What's the news?
Well, pictures of it leaked online hours before its big global reveal today (on September 1st, 2016), but you're looking at Skoda's first-ever SUV, the Kodiaq. Named after an Alaskan species of bear (presumably, using the Alutiiq name of 'Taquka-aq' would have been too much of a mouthful), this is the first in a wave of SUVs coming from the Volkswagen-owned Czech outfit.
Exterior
It's a large machine, the Kodiaq, sitting at 4,697mm long, 1,882mm wide and 1,676mm high; the wheelbase is 2,791mm and yes, it's an MQB platform underneath, so this seven-seat SUV is roughly related to the Volkswagen Golf. It wears all the traditional Skoda design signatures and it wears them well, the production Kodiaq looking very close in appearance to the Vision S concept that previewed it.
So, we have the shaped radiator grille with a prominent Skoda logo jutting into it on the bonnet above, we have rear light clusters that are similar to those found on the Superb, we have strong and crisp lines running along the Kodiaq's flanks and we have angular wheel arches. Skoda will offer 14 exterior paint colours and three trim levels (not confirmed for Ireland yet, but elsewhere they're called Active, Ambition and Style) and says the Kodiaq can be as trim as 1,452kg in front-wheel drive, entry-level TSI format. Even a four-wheel drive 1.4 TSI only clocks in at 1,540kg, so it's light and should therefore be relatively good on fuel - especially as its drag coefficient is 0.33.
Interior
Although we've cited the Kodiaq's length and although it's only 40mm longer than an Octavia that doesn't stop Skoda claiming 'larger than average interior room' for the SUV segment. We already saw the interior just the other day and we know it is a five-seat model as standard with the option to add two more chairs in the back to make it a seven-seater, Skoda's first. Boot space is colossal, rising from 720- to 2,065 litres (for the five-seat car; 630 litres in the seven-seat model, with 270 litres still on offer with the car full of human occupants). Luxuries such as a heated steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, leather trim, adaptive cruise control, high-end satnav and a raft of driver assist/connectivity/Simply Clever goodies make the Kodiaq an appealing proposition.
Mechanicals
Skoda has laid on a choice of five powertrains, two diesel and three petrol, for the launch of the Kodiaq. Both diesels are 2.0-litre TDI units, one delivering 150hp, 340Nm, 56.5mpg (5.0 litres/100km) and 131g/km CO2, the other packing 190hp and 400Nm, good enough for 0-100km/h in 8.6 seconds and a 210km/h top speed. There will be a third 115hp diesel unit coming in 2018.
Over on the petrol front is a pair of 1.4 TSI units and a 2.0-litre TSI, with power ratings of 125, 150 and 180hp. All engines feature direct injection, turbocharging (natch), brake energy recovery and a thermo-management system to maximise fuel economy. Drive goes to either the front wheels or all four, with a choice of six-speed manual or DSG automatic transmissions - the latter comes in both six- and seven-speed guises. Skoda has fitted the Kodiaq with multilink rear suspension and will offer the XDS+ electronic diff-lock, Driving Mode Select, adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control and a special off-road setting for the 4WD versions.
Anything else?
Skoda is hoping to sell 1,000 units in Ireland a year, however pricing will be key when the Kodiaq goes on sale here in February 2017, with some predicting it could only be a little more than the smaller Tiguan on which it is based - so the €35,000 ballpark wouldn't be out of the question. That would make it something of a bargain, compared to the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.