Skoda Kodiaq Launch Edition 2025 review: snapshot

To help get the new-generation Skoda Kodiaq out of the blocks with a bang an initial batch of 100 Launch Edition cars will be offered at $63,490 before on-road costs. Based on the entry-grade Select it adds power adjustable and massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats, ‘Dynamic Chassis Control’ (including adaptive dampers), auto parking, a surround camera view, matrix LED headlights, Canton 12-speaker audio, a head-up display and a panoramic glass sunroof. 

At 4758mm long the new Kodiaq is around 60mm longer overall than its predecessor but the wheelbase (2791mm) has only grown by 1.0mm. Yet Skoda claims the interior, including the third row space, is more generous.

All Kodiaq variants are powered by the same 140kW/320Nm ‘140TSI’ 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine driving all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission and two coaxial (wet) multi-disc clutch packs.

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Explore the 2025 Skoda Kodiaq Range

Skoda Kodiaq 2026 review: Plug-in Hybrid – Australian first drive Skoda Kodiaq 2025 review: RS - Australian first drive Skoda Kodiaq 2025 review: 140TSI Select Skoda Kodiaq Launch Edition 2025 review: snapshot Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 2025 review: snapshot Skoda Kodiaq Select 2025 review: snapshot

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Skoda’s official fuel consumption figure for the Kodiaq 140TSI, on the combined (urban/extra-urban) cycle is 9.2L/100km, which is a reminder we’re dealing with a roughly 1.8-tonne, three-row, seven-seat SUV powered by a 2.0-litre engine. Minimum fuel requirement is 95 RON premium unleaded and with a 58-litre tank theoretical range is around 630km.

The second-gen Kodiaq has been given a maximum five-star ANCAP assessment and there’s a swag of new or upgraded crash-avoidance tech on board, including a head-up display with traffic sign recognition, predictive adaptive cruise control, upgraded lane assist with adaptive lane guidance, improved AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, turn assist, traffic sign recognition, recalibrated driver fatigue detection and traffic jam assist. And if, despite all that, a crash is unavoidable there are nine airbags fitted.

The Kodiaq is covered by Skoda’s seven-year/unlimited-km warranty, which is ahead of the mainstream five-year warranty pack, although a little short of some, like MG and Mitsubishi at 10 years.

Scheduled servicing is every 12 months/15,000km, which is the expected norm for the category, and costs are still being fine-turned. That said, you can expect pre-paid service pack pricing of around $2750 for seven years, or an average of roughly $393 per service, which is on the money for the category.