Volkswagen Tiguan Mk3 v Skoda Kodiaq Mk2

A best-seller in Volkswagen's right, the Tiguan is now in its third generation and there's a lot to talk about the latest version of one of the best-selling crossovers in Europe...or so they said.

2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

Starting at 38,250 Euros plus additional costs, the all-new third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is the latest evolution of Volkswagen's smash-hit crossover that loves to pick fights against the Japanese opposition, mainly the Mazda CX-5 that made the Tiguan taste defeat while towing caravans.

Beginning with the design, the third-generation Tiguan can be easily mistaken for the Touareg NF, so it's a hand-me-down from its big brother. Throwback aside, the use of the MQB evo platform resulted in a slightly increased dimension compared to its previous model. It's 3cm longer than the old model while the height and the width remain almost identical.

2024 Volkswagen Tiguan interior

As expected, the new interior employs the minimalist approach like most Volkswagens today. While the button-packed steering wheel is the tip of the iceberg, it also features a Digital Cockpit comprising a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15-inch central infotainment display touchscreen that controls the infotainment, air conditioning, and the show-off ambient lighting. It even comes with HUD, Driving Experience Control, and the annoying IDA voice assistant.

With the second-row seats present, the Tiguan can carry up to 652 liters of boot space, an improvement from the previous model. However, with the rear seats folded down, it has 1650 liters of boot space. Ah, the irony.

2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

Thanks to the MQB evo platform, the all-new Tiguan behaves slightly better than the previous model. With the available 4MOTION 4-wheel-drive system and Dynamic Chassis Control, it can do slightly more. Should the Mazda CX-5 take note of the Tiguan's latest improvements? Who knows?

While right-minded Europeans should shy away from the 2.0 TDi variant because dieselgate, of course, the Tiguan can be fitted with the 1.5 eTSi OPF, 1.5 eHYBRID OPF, and the 265PS 2.0 TSi OPF exclusive for the R-Line variant. With the entry-level variant having 6.2 l/100 km of fuel economy based on WLTP standards, the range-topper of the Tiguan is the plug-in hybrid 272PS 1.5 eHybrid OPF. Mated with the 6-speed DSG, it does 0-100kph in 7.2 seconds and has a top speed of 215kph. Running on electric power alone, it can go up to 112km of driving range.

As always, the all-new Tiguan is packed with numerous safety features such as a lane change system, autonomous emergency braking and a lane keeping system, rearview camera system, dynamic road sign display, available park assist pro with remote parking capability, and the available trailer assist.

The all-new Tiguan may have bore the looks of its big brother from the previous decade but with the most advanced features offered and a wide array of powertrains available, including the range-topping PHEV variant with up to 272PS of power, looks it like it has the fighting chance to take down the aging Mazda CX-5 by a long shot...or perhaps some other crossover bearing similar nooks and crannies from this?

2024 Skoda Kodiaq

2024 Skoda Kodiaq

Hailing from Czechia, this is the all-new second-generation Skoda Kodiaq. Priced at 980,000 Kč, which in Euro terms, is more expensive than its Tiguan relative, the all-new Kodiaq eschews the sharp looks from the previous model in favor of a rounder one with the rearview easily mistaken for a Volkswagen ID.5 or certain Lincoln crossovers from the past decade.

2024 Skoda Kodiaq interior

Unlike the Tiguan, which is offered in five-seater only, the all-new Kodiaq is offered with the choice of a five-seater or a seven-seater with up to 2105 liters of boot space with the passenger seats folded down. Not only it's more spacious than the previous Kodiaq, but it's even more spacious than its Tiguan cousin.

Under the hood, the all-new Kodiaq is powered by a choice of a 1.5L TSi engine with mild-hybrid and 7-speed AT, a 2.0L TDi engine with the same gearbox, and the 204PS 1.5L TSi PHEV with 6-speed AT. It's their range-topper, of course, and with the PHEV powertrain mentioned, it does 0-100kph in 8.4 seconds and a top speed of 210kph, which is 5kph less than the most powerful Tiguan mentioned above.

Like the Tiguan, the all-new Kodiaq is packed with numerous safety features such as a lane change system, autonomous emergency braking and a lane keeping system, rearview camera system, dynamic road sign display, and others.

There you have it, the latest versions of the crossovers that made huge gains in Mainland Europe. The all-new Tiguan and the all-new Kodiaq have several differences despite bearing the same platform but these crossovers prove that their journey continues. Like them or not, here they come.

Photo: Volkswagen/Skoda

Audi SQ2 vs. Skoda Kodiaq vRS

When Audi first launched the Q2 compact crossover years ago, it is basically a now-old first-generation Audi A1 underneath that competes to the likes of Mercedes' GLA-Class and with the pricing is what sets the Q2 apart, its sizing, its value for money, its tech, and so on makes it somewhat of a treat but now, Audi's compact crossover has been given some spices to the mix, resulting to the new SQ2, a semi-high performance variant that sounds enigmatic from the start.

2019 Audi SQ2

Starting at 44,500 Euros, the Audi SQ2 is what happens when you inject a bit of a Volkswagen Golf R engine into the heart of the Q2 crossover, resulting to a crossover that claims that it works and behaves like a Golf R and as a matter of fact, it really is, sort of.

While the SQ2 looks similar to your basic Q2 crossover inside and out, this hot crossover is powered by the same 2.0 liter TFSI engine that powers the Golf R, producing 300PS of power and 400Nm of torque and while mated to a seven-speed S tronic gearbox, it does 0-100kph in less than five seconds and electronically limited to 250kph. That's about as fast as the Golf R, of course, but more importantly, that's enough gusto to smoke out every single compact crossovers, even today's CUPRA Ateca or even this guy.

