Should you buy one?

Yes. The new Skoda Kodiaq is roomy and bristling with practical features, restful at speed, and comes well equipped for the money. If you’re after a seven-seater for a growing family that’s easy to live with, soothing and has an inviting interior, step this way.

Its closest rival, the Kia Sorento offers better build quality and a longer warranty, but in all other aspects, the Skoda is ahead. The Peugeot 5008 is about to be replaced, and could be a spoiler as long as it doesn’t end up being too expensive. But for now, the Kodiaq is the one to go for unless you’re on a tight budget, then you might want to look at a SEAT Tarraco, which often attracts cheap finance deals.

While not plush as more premium rivals, or engaging as sportier alternatives, take the Kodiaq for what it is, and it’s a lovely package – better in every way than its predecessor, and one of the best family cars on the market. 

What we like

The Kodiaq is massively spacious, with a huge boot and acres of space in the first and second rows. There are so many touches dotted around the cabin that help to make life that bit easier – a Skoda speciality. We like that customers still have the choice of a petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrids, with the latter being especially impressive courtesy of a real-world electric range of more than 60 miles. Combine generous equipment levels with a modern yet user-friendly interior and the Kodiaq is about the perfect package for a family SUV. 

What we don’t like

There’s not much we don’t like. Some might hope the Kodiaq might be a bit sportier while others but we think the right balance has been struck. Optional extras are also quite expensive on the Kodiaq too, which is something shared with many Skodas.