Handing a car back after testing it for months gives you the same feeling you get when you sell your own car, and you take one last look back at it.
It’s a sad feeling and that's exactly how I felt handing the keys to the Skoda Kodiaq Sportline back after living with it for the past three months.
As with all journalists at CarsGuide these test cars become part of our lives, whether it’s for one week or in this case, 12 weeks. As a parent with two young kids, the vehicles I test are thrown into the depths of suburban family life along with everything that falls out of the clouds.
This final month in the Skoda Kodiaq Sportline was no exception with 772km covered mostly within a 15km radius and this urban activity was reflected in the high 15.1L/100km fuel economy. It’s consistent with last month’s recorded 15.2L/100km, but not as good as the 13.5L/100km scored in the first month. A reminder, Skoda's official combined figure is 9.2L/100km.
Those fuel consumption figures are somewhat normal for a seven-seater SUV with a four cylinder turbo-petrol engine like the Kodiaq’s, doing the kind of short urban trips we run. I see the same result again and again in similar vehicles we test. Really, a hybrid would be a far more sensible choice for us and reduce consumption significantly.
Skoda will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the Kodiaq next year and this will bring much better fuel economy. The only catch being that this Kodiaq PHEV will be a five-seater only. But then, we rarely used the third row in ours and mainly kept those back seats folded and made use of the big boot.
This month saw us getting the most out of the Kodiaq’s cargo carrying ability as we hauled home plants, a mountain bike and the Christmas tree (see images).
We started to see signs of wear on the Kodiaq as we entered the third and final month of the loan. The left wing mirror groans when it reluctantly unfolds, the transmission appears to be getting grumpy with slightly rougher shifts at times and the suede-like material on the seats is looking… less suede like. But with almost 5000km now on the clock the Kodiaq is nearing service time.
And while we’ve been testing the Kodiaq I’ve also been in and out of other SUVs and it’s hard not to compare. The quality of the Kodiaq’s interior is outstanding compared to other SUVs, many of which look lovely but feel anything but.
And while the Kodiaq isn’t electric or as easy to drive as some EVs which involve jumping in and driving off, I’ve loved the grunty 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine.
As somebody who loves to drive, electric vehicles can leave me feeling a bit left out of what's going on. The engagement factor feels surgically removed with quiet motors, seamless transmissions and 'one-pedal' piloting.
The Kodiaq's engine snarls in Sport mode and growls on the downshifts from the steering wheel paddles. No dull CVT (continuously variable transmission) here, but a glorious dual-clutch automatic.
And despite its large size the Kodiaq handles with more agility than most rivals with an impressive braking response that was tested in real-life when a cyclist cut in front of me at a pedestrian crossing. Nobody was hurt apart from my takeaway dinner sitting on the passenger seat.
Also missed will be the practical family features - the sunshades in the side windows, the climate control for the second row, the media system that connects easily and the lack of a panoramic sunroof - seriously, giant glass domes and Aussie summer aren’t a great combination.
Actually I think my next long-term test car has one of those big glass roofs, but it’s also a hybrid. You’ll be able to read about life with that soon.
Goodbye Kodiaq, aka Big Blue.
Acquired: August 2025
Distance travelled this month: 772km
Odometer: 4798km
Average fuel consumption this month: 15.1L/100km
Skoda Kodiaq 2026: Sportline (4X4)
| Engine Type | Turbo 4, 2.0L |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type | |
| Fuel Efficiency | 9.2L/100km (combined) |
| Seating | 7 |
| Price From | $58,990 |
Verdict
The Skoda Kodiaq Sportline has been a helpful member of our clan these past three months, combining family friendly and practical features with a high-quality feel and stylish design. Surprisingly it's not as expensive as you may think, too.
Pricing Guides
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