Skoda at the Auto Expo 2020 announced the transition of the Kodiaq into the BS6 emission standards. The SUV has been on sale in India with only a BS4 compliant diesel unit on offer, but now the brand has offered the Skoda Kodiaq with a BS6 compliant Petrol engine. Skoda, Volkswagen and Audi as a group are going to focus on petrol engines in the near future when the BS6 deadlines arrive, and beyond.
The Kodiaq will now come with a 2.0-litre, TSI petrol motor which makes 190 HP of power and 320 Nm of torque coupled to a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission. Skoda has not yet updated the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine to BS6 compliance. This diesel engine on the Kodiaq makes 150 PS of power and 340 Nm of torque coupled to a 7-speed DSG gearbox.
Except for the change in powertrain, the Skoda Kodiaq largely remains the same. The model showcased at the Auto Expo 2020 was the top-trim Laurin & Klement (L&K) and features chrome elements on the grille, chrome elements on the rear diffuser, chrome window sills, silver roof rails, ‘Laurin & Klement’ inscription on the front fenders, black claddings on the bumper and wheel arches, alloy wheels, full LED adaptive headlight with automatic levelling and curve, LED day time running lights, LED tail lights with crystalline effect, electric opening and closing boot lid with virtual boot release pedal. On the interior, the Skoda Kodiaq features automatic climate control, ‘virtual cockpit’ instrument system, LED ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, 12 way electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats, 360-degree camera etc.
In terms of safety, the Skoda Kodiaq comes with features like fatigue detection, multi-collision brake, cornering light function, parking assist along with other standard features such as multiple airbags, ABS, EBD etc.
The Skoda Kodiaq 2.0-litre TSI is likely to be priced around INR 30 – 35 lakh, which is around the same figure as the BS4 diesel model. The Skoda Kodiaq in the Indian market competes with other SUVs such as the Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.