Skoda Kodiaq vs Tiguan

The Indian SUV segment is nothing short of attractive options with cars that have been widely appreciated as well as successful in keeping the sales graph ticking northward. The present breed of SUVs have names like the Hyundai Creta and the Renault Duster as well as the big Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour, which does not need any introduction.

Taking this segment forward and making sure that the competition is still on the higher side, the Indian automobile market is about to experience SUVs like the Skoda Kodiaq and the Volkswagen Tiguan. The Kodiaq and the Tiguan will be coming to India within a span of a year from now and will be all set to grind it out against each other in a quest of gaining superiority over the other.

But before they do so, we will be placing them head to head and get an idea of what can be expected once they are down on the roads.

Exterior design

The Skoda Kodiaq was first showcased as a concept back in 2016 at the Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the same MQB platform as the Skoda Superb and the Octavia. The Kodiaq is a full sized SUV, measuring 4.7 metres in length. It is wrapped in a rugged and tough outer shell. The muscularity of the car is evident with every aesthetic cuts and curve around. The wheel arches are bold and butch. The front section is flanked by Skoda’s trademark butterfly shaped grille with vertical slats. The LED headlamps are underlined by a strip of DRLs. The lower bumper is butch, just like you would have imagined in a tough SUV. At the rear, the tail lights are sleek in design and are split between the side and the tail gate. It also gets large 20-inch alloy wheels to offer better stability and control on the road.

The Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, does not have that much of a flair as the Kodiaq does. However, the body is still very much sculptuous and bold. Every bending and corners are prominent, including the wheel arches. Arguably, it does not have as much of a muscular appeal as the Kodiaq but is enough to make it look bold on the road. The design language is soft and not very loud like its competitor. It does have a sweptback headlamp cluster but not wraparound tail light. The front grille has chrome inserts and a horizontal slats. The wheel arches are rounder than the Kodiaq, something that makes it less edgy than its counterpart.

Interior layout

The Kodiaq is Skoda’s first full sized SUV with a 7-seater layout. It is spacious for all of the occupants inside. The 3-spoke steering wheel is mounted with control buttons. The large touchscreen infotainment display is enclosed by two vertically placed AC vents on the two ends. The infotainment system consists of Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto integration and 575 watts surround sound system with 10 speakers. For safety, the Kodiaq SUV has been given ABS with EBD (electronic brakeforce distribution), multiple airbags (not just two), electronic stability control, hill descent control. The Kodiaq also has a very big boot space of 720 litres.

The Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, is not as conservative as the Kodiaq. It has a digital instrument cluster, 8-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink smartphone connectivity. There are multiple driving modes which the driver can choose according to the condition. The Volkswagen SUV comes with hill start assist, hill descent control, traction control, etc., in the safety section. Features like automatic climate control, flexible seating and a panoramic sunroof make the Tiguan a feature-rich SUV.

Engine and Transmission

The Skoda Kodiaq will be coming with a 2.0-litre turbocharged, four cylinder engine for the petrol as well as the diesel variants. The power figures will be ranging for 150 bhp to 190 bhp, depending on the trim that you choose. The highest torque level will be varying from 340 Nm to 400 Nm. Additionally, Skoda will add a 1.4-litre petrol engine as well. The transmission duties are taken care of by a 6-speed manual or a 6/7-speed automatic DSG transmission gearbox. The Kodiaq will also feature AWD for an added edge on off roads.

The Volkswagen Tiguan will have a wide range of powerplant options for both petrol and diesel. The displacement value would be ranging from 1.4-litres to 2.0-litres for gasoline and oil burner engines. The power production in these variants will start from a standard 123 bhp and will extend up to 237 bhp. Another factor that will be helping the SUV generate more power than its competitor is the reduction of around 50 kgs in the overall weight compared to its predecessor. The customers will have an option to choose from two drivetrains options of FWD and AWD. Moreover, it will come with both manual as well as automatic DSG transmission gearbox option.

Verdict

The Skoda Kodiaq, as well as the Volkswagen Tiguan, are very similar to each other in many ways. Both the cars are beautifully designed with a tinge of muscularity. However, one can understandably argue that the Kodiaq has a more muscular appeal than the Tiguan.

Moving inside, the Kodiaq offers a very conservative approach to the scheme of things, whereas, the Tiguan is more detailed. However, given the total length, the Kodiaq is much more spacious and comfortable with a bigger boot space. In terms of mechanism too, on paper, the Tiguan manages to offer more options and higher power output than the Kodiaq, thereby, making it a more reasonable option to choose from.

But one fact that is to be kept in mind is that both these new SUVs are still a long way before being launched in India. We are expecting the Tiguan to come in first and have a higher price tag than the Skoda Kodiaq car. Hence, it would be advisable to not hasten with the decision and wait for both the cars to be launched before buying any one of them.