Skoda Kodiaq review - MPG, running costs & CO2 emissions

The Skoda Kodiaq is available from launch with a range of petrol and diesel engines that are fairly economical on paper. Whereas the outgoing Kodiaq’s 1.5-litre petrol engine barely managed over 40mpg, the latest version is mild-hybrid assisted to help eek as much performance and fuel efficiency as possible, and its figure has been improved as a result. There are two diesels to choose from which are a good match for buyers that do a lot of motorway miles. 

Of the diesels, the two-wheel drive version is the most economical, with fuel efficiency taking quite a big hit on four-wheel-drive models, with figures of around 9mpg less.

Bear in mind the above figures will be detrimentally affected a smidge by going for the slightly heavier seven-seater model, so it’s worth checking the figure quoted on the configurator when speccing the car if fuel economy is particularly important to your buying decision.

A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) using the 1.5-litre petrol and an electric motor will arrive later, but full details are yet to be confirmed. It’s likely this model will be the cheapest to run so long as you keep its battery topped up regularly, and Skoda has already said it will get 62 miles of electric range, matching the new Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV. That electric figure is impressive for a PHEV and will come in useful for shorter trips. It should also equate to lower CO2 emissions and it’s safe to bet this will be the cheapest model to run as a company car as it will likely sit in a lower BiK (Benefit-in-Kind) tax bracket.

The PHEV is capable of charging at speeds up to 50kW, meaning a 10-80% charge of its battery will take as little as 25 minutes.
 

How efficient is the Skoda Kodiaq in the real world?

When we tested the Skoda Kodiaq, we found the two-wheel drive 2.0-litre TDI diesel’s fuel efficiency to be less than its quoted figure of 51.7mpg (for the seven-seat model). We managed around 47.7mpg on a mixture of roads, which is still fairly impressive. 

We also got a chance to try the yet-to-be-released Kodiaq PHEV, which managed a respectable 55 miles to a charge, in comparison to its on-paper 62-mile figure.

What will the Skoda Kodiaq cost to insure?

The Skoda Kodiaq’s insurance groupings have yet to be confirmed and revealed, but the old car sat between groups 15-29 out of 50. We wouldn’t expect these groups to change massively, although there is a chance they could. Traditionally that’s made the Kodiaq more affordable to insure than cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan, so time will tell whether this is still the case.