Skoda has focused the Kodiaq on being good value for money because of its safety features for 2026. They’ve added ADAS and kept the price at Rs 36.99 lakh. This updated version is for families who want a comfortable, high-end experience without needing a huge, body-on-frame SUV, and it’s meant to give drivers more confidence.
What is new and why it matters
The biggest change is ADAS, and it’s available on all versions of the car, concentrating on actively preventing accidents. This includes Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, Exit Warning System, and Front Assist which can brake for you automatically.
Along with the driving assistance, the Kodiaq has LED Matrix headlights with an Adaptive Front-lighting System. In practical terms, this means you’ll see better on the road and get more help when driving on highways, merging in city traffic, and at night. It’s good for people who are driven or drive themselves.
Variant mix and prices in India
Skoda’s plan is quite clear. The Lounge version, starting at Rs 36.99 lakh, is the basic model; the Sportline costs Rs 44.99 lakh and the top-of-the-line Selection L&K is Rs 46.99 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom). Each trim is designed to be a particular experience: affordable luxury, sporty technology, or a completely premium feel.
If you are weighing choices, here is how the trims line up for different needs:
– Lounge: five seats, value, huge boot
– Sportline: seven seats, tech and style
– Selection L&K: seven seats, max comfort
Features that change the daily drive
The Lounge is now the simplest way to get into a Kodiaq, and it only has five seats. It’s very practical, with a 786-litre boot (plenty of space for luggage) and grey Suedia fabric inside. It also has a panoramic sunroof and three-zone climate control, a 10.25-inch digital display for the driver, and a 10.4-inch touchscreen for the entertainment system which works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly.
The Sportline doesn’t just add a third row of seats. Skoda has put features that were previously only on the most expensive model into the Sportline. These include a 360-degree camera to help with parking, Intelligent Park Assist to park the car for you, and a grille with lights across it. Inside it has black Suedia, aluminum pedals, a sport steering wheel, a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen, and a Canton sound system with 13 speakers and a subwoofer.
If you really like being comfortable, the Selection L&K has everything, with Cognac leather, ‘Laurin & Klement’ logos, and front seats that can massage, heat, and cool you. Because ADAS is standard on this trim, it’s now more in line with what people expect from a high-end crossover, but it’s still cheaper than many of its competitors.
Throughout the range, the Kodiaq is well-equipped for safety: nine airbags, ESC (Electronic Stability Control), ABS with EBD, ISOFIX mounts for child seats, hill start and descent control, a system to monitor if the driver is paying attention and not getting too tired, and a system to protect passengers in an accident. It’s also convenient, with front and rear parking sensors, a powered tailgate (which opens and closes automatically, and can be opened by waving your foot under it on the more expensive versions), two wireless phone chargers, and five USB-C ports.
Powertrain and dynamics
The engine is the same as before (and that’s a good thing!). The 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine makes 204hp and 320Nm of torque, and it’s connected to a seven-speed DSG (dual-clutch) automatic gearbox which sends power to all four wheels. Officially it does 14.86 kilometres to the litre.
The Kodiaq is built on the MQB37 platform and is put together at Skoda’s factory in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. It’s a seven-seat SUV, and it’s competing with the Toyota Fortuner, Volkswagen Tayron and Jeep Meridian, but it drives more like a car, has all-wheel drive for security, and gives you more for your money.
Colours and seating choices
You can have the Kodiaq in five colours on the outside: Magic Black, Moon White, Graphite Grey, Race Blue and Bronx Gold. If you buy the Lounge, you can choose Magic Black, Graphite Grey or Moon White. The Sportline also includes Race Blue, and Bronx Gold is only for the Selection L&K.
The number of seats is simple. The Lounge is for families who want lots of space for things and only has five seats. The Sportline and Selection L&K both have seven seats. Combined with ADAS being available and the improved range of features, the 2026 Kodiaq is now easier to suggest to people with different budgets.
Basically, with prices from Rs 36.99 lakh to Rs 46.99 lakh and improved safety technology, Skoda has made the Kodiaq more attractive to Indian buyers who want comfortable, safe, and usable transport every day, without needing to spend as much on a large SUV.
