Škoda Kodiaq RS First Drive Review - Performance In A Family Pack

Everyone loves SUVs! They are more practical and comfortable, and Lord knows how much your back appreciates that easy ingress and egress. But in a market of high-riding machines that prioritise high ground clearance over cornering fun, what happens to the enthusiast? Do you really stop chasing the thrills because sensibilities have caught up, or do you adapt to the changing times? Skoda seems to have found the middle-ground to this conundrum with the Kodiaq RS. The ‘RS’ badge has stood for the pinnacle of performance for the carmaker. Enthusiasts have revered it on the Octavia for the longest time. With the Kodiaq - it changes shape - but not intent.

Performance

The Kodiaq RS comes with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Now, this is the same engine as the regular Kodiaq, but power and torque have been bumped up. It now makes 261 bhp and 400 Nm of peak torque, and that’s a benefit of 60 bhp and 80 Nm, and it shows. 0–100 kmph comes up in just 6.3 seconds, with the top speed limited to 231 kmph. These are numbers on a family SUV.

Just put your foot on the throttle and it will just accelerate. It’s one fun SUV. It’s large, and not as agile as the Octavia RS. But much of the heft disappears when you’re behind the wheel. It almost feels like a hatchback, riding on stilts.

Handling

And it’s not just about the acceleration. Yes, that is fantastic, but this mammoth-sized SUV is effortless around a corner. The Dynamic Chassis Control Plus or adaptive suspension, ensures the suspension has been stiffened up to take on corners better. There is a notable difference in how the Kodiaq RS behaves around a bend over the regular model. It’s more composed and lateral movement is very well contained. The bigger wheels help for better grip, and the cornering effort is a whole lot of fun.

Ride Quality

What truly impresses about the Kodiaq RS isn’t just its performance. Yes, that is the mainstay. That’s why you’re here, because it makes you feel things. It makes you feel entertained. And if you’re looking for thrills without compromising on comfort, this has plenty to offer in both those worlds. But it’s not just the performance that makes it impressive. It’s actually very practical as a car. There are multiple driving modes, thanks to DCC+ and the Comfort mode is surprisingly pliant for everyday use. It nearly glides over every undulation. There is, of course, an underlying firmness throughout the suspension, irrespective of the mode you are in. But for most conditions, the Comfort mode handles the bad patches well.

Braking

Another aspect where Skoda has worked a lot is the braking. The Kodiaq RS gets bigger brakes with larger discs with twin-pot calipers. Stopping power is excellent with a sharp bite at the pedal and the SUV comes to a halt without much drama.

Styling 

The design and silhouette remain unchanged, which means there’s little room to play around. Skoda makes subtle changes to make it appear powerful. The chrome finish has been replaced with a blacked-out grille with the ‘RS’ badge on the powerful Kodiaq. The RS bumper looks sharper with the larger air intake, while the sculpted lines continue to give the SUV an aggressive stance. The larger 20-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers and low profile tyres look menacing on the SUV.

The window surrounds get a gloss black finish, while the D-pillar has been blacked-out for a floating roof effect. The rear gets blacked-out badges, a redesigned bumper with mesh inserts, and dual exhaust. The changes give it a more chiselled look over the regular version. And making it sound menacing is that exhaust note, especially in the Sport mode.

Cabin

The cabin goes all-black on the Kodiaq RS, much like the branding on the exterior. You have sports seats up front. These are covered in leather upholstery, and I think they look fantastic. Adding some contrast to the all-black theme is the red stitching on the dashboard and seats. You never go wrong with this combination, while there is ‘RS’ embroidered on the headrests for that special feel.

The front seats hold on to you snug around sharp corners, while the cushioning is excellent for long trips. The second row is spacious and in true-SUV fashion, you have ample room to be chauffeured in. There’s also a panoramic sunroof for a roomier feel, while the sunblinds lend an extra bit of privacy.

And let’s not forget, there is a third row available, albeit, it is best for kids or to haul luggage. You get about 281 litres of boot capacity with the third row up, which can be expanded to a more usable 786 litres.

Features

The RS carries over most features from the regular Kodiaq, including the 10.25-inch digital instrument console, a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, three-zone climate control, ambient lightning, and a 13-speaker premium sound system. The sport seats at the front are electrically adjustable and come with a memory function, along with heating and cooling functions for an extra layer of comfort.

India gets the UK-spec Kodiaq RS as a full-import. That said, we would’ve liked to see a few more features on the Indian version. This includes a blind-view monitor, while the camera quality could simply be better. This is a problem across VW Group cars in this space, and the camera quality leaves you disappointed often. Lastly, having a massage function in the front seats would’ve been fantastic.

Safety

The Kodiaq RS comes with 9 airbags along with a host of electronic aids as standard. You also get Level 2 ADAS that brings adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, rear traffic alert, and more.

Verdict

The Skoda Kodiaq RS is not exactly a thought-out purchase. It’s a CBU, which means it’s going to cost a small fortune in the ₹60-65 lakh (ex-showroom) vicinity. And outside of the extra power and that black branding, there’s no exact upgrade on the car compared to the regular Kodiaq. So why are you paying so much? The whole point of the RS badge is to make you feel things at a relatively accessible price point. With the Kodiaq, your family will be as comfortable as you are, and that’s kind of the point. This has evolved into a machine that still gives you the thrills without compromising on family time. You could enter the luxury territory for the same price as the Kodiaq RS, or you could get this. Not only would the Kodiaq RS be bigger than a Mercedes-Benz GLA or BMW X1, but more entertaining too. However, before you make up your mind to bring one home, let me put the plug on your dreams. All 50 examples coming to India have been sold out, which means this is as exclusive as it gets. The RS fans have spoken, it seems.