Skoda Kodiaq review

Prices now start at £38,140 for a base Kodiaq SE in 148bhp petrol form. Add £860 if you want this to have the third row of seats, or £2,290 if you’d rather have an identically powered diesel engine. Lease costs start at £380 and £415 respectively.

The more powerful Kodiaq 4x4 variants require you to step up to SE L trim, and cost from £46,350 in petrol and £48,120 in diesel guise. There you’re looking at an extra £135 and £100 in monthly repayments over the same four-year term.

Meanwhile the plug-in hybrid (which is available in base SE trim) will set you back from £42,045, but company car drivers will love it for its six per cent BIK rate. Less so much the vRS, which starts from £53,650. Yikes.

What's the kit list like?

Equipment is strong. The 13in central touchscreen, 10.25in digital dash and tri-zone climate control are all standard, as are heated front seats and keyless start (if not keyless entry, weirdly). You get 18in alloys and front and rear LED lights, too, as well as a tonne of active safety stuff.

Optional are a host of smart parking systems that will remotely park the car via an app, as well as remember common manoeuvres at places it recognises.

Upgrading to SE L spec brings larger 19in wheels, keyless entry, multi-talented LED matrix lights up front, leather seats inside plus electrical operation for the driver’s seat and boot opening, while one above Sportline trim comes with 20in wheels, upgraded suspension, sportier body kit, adaptive cruise control and microsuede interior trim.

The top level vRS gets a front light strip, gloss black body detailing, 20in black alloys, two-piston gloss red calipers and stainless steel exhaust tips. Step inside and you’ll find sporty vRS-branded steering wheel and seats, black upholstery and headlining, much red stitching and stainless steel pedals.

Which one should I pick?

The UK is the Kodiaq’s second most voracious market behind Germany and ahead of Skoda’s Czech homeland. The pressures of company car schemes suggest many buyers here will go for the plug-in hybrid.

As a private buyer, we'd be tempted to stick to simple internal combustion to save money and weight. The 148bhp mild-hybrid in SE trim ought to be enough while the diesels feel right on point for comfort and ease of use.