2019 Skoda Kodiaq vRS

This is the first ever vRS SUV from Skoda, it's called the Skoda Kodiaq vRS, and it only runs on a 2.0 TDI engine with two complementary turbochargers connected in series. It produces about 240PS of power, 500Nm of torque, and with the 7-speed DSG, 0-100kph in less than seven seconds and onwards to just 221kph. That means, our little SQ2 can easily eat this big Kodiaq vRS alive but don't get all to jumpy because we have to take a look of the price and other stuff.

In terms of pricing, the SQ2 starts at 44,500 Euros as mentioned, but the Kodiaq vRS, meanwhile, costs about 1,189,900 Koruna (about less than fifty grand in Euro talk), meaning that the petrol-powered SQ2 is more value for money compared to the diesel-powered Kodiaq vRS that is about to be kicked out from the band because of its diesel powertrain and diesels have become Europe's public enemy number one of today since the D-word.

Dynamics aside, they both have four wheel drive, meaning that they are ready to tackle whatever roads they come across even when today's weather forecast calls for either rain or snow but on the track, its mild but menacing dynamics really spells understeer and drivers may find it struggling even at slow speeds. Just saying but because the SQ2's smaller, it's got a slight edge compared to the hulking Kodiaq vRS with the diesel engine in it so it should be good as they say.

Conveniences, this is where the Kodiaq vRS gets the upper hand because while the SQ2 only seats five, the Kodiaq vRS comes with an additional third row seat, meaning that this is worth being a family car full-stop as long as its sweet spot's not ruined by the invasion of the child seats so if you want a sweet spot, get yourselves a SQ2 instead, but what are the chances? Boot space? Leave it to the Kodiaq, of course.

So, while the the SQ2 is all about the performance that speaks for itself as a hot crossover, the Kodiaq vRS, despite the powertrain that is not friendly for Europeans of today, excels of being a family car because of its space, the additional third row seats, and so on. If you have to choose, which one will you drive for the weekends and why? Decisions, decisions...

Photo: Audi/Skoda Auto

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda once gave us their first ever SUV in the range known as the Yeti, which remains one of the most interesting vehicles to drive especially when you are sensible enough to understand how it stacked up from the competition by any means necessary. Now, the Czech car manufacturer's upping up the crossover ante by delivering us their flagship crossover known as the Kodiaq.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq

2017 Skoda Kodiaq

When you say Kodiaq, all you ever rhyme with it is a defunct camera company called Kodak, am I right? Wow, that's one bad joke that shouldn't be put in investigating new vehicles launched in the market, but anyway, the Kodiaq name was inspired from an Alaskan island, Kodiak, just to give it a more adventurous feel for their flagship crossover.

What's basically underneath the Kodiaq is the underpinnings of the latest VW Tiguan and while you can expect signature Skoda looks that you can expect on today's Octavia and Superb, the sizing is what you called easily mistaken for the Hyundai Maxcruz judging by the fact that this is a large midsize SUV fit for the not-so-perfect family on a Saturday morning when Dad has to take the kids to the badminton practice, basketball tryouts, Girl Scouts, anything while Dad's sorting out at the hardware store until the break of day.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq interior

2017 Skoda Kodiaq interior

The real beauty of the Skoda Kodiaq is not about the design which, by crossover standards, looks like a total mashup between a second-generation Kia Sorento and a Maserati Levante. But inside, it's surprisingly high-tech from beginning to end and because it has a volume of 720 to 2,065 l (with the rear seats folded down), the Kodiaq has the biggest load space in its class and because this is the first ever Skoda to have third-row seating as an optional extra, this is a very accommodating crossover that you can size one up for yourself because you never know what might hit you today.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq

While this is basically a VW Tiguan underneath, the Kodiaq's large sizing doesn't hamper with its handling credentials and despite being an SUV, it handles really like a Skoda Superb in all the good angles. When prompted to an all-wheel drive, the Kodiaq is a whole different animal and no matter the weather update and the road condition it comes across, the Kodiaq is fully prepared to take the job at hand like a backpack full of survival necessities. Now this is definitely a promising Skoda to take on the weekends and unlike any other third-row crossover, the Kodiaq really means business for the owners.

Under the hood, the Kodiaq lies a choice of 1.4 TSi, 2.0 TSi, and 2.0 TDi engines, with various configurations and transmission choices such as a 6-speed manual gearbox or DSG transmissions with six or seven speeds. The most powerful Kodiaq in the range is the 2.0 TDi with 140kW of power output and 400Nm of torque. Mated to a seven-speed DSG and all-wheel drive, it does 0-100kph in an average 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 210kph. No crossover from Japan can get through that, you know. Those looking for fuel efficiency can go for the 2.0 TDi mated with 7-speed DSG but with front-wheel drive and 110kW of power output because with that, it delivers CO2 emissions of 131g/km with combined fuel economy of 5L/100km (20kmpl).

Although, adventurous in spirit, the Kodiaq comes with a wide variety of driver aids but nothing is more so than Skoda's first ever Area View system that allows the driver to view different sides courtesy of its surround-view cameras located in the front and rear sections as well as in the wing mirrors. This thing works like Nissan's Around View Monitor in so many ways. Another noticeable driver aid is the Front Assist including City Emergency Brake, which comes as standard on the Kodiaq, which can detect dangerous situations, warns the driver, and if needed, partially or fully apply the brakes and couple that with the available Predictive Pedestrian Protection, you got yourself a safe treat in the Kodiaq.

The Kodiaq starts at 693,900 Czech Koruna, which is 20K more than the Superb Combi, but problems with pricing aside, the Kodiaq is a promising start for Skoda and with all the tech, accommodation, styling, performance, and its ruggedness, looks like its heading for the right direction in the ever-growing crossover market.

Photo: Skoda Auto