Order books open for hot new Skoda Kodiaq vRS

Skoda has begun to take orders for its new Kodiