Booking for Skoda Kodiaq SUV starts ahead of India launch in mid-2017

Czech automobile manufacturer Skoda is inching closer to the launch of its flagship SUV, the Kodiaq in India. The company recently updated its website with listing Kodiaq as a 'coming soon' model. The company is expected to launch the SUV in June or July, while many company dealerships have already started accepting bookings.

Also read: Skoda Karoq is the name of next-gen compact SUV, will replace Yeti

Booking amount for the Kodiaq is Rs 25,000 as confirmed by a dealer in Bengaluru. The booking amount may vary from dealer to dealer. A report in Financial Express says it is Rs 51,000 in Delhi. Dealers are expecting delivery of the SUV only by October or November.

Expected to be priced from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh, the Kodiaq is the seven-seater SUV of Skoda unveiled globally last year. It is expected to offer in India in five-seater version as well. The Kodiaq will go up against the like of Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour in India.

Globally, the Skoda Kodiaq gets choice of five engines. The India-spec model is expected to get 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines. The four-cylinder turbocharged petrol mill is expected produce 177hp of power and 320Nm of peak torque. The diesel mill will be available in two state of tunes- 147hp/340Nm and 187hp/ 400Nm. Both engines will be to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission as standard and power will be transmitted to all four wheels.

The Kodiaq is based on the same MQB platform that also underpins the upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan in India. It is 4,697mm long, 1,882mm wide and 1,676mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,791mm.

The Kodiaq is the first SUV extracted from the VisionS design study concept, Skoda unveiled at the 86th Geneva Motor Show in March. The SUV features a design influenced by Czech cubism and the tradition of Bohemian crystal art. Kodiaq comes with a precise and crisp body lines and a face similar to the current generation cars of Skoda. The long wheelbase and short overhangs point to the large interior and the wheel arches are slightly angular.

Expected to be offered in three trim levels – Active, Ambition and Style, the Kodiaq is expected to include Touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone automatic climate control, engine start/stop function, electric driver seat and many more.