Skoda kodiaq RS 2021 Facelift With new light and digital cockpit
3With a fresh look, standard LED headlights, optional digital cockpit and revised engines, Skoda is refreshing its successful SUV Kodiaq . At the same time there is also a reunion with the RS - as a gasoline engine. The market launch for the facelift is now , but the sports version will probably not be available at dealers until later in the year. The facelift starts at 29,990 euros. For the Kodiaq RS, Skoda calls at least 48,990 euros.
The first distinguishing feature of the new Kodiaq is the modified grill. Its upper corners are now beveled. The headlights next to them are a bit narrower and have a slightly different signature - but what is more important: They now always come with LED technology , optionally or in the top equipment, the front light is even available in matrix LED for the first time . In the apron, the cutout for the lower air inlet has been redesigned, it now looks a bit larger on the sides. In addition, the whole thing now closes down with a small front spoiler.
The rear is adorned with a new spoiler , which is continued on the sides of the slightly flatter window by so-called finlets. There is no longer a logo on the trunk lid (in line with the current brand design), but rather a "Skoda" lettering. The taillights get a new interior, are of course always equipped with LED technology from now on and are almost always equipped with a wiper indicator. Only the base still comes with a standard turn signal. Other differences to the predecessor are the reflector, which becomes larger towards the outside, and the indicated diffuser of the rear apron.
Interior: digital cockpit and larger standard infotainment
AUTO BILD has already tried the seat in the Kodiaq RS facelift. As with its predecessor, Skoda works a lot with black and red accents in the interior. In the front you sit on electrically adjustable sports seats, the side bolsters of which keep you in position. The driver looks directly at the first major innovation: the 10.25-inch digital cockpit. With the RS it is standard, only available at an additional cost in most other equipment. In the Sport-Kodiaq, the digital speedometer is matched to the interior design, the predominant color is of course a sporty red. And that wasn't it yet, because as an SUV with sporty ambitions, the Kodiaq gets an additional display. You can usually choose between four display styles that focus on different information (e.g. consumption, the navigation map or classic round instruments). The additional view shows a large rev counter in the middle.
The gasoline engine from the GTI naturally does not offer the torque of the old diesel (500 Nm), but compensates for it with revving. In addition, there is now 65 kilograms less on the front axle. And thanks to the direct progressive steering, the driver forgets to sit in a voluminous SUV with a 2.79 meter wheelbase, it looks so handy. Of course, the Kodiaq RS cannot be thrown into the curve like a Golf GTI with a front axle lock. The Skoda offers all-wheel drive for this . This dampens understeer and improves traction when accelerating out of corners, which somewhat alleviates the difference in lateral dynamics compared to the Golf GTI . The bassy humming in sport mode comes from here tooSound generator, but it seems less synthetic than in the predecessor, where we preferred to switch off the sound generator . The new one is clearly the more charismatic RS. Driving fast and having no regrets at the pump, that doesn't go together with this petrol engine. We have not yet been able to measure the consumption exactly, but the on-board computer spits out 13 l / 100 km and more when driving hard.