Skoda Kodiaq vRS Review 2026
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=640&height=426&rmode=crop)
Skoda Kodiaq vRS Verdict
Based on award-winning Skoda Kodiaq. Combines practicality with performance.
Starts at around £43,000. Firm ride. Fake noise can get irritating. Doesn't feel that quick.
Find out more about the Skoda Kodiaq vRS
If you long for an old school hot hatch but need a practical SUV for carrying the family, the Skoda Kodiaq vRS is for you. It's a £43,000 seven-seater, powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine producing 240PS and a hefty 500Nm of torque.
While Skoda makes bold claims about the Kodiaq vRS's abilities on a race track, we're more interested in the fact that it's based on our 2019 SUV of the Year - which means it's going to be pretty good. And it is. The interior's just as practical as the standard model, and there are the same clever touches and soft-touch materials that make it feel surprisingly premium.
Sporty details unique to the vRS include Alcantara sports seats and carbon-effect trim on the inside. On the outside, meanwhile, there are 20-inch alloy wheels as standard and bespoke front and rear bumpers.
With 240PS, you'd expect it to feel pretty rapid. It's no slouch, but its bulky dimensions mean it's doesn't exactly shove you back in your seat. It's only available with a DSG gearbox, and that suits it well - changing gears quickly and dropping down readily when required.
Under normal driving, the Kodiaq vRS is noticeably firmer than other models. That's amplified if you select the sport drive mode, which also ramps up the Dynamic Sound Boost (also known as fake noise). Left in one of the multiple comfort-focused drive modes it's compliant enough, if not as relaxing as a standard Kodiaq.
The result of this is a car that's quite a keen handler for an SUV of its size. The steering is direct, and you can feel the four-wheel-drive system shifting power between the axles during hard cornering. It doesn't roll around too much, but there's no hiding the fact it's an SUV. It's never going to be as rewarding as a sports car or hot hatch.
In terms of fitting the brief, the Skoda Kodiaq vRS performs well. It's just as versatile as the regular Kodiaq, and that extra performance means it can be fun to drive. It's expensive, though, and under day-to-day driving we suspect most buyers would be happier with one of the other models in the Kodiaq range.
Reviews for Skoda Kodiaq vRS's top 3 rivals
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
.jpg?width=240&height=160&rmode=crop)
Skoda Kodiaq vRS handling and engines
The Kodiaq vRS is only available with one engine: a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel producing 240PS. It's the most powerful diesel engine ever used in a Skoda, but it's also used in the Volkswagen Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace.
While it feels like a step up from the 190PS model, it lags behind the Cupra Ateca in terms of thrills. It might have a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds, but it never feels quite so urgent. It can pull away pretty rapidly and overtakes are rarely an issue but, if you trade your Civic Type R in for a Kodiaq vRS, you're going to be disappointed.
If you treat is as a normal Kodiaq with a useful amount of extra power, it starts to make sense. The extra torque could prove useful for lugging a caravan, for example - though it's actually not rated to tow as much as the 190 model.
Not that the Dynamic Sound Boost feature will let you forget that you're driving a Kodiaq with a vRS badge. It pipes fake noise through the speakers. Even when you're bimbling at low speeds in comfort mode, there's a noticeable rumble from the speakers. This increases when you select sport (or even snow) mode.
In terms of handling, the Kodiaq vRS remains surprisingly composed for an SUV of this size. The steering is nicely weighted, while the Kodiaq doesn't lean too much in the bends - giving you plenty of confidence to make progress, if that's your thing.
On the motorway, it's just as refined as a standard Kodiaq, save for the tell-tale rumble of the larger wheels. It doesn't feel too focussed, pleasingly, meaning your family won't start to despise you on a longer journey.
Skoda Kodiaq vRS interior
While the regular Kodiaq is available as a five- or seven-seater, the vRS is only sold as a seven-seater in the UK. It works best if you use it as a five-seater, with the third row of seats dropped into the floor. This leaves a generous 715-litre boot, easily accessed with a large opening (although obviously higher than an estate car).
Kids will be quite happy in the third row of seats, but in truth they're best saved for occasional use. Access is tricky and there's not a great deal of headroom, while the boot is a rather paltry 230 litres with the rear-most seats in use.
The front two rows of seats are comfortable and roomy, with that high seating position giving driver and passengers a good view of the road ahead. There are loads of useful features, too, such as the umbrellas in the front doors, an electrically operated boot and a piece of rubber to protect the edge of doors.
The standard Kodiaq feels surprisingly premium and, as you'd expect, the vRS adds a number of sporting touches. The dash is covered in carbon-effect trim which may or may not to be your tastes, while the standard Alcantara sports seats look like they're out of a race car.
The brand's Virtual Cockpit system is standard on the vRS. This is a slick digital display that replaces conventional dials behind the steering wheel. Unique to the Kodiaq vRS is an additional Sport display mode, which positions the speedometer and rev counter in the centre of the screen. The radio station and navigational information are displayed alongside.
Standard equipment (at launch):
The Kodiaq vRS features 20-inch alloy wheels, headlight washers, vRS front and rear bumpers, black roof rails, dual exhaust pipes, metallic paint, alarm, keyless start/stop, rear brake discs, ISOFIX child seat fittins on outer middle seats, rear seats split 60:40, speed limiter, Alcantara sports seats, carbon finish dashboard and door inserts, three-spoke leather sports multi-function steering wheel, Virtual Cockpit, tinted windows, electric front and rear windows, heated front seats, aluminium pedals, LED interior lights, cruise control, DAB radio, Bluetooth, navigation with 9.2-inch touchscreen display, SmartLink+ (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), dynamic chassis control, dynamic sound booster, front parking sensors, light assist with high beam control, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, privacy glass, umbrella in door panel, heated rear window.
Model History
- December 2018: Skoda Kodiaq vRS launched
- January 2019: Skoda Kodiaq vRS prices and specifications announced
- July 2021: Updated Skoda Kodiaq vRS priced from £44,635
December 2018
Skoda Kodiaq vRS launched
The Skoda Kodiaq vRS is the first SUV in the vRS family and also the new spearhead of the Czech car manufacturer’s SUV campaign. The performance model is powered by the most powerful production diesel engine in ŠKODA history with a power output of 240 PS. It demonstrated its capabilities with a record lap time of 9 minutes 29.84 seconds on the toughest race track in the world – the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife. The performance SUV is the first ŠKODA to also feature Dynamic Sound Boost for a particularly emotive engine note.
The Skoda Kodiaq vRS comes with all-wheel drive as standard. From a big shopping trip or a family outing to sporty usage on- and off-road, the Skoda Kodiaq vRS is well-equipped for almost anything that everyday life can throw at it. The Czech brand’s first performance SUV is aimed at active and design-focused customers. With the Skoda Kodiaq vRS, they can cultivate their modern lifestyle and highlight it with the car’s sporty appearance. The SUV offers sporty and enjoyable driving on the road thanks to its powerful engine. In addition, it can transport mountain bikes to a remote downhill mountain track in its spacious boot and can easily cope with moving house on a small scale. In a nutshell: Skoda says the Kodiaq vRS combines the qualities of a sporty, long-distance vehicle with those of a robust and very safe family car.
In a first for Skoda, the Kodiaq vRS features 20-inch Xtreme alloy wheels as standard. Furthermore, the range of standard equipment includes full-LED headlights and LED tail lights. Selected body elements in gloss black underpin the sporty appearance of the Skoda Kodiaq vRS. In addition to the engine, the 7-speed DSG and intelligent all-wheel drive also contribute to the dynamic driving characteristics; progressive steering as standard ensures particularly safe and agile handling.
Furthermore, the sporty vRS also offers all the advantages of the large Skoda SUV. In addition to its spacious boot, the Skoda Kodiaq vRS provides plenty of room for five or seven occupants, depending on the chosen version. It offers the latest technology for infotainment and connectivity. The car features a Wi-Fi hotspot and enables access to the Skoda Connect services. And in Skoda-typical style, the Kodiaq vRS also makes everyday driving that little bit easier with numerous Simply Clever features.
January 2019
Skoda Kodiaq vRS prices and specifications announced
Skoda's first ever performance SUV is on sale now with prices starting from £42,870.
The Skoda Kodiaq vRS is powered by a twin turbocharged 2.0 TDI engine, comes with four-wheel-drive as standard as well as a seven-speed DSG gearbox. It can sprint from 0-62mph in 7.0 seconds and has a top speed of 136mph.
The Kodiaq vRS stands out from the crowd thanks to a striking design package that includes 20-inch Xtreme alloy wheels, gloss black finish on the grille and mirrors, dual exhaust pipes, vRS sports bumpers and trademark red brake calipers. Inside, the sporting flagship of the range features figure-hugging Alcantara-trimmed sports seats finished with contrast vRS stitching and logo, along with a black rooflining and vRS stitching for the door panels. The vRS is also the first Skoda to be offered with fully digital Virtual Cockpit display as standard. To reflect the car’s sporting nature, the Kodiaq vRS’s system includes a special Sport view that places the speedometer in the centre of the display.
To ensure that the engine’s performance is delivered to the road as smoothly and effectively as possible, all Kodiaq vRS models are equipped with Dynamic Chassis Control and progressive steering as standard. Dynamic sound booster and front parking sensors are also standard fit.
July 2021
Updated Skoda Kodiaq vRS priced from £44,635
The Skoda Kodiaq has been reintroduced with a refreshed design and the vRS model has now been released for order with prices starting from £44,635.
The revised Kodiaq vRS delivers more power and reduced weight for an even better performance. The latest EVO generation 2.0 TSI petrol engine has four-wheel drive as standard and seven-speed DSG gearbox that produces 245PS - a 6PS increase on its predecessor – and can sprint from 0-62mph in just 6.6 seconds.
The sporty model’s styling is accentuated by the addition of 20” Sagitarius anthracite alloy wheels with distinctive red brake calipers, vRS bumpers, gloss black roof rails, grille and mirrors, dual exhaust pipes and full LED Matrix headlights as standard. Plush microsuede black vRS sport seats with contrast red stitching and vRS logo make a feature of the interior cabin along with a three-spoke leather sports multi-function steering wheel and DSG paddles.
Where Kodiaq dominates is the exceptional amount of space on offer. With an overall length of just under 4.7m, the versatile SUV can offer up to 2,005 litres of space with all rear seats down. Its seven-seater layout means that the entire family can travel with space to spare while its remarkably generous helping of standard equipment means that comfort and infotainment needs are met.
Virtual cockpit is a standard feature in the revised vRS model, and offers a vRS-specific look as well as a Sports layout as an additional fifth display mode that places the rev counter and speedometer graphics in front of the driver.
Kodiaq vRS is equipped with Dynamic chassis control as standard, which makes it possible for the driver to adapt the steering and suspension depending on whether the Comfort, Normal or Sport mode is selected. Dynamic sound booster and front parking sensors and rear-view camera are also standard fit.
