Skoda India opens bookings for Kodiaq RS

Bookings for the Skoda Kodiaq RS have officially commenced in India for a token price of Rs 3 lakh. Skoda will bring only 50 units of the Kodiaq RS to India, at least initially, as the range-topper of the Czech carmaker’s model portfolio. This is notably the first Skoda RS model to be offered in India that isn’t the Octavia and is expected to be priced in the Rs 55 lakh-60 lakh range (ex-showroom). 

1. Gets a 265hp 2.0-litre TSI engine, 4WD, and DCC Plus adaptive suspension tech
2. Sportier bumpers, RS badging, dual exhausts, 20-inch wheels fitted as standard
3. All-black 7-seat cabin gets RS-specific steering wheel, sports seats, red stitching

Skoda Kodiaq powertrain and performance

Same engine as that of Octavia RS, but makes 30Nm more torque

The Kodiaq RS is powered by the same 265hp 2.0-litre 4-cylinder ‘EA888’ turbo-petrol engine as that of the Octavia RS, but develops 400Nm – up 30Nm. It also retains the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic from the Octavia RS, but additionally gets 4WD, which makes for a slightly quicker claimed 0-100kph time of 6.3 seconds. The Kodiaq RS claims a top speed of 231kph, which is lower than the Octavia RS’ 250kph figure. 

However, the Kodiaq RS is specced with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) Plus, which was missing from the India-spec Octavia RS. DCC Plus is Skoda’s adaptive suspension tech, offered 15 levels of damping adjustment to alter the Kodiaq RS’ driving characteristics. It’s also integrated within the Kodiaq RS’ drive modes, namely Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual, Snow and Off-Road.

Skoda Kodiaq RS exterior and interior

Gets a sportier body kit

On the outside, the Kodiaq RS is requisitely sportier than the standard version thanks to more aggressive bumpers, gloss black exterior trim, RS badging on the grille and tailgate, 20-inch alloy wheels, a larger roof spoiler, and dual exhaust tips. The India-spec Kodiaq RS will be available in four colour options: Magic Black, Moon White, Steel Grey, and Velvet Red.

All-black interior heavily accentuated by red stitching

The sporty treatment has been extended to the interior of the Kodiaq RS too, particularly by way of the RS-spec three-spoke steering wheel and sports seats up front, red contrast stitching, and all-black colour scheme. Like higher variants of the vanilla Kodiaq, the RS is a 7 seater and comes packed with goodies like a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10.25-inch driver’s display with sportier layouts, a panoramic sunroof, 3-zone climate control, powered front seats with ventilation, heating, massage, thigh extender, and memory functions. It also gets a 360-degree camera, an ADAS suite, 9 airbags, a 13-speaker Canton sound system with a subwoofer, a powered tailgate, and more.