In the first impressions directly from Catalonia, we brought you experiences with two opposites in the form of a basic 1500 and a top diesel 2.0 TDI with 142 kW and 4×4 drive. Now it has reached a weaker diesel and a plug-in with a very interesting electric range.
On Tuesday, I wrote down my first impressions of the second generation Škoda Kodiaq SUV from the surroundings of Barcelona, Spain. Last year, it was the third best-selling model for the car manufacturer from Mladá Boleslav, which also fills the company’s coffers nicely thanks to higher margins. I completed the premiere kilometers behind the wheel of the entry-level 1.5 TSI unit with 110 kilowatts and mild-hybrid assistance, which surprised me with its low consumption and very high level of refinement.
The diesel 2.0 TDI (142 kW) is currently the only version that can be paired with all-wheel drive. And according to the first reports, it is by far the most popular drive among customers who have already ordered the new Škoda Kodiaq.
Nevertheless, we should not forget about the rest of the portfolio either. For those who don’t mind only the front axle being driven and travel tens of thousands of kilometers a year, they should try the basic diesel 2.0 TDI with an output of 110 kilowatts.
When you don’t have to have everything
The price difference between the 2.0 TDI with 110 and 142 kW reaches a significant 130,000. Those who put up with the absence of a four-wheel drive will be very satisfied with the less powerful variant. Unlike its more powerful sibling, the smaller turbocharger kicks in faster and at lower revs. After all, the cheaper diesel available at 3000-4000 revolutions has its maximum power, while the 2.0 TDI with 142 kilowatts is up to 500 revolutions higher. In reality, the difference of 40 newton meters (360 vs. 400 Nm) is slightly reduced by the roughly 70 kilograms lighter 110 kilowatt model, in which full torque starts a little earlier (1600 vs. 1750 revolutions). The top diesel, on the other hand, counters with a wider range of maximums, which ends at 3250 rpm, while the diesel base is 500 rpm earlier.
During the approximately 120-kilometer transfer from the hotel to Barcelona airport in morning traffic, which led us primarily along highways and city stretches with a maximum speed of 80 km/h, the Kodiaq on 19″ wheels shone with great efficiency.
Without hanging around and trying to save diesel, I arrived at the airport with a consumption of 5.5 l/100 km. Colleagues in another car with the cruise control on even managed to reduce consumption to 4.7 liters, which for a 1659 millimeter high SUV with greater aerodynamic resistance and a weight of over seventeen meters represents a really great result, the achievement of which does not require much effort.
Personally, I found the more lively expression of this version more sympathetic, after all, as in the past. Even earlier, the variants with 140 and 147 kilowatts were intended primarily for highway operation. Their advantages only stood out at around two thousand revolutions. With a smaller load, you couldn’t help but notice the delay, which is logically smaller for a weaker diesel. It therefore reacts faster to the commands of the right foot, although the difference in acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h reaches 1.8 seconds.
My secret tip
The plug-in hybrid drive requires a specific driving profile, when during the week you drive primarily around the city and before the weekend you fly over some of the highways from one side of the country to the other without worrying about recharging.
Skoda Kodiaq received this combined system for the very first time. In contrast to the older solution, the second generation combining a 1.5 TSI four-cylinder with an 85kW electric motor is beginning to gain ground in the Volkswagen concern. In the Czech SUV, this pair together gives 150 kilowatts, ten less than the previous version with fourteen.
But while the original plug-in relied on a traction battery with a total capacity of 13 kWh, in the Kodiaq you have twice as much (25.7 kWh) available, with 19.7 kilowatt hours usable. And with such a portion, most of us can function for several days without consuming even a drop of gasoline. In Catalonia, the new plug-in hybrid was more of an accessory, but even on a roughly 40-kilometer stretch, it was able to pull out the trump cards.
The sophistication of the electric drive is addictive, at least during routine driving. The dynamics in purely electric driving are more than sufficient. Skoda Kodiaq reacts quickly and without initial hesitation. In motion, the cabin mainly hears the rolling noise from the tires and the whistling from the large exterior mirrors.
Thanks to the large battery, Škoda promises up to 100 locally emission-free kilometers per charge. Without major restrictions, the SUV can manage between 80 and 90 of them, which is not bad at all. This roughly corresponds to a two- to three-day drive around a larger city, while the plug-in hybrid Octavia with the outgoing generation of the Superb model can handle about half the portion. Those who are not comfortable with the limitations associated with a classic electric car could be satisfied with the plug-in hybrid Škoda Kodiaq.
Personally, I like the velvetiness with which the turbocharged 1500 connects to this design. Its sound is very well muffled, it only becomes noticeable during a sharp draft. The noise is emotionally more pronounced, as it usually disturbs the otherwise very relaxed atmosphere created by the electric motor.
Personally, the only thing missing from the plug-in was physical buttons, with which I could directly switch between individual drive types. Otherwise, I was pleased with the partially electrified Kodiaq. With my driving schedule, when during the week I mainly move around Prague and the surrounding area and during the weekend I need to drive hundreds of kilometers, I would be an ideal customer for a similar plug-in with a larger battery. The car also has a 45-liter gas tank, so the combined range is around 600 kilometers or more.
The disadvantage of the plug-in hybrid model is the higher weight, which reaches at least 1838 kilograms. The second heaviest version (2.0 TDI/142 kW 4×4) weighs 115 kg less. However, during a short drive, I did not notice significant negatives. The battery is stored in the floor, so its center of gravity is low. The transport capacity is not bad either. If the conventional Kodiaq in the five-seat version takes 910 liters, the plug-in still carries a respectable 745 liters. The question remains the price, which Škoda has not yet disclosed.
2024-04-12 16:52:00
#Škoda #Kodiaq #weaker #TDI #plugin #hybrid #drive
