New 2021 Skoda Kodiaq facelift brings tougher looks and new vRS

Skoda has unveiled a mid-lifestyle facelift for its biggest SUV, the Kodiaq. It arrives four yrs into the model’s lifespan, and it marks a milestone in the brand’s latest SUV offensive – this was the auto that kickstarted the brand’s force into several SUV markets, with more compact choices these kinds of as the Karoq and Kamiq, and the new all-electric Enyaq, as well. 

In accordance to Skoda layout head Oliver Stefani, layout alterations for the facelift are intended to give the Kodiaq a “crisper” appear, with the most significant alterations coming at the front conclusion of the auto. 

The nose has been lifted with a new, taller and much more upright grille and a flatter bonnet. The headlights are slimmer than before and run by LED technology as normal, with matrix LED headlights now readily available on the Kodiaq for the pretty first time, reserved for large-spec styles. There is also a new front bumper. 

All over the again, new LED taillights contribute to a much more intricate appear. On SE trim variants and previously mentioned, dynamic indicators are integrated. New wheels seventeen to 20 inches in layout are readily available as well. 

On the inside, the Kodiaq is a receiver of a new steering wheel readily available in two and three-spoke styles based on the trim level. New attractive trim strips and contrasting stitching are readily available, though the inside ambient lights technique is much more expansive than before. 

The Kodiaq is now readily available with both of those heated and ventilated front seats with a therapeutic massage operate – these are normal on the selection-topping L&K trim version. The optional surround audio technique from specialist Canton is now a 10 speaker setup, when compared with the eight speaker setup of outdated. 

The infotainment hardware continues to be as before, this means central touchscreens eight and nine.2-inches in sizing are readily available, along with a 10.25-inch thoroughly electronic instrument panel. Skoda’s ‘Laura’ voice assistant application is readily available along with smartphone connectivity and navigation. 

Driver help and safety technology is created on with the inclusion of Crew Shield Aid. This characteristics more radars at the rear of the auto that can examine and react to autos approaching from driving that could pose a threat of a rear conclusion collision. 

The standard petrol and diesel motor line-up carries in excess of unchanged. It kicks off with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol motor developing 148bhp and sending travel to the front wheels through a six-pace manual gearbox or a 7-pace automated. A 187bhp 2.-litre petrol motor with four-wheel-travel is also presented. 

Both diesel selections are centered on a 2.-litre TDI motor with possibly 148bhp or 197bhp – both of those with a 7-pace DSG transmission and the latter fitted by default with four-wheel-travel. 

The facelift marks the return of the vRS design to the Kodiaq line-up. Like the facelift utilized elsewhere in the selection it receives a visual update along the exact same strains with a much more imposing front conclusion, new headlights and taillights, and a new front bumper, though the sporty inside full with significant athletics seats is upholstered in black microfibre. The 10.25-inch digital cockpit is normal tools. 

The most significant modify reserved for the new vRS, however, is the fitment of a petrol motor. Although the earlier version employed a bi-turbocharged 2.-litre diesel device, the new warm Kodiaq borrows its motor from the newest Volkswagen Golf GTI. It’s a turbocharged 2.-litre four-cylinder petrol motor developing 242bhp. No effectiveness technical specs have been declared, but Skoda says it is 60kg lighter than the diesel device in the outdated design. 

The new Kodiaq goes on sale in July and will be readily available in S, SE, SE L and SportLine trim variants, plus the luxurious oriented L&K design and the effectiveness tilted vRS. If the United kingdom line-up is to continue to be consistent with the pre-facelift design, the selection will open up in Britain with the SE auto, with rates probable all around the £27,000 mark.

Click on below to examine our in-depth evaluation of the pre-facelifted Skoda Kodiaq…