Skip advert
Advertisement

New 2018 Skoda Kodiaq vRS uncovered at Paris with 237bhp

The covers have come off the hot Skoda Kodiaq vRS SUV at the 2018 Paris Motor Show

This is the new Skoda Kodiaq vRS: the first SUV to receive the Czech brand’s hot treatment. It’s been revealed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, and is the second current Skoda to wear the vRS badge, following the Octavia. But unlike the petrol-driven hatch, the Kodiaq turns to diesel power

Advertisement - Article continues below

Under the bonnet sits a bi-turbo 2.0-litre unit. It’s essentially the same engine that’s fitted to the Volkswagen Tiguan, and produces identical outputs of 237bhp and 500Nm of torque.

• New Skoda Vision RS concept revealed 

Drive is sent through a seven-speed DSG gearbox to all four wheels, enough to shift the big SUV from 0-62mph in seven seconds flat and a top speed of 137mph. To give a little extra audible excitement, a sound boost system amplifies the engine’s exhaust note - a first for Skoda.

A few chassis tweaks have also been made to make the Kodiaq vRS feel sportier from behind the wheel. A drive mode select system with six different settings - Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual and Snow - lets the driver tweak the rate of the adaptive dampers to suit the road conditions, while a progressive steering system adjusts the speed of the rack, allowing for a weighted, precise response when driving quickly, and a lighter, quicker feel to make low speed driving easier. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

The engine and suspension changes have resulted in the Kodiaq vRS lapping the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit in 9 minutes, 29.84 seconds at the hands of Sabine Schmitz - a lap record for a seven-seat SUV.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Inside the Kodaiq’s roomy cabin - available only as a seven seater in the UK - the vRS treatment continues. Sports front seats are trimmed in a mix of leather and alcantara, and feature integrated headrests. Red contrast stitching appears on the seats, armrests, door trims, gear selector gaiter and steering wheel, while the roof lining is finished in black.

• Best fast family cars on sale

The dash itself follows the same sporty theme. There’s carbon trim running through the centre of the dash and along the door cards, while the driver is treated to a flat-bottomed steering wheel with vRS badging.

Outside there’s a similarly purposeful look. Up front, the bumper gets an additional intake below the Kodiaq's standard full-width intake. The chrome trim on the grille is blacked out, as is the brightwork on the window trims and roof rails. The boxy arches house 20-inch alloy wheels, while the rear is finished off with a full-width reflector strip and chrome exhaust tips.

Skoda claims that the Kodiaq vRS will achieve  44.1mpg and emit 167g/km of CO2. Switching into ‘Eco’ mode allows the Kodiaq to coast in neutral, which saves fuel when approaching a stop, as does the ability to drive in a front-wheel drive only mode. 

The Kodiaq vRS, will be priced at £42,870, with an official launch date scheduled for January 2019.

Click here for all the latest from the 2018 Paris Motor Show...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Chief reviewer

Alex joined Auto Express as staff writer in early 2018, helping out with news, drives, features, and the occasional sports report. His current role of Chief reviewer sees him head up our road test team, which gives readers the full lowdown on our comparison tests.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best new car deals 2024
Best new car deals - header image
Best cars & vans

Best new car deals 2024

Thinking of buying a new car? These are some of the best new car deals on the market right now…
26 Jan 2024
Top 10 best 7-seater cars to buy 2024
Best 7-seater cars - header image
Best cars & vans

Top 10 best 7-seater cars to buy 2024

We pick the best seven-seat cars that provide the most practicality across a wide range of price points
23 Jan 2024
Top 10 best SUVs to buy 2024
Best SUVs - header image
Best cars & vans

Top 10 best SUVs to buy 2024

We name the top 10 best SUVs and 4x4s you can buy on the new car market today
23 Jan 2024
Best used large SUVs and 4x4s 2024
Best used large SUVs and 4x4s - header image
Best cars & vans

Best used large SUVs and 4x4s 2024

The best used large SUVs and 4x4s in the business offer space, practicality, performance and low running costs
9 Jan 2024

Most Popular

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024