The Skoda Kodiaq vRS Is A 237bhp Mover Of People And Things

Skoda has revealed its twin-turbo diesel-powered vRS'd SUV, which has been visually enhanced with 20-inch wheels and other sporty trinkets
The Skoda Kodiaq vRS Is A 237bhp Mover Of People And Things

Does the world need another sporty SUV? We’d be inclined to say no. And yet, we can’t help but be drawn to this new one from Skoda.

It’s a vRS version of the Kodiaq, and, we must say, it’s a handsome devil. It’s been given a commendably restrained visual makeover, with new front and rear bumpers, some gloss black bits, 20-inch alloy wheels, and…that’s about it.

The Skoda Kodiaq vRS Is A 237bhp Mover Of People And Things

What we have here is a hot SUV for sensible types, and there’s nothing wrong with that. How sensible? Well, it’s just as practical as the standard Kodiaq, with a 600-litre boot and the option to spec one as a seven-seater.

It’s perhaps more ‘warm’ than ‘hot’, though. Under the bonnet you’ll find a 2.0-litre inline-four twin-turbodiesel, kicking out 237bhp and 369lb ft of torque to all four wheels via a Haldex-based four-wheel drive system. 0-62mph takes seven seconds dead, while the top speed is 137mph.

The Skoda Kodiaq vRS Is A 237bhp Mover Of People And Things

Curiously, that acceleration figure is three tenths down on that of the Tiguan Allspace - the VW equivalent of the Kodiaq - in ‘240’ form, which uses exactly the same engine. That said, you do at least get some lovely-looking Alcantara-clad bucket seats in the cabin of the Skoda. Perhaps less welcome is the addition of augmented engine sound piped through the speakers, which will hopefully be easy to switch off…

The Skoda Kodiaq vRS Is A 237bhp Mover Of People And Things

Another thing the Tiguan Allspace doesn’t have is a Nurburgring record. Yep, Skoda has gone to the effort with the warmed-up Kodiaq, although with the current record being Alfa Romeo’s Stelvio Quadrifoglio - which has over double the power - the outright SUV record was never going to happen. The Kodiaq’s 9min 29.84sec lap at the hands of Sabine Schmitz is a minute and 38 seconds off the Stelvio Q’s, but the Czech company found a neat little loophole - the effort is brisk enough to give the vehicle the record for seven-seater SUVs. Clever.

UK prices haven’t been revealed just yet, but we’re expecting a starting figure approaching £40,000. It’ll be on display at the Paris Motor Show from Tuesday.

Comments

Raptor867

Amazing

10/01/2018 - 14:22 |
2 | 2
Anonymous

New crew car incoming

10/01/2018 - 14:36 |
22 | 0
Anonymous

Do we actually need this?

10/01/2018 - 14:42 |
56 | 2
Tomislav Celić

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

We don’t

10/01/2018 - 15:12 |
40 | 0
CannedRex24

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

But we won’t get a Fabia VRS for some reason…..

This still looks quite nice though

10/01/2018 - 17:11 |
38 | 0
GunMax

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

If you need a Kodiaq, you should by the one with 1.5 TSI or 2.0 TDI. You buy the VRS because you want it.

10/02/2018 - 03:58 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Nope

10/03/2018 - 08:37 |
0 | 0
James 33

Just buy an sQ5 rather then buying this pile of cheap plastic

10/01/2018 - 15:19 |
4 | 4

Different price points though.

10/01/2018 - 18:04 |
0 | 0

Or get an Octavia Estate for moving stuff and an MX-5 for driving pleasure…

This Kodiaq is the definition of “the worst of both worlds”… relatively expensive and inefficient, yet doesnt give the sound and excitement of a proper sportscar

10/01/2018 - 19:19 |
2 | 0

Yeah man. Why don’t I just buy an rs6 instead of my focus ST?

10/02/2018 - 08:09 |
0 | 0
TheDriver 1

I just like the fact they haven’t gone too mad with the styling over the standard car. They have realised it looked good already and decided not to mess with it.

10/01/2018 - 17:06 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

I can’t imagine something more pointless than this… Oh wait… There are some cabrio SUVs

10/01/2018 - 18:36 |
8 | 0
Dave 12

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That I do get. Driving an open topped wrangler on Ibiza has to be a highlight of my driving life.

10/02/2018 - 07:09 |
0 | 0
Jeremiah Tichy

10/10 would buy

10/01/2018 - 19:02 |
0 | 0
675LT_ftw

Okay.. it’s finally happening….

10/01/2018 - 19:16 |
2 | 0
CarGuy 5

Am I the only one who is genuinely tempted and interested in this? My call my local dealer for info tomorrow

10/01/2018 - 19:30 |
4 | 0

If you want to spend less and have more space and power theres still the superb estate if it doesnt have to be a suv

10/02/2018 - 09:56 |
2 | 0
Jelly

I could deal with this, bit of low and turbomacs

10/01/2018 - 21:50 |
2 | 0

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