The First Time

The Kodaiq SUV is expected to be launched in India during the festive season, and ahead of the launch, the undisguised SUV has been spotted testing in the country by a Team-BHP member. This is the first time the Kodaiq has been spotted in the country.

To keep the prices competitive, the Skoda Kodiaq will be assembled as a Completely Knocked down Kit (CKD) at the company's plant in Aurangabad. Prices are expected to be in the range of Rs 24 lakh - Rs 30 lakh (ex-showroom), to rival the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.

The exterior of the Kodiaq holds Skoda's distinctive angular lines, butterfly grille, sleek two-tier headlamps, and LED taillamps.

The 7-seater SUV measures 4,697 mm long, 1,882 mm wide, 1,667 mm tall and has a 2,791 mm wheelbase. As for the interiors, the Kodiaq offers a typical pair of foldable seats in the third row as an option. The boot volume of 720 litres (with the third row folded), can be extended to 2,065 litres with the second row folded.

Features expected on Kodiaq for the India-spec model are the latest Skoda Connect touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, start/stop button on the steering column, hands-free tailgate operation, an umbrella tucked inside the doors, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-operated driver and passenger seats.

For India, Skoda could offer the Kodaiq with a 1.4-litre TSI four-cylinder petrol engine churning out 153bhp and a 2.0-litre TDI engine developing 187bhp.

A DSG automatic gearbox could be regular on both models, while an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system with Skoda's Adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control may be restricted to the diesel variant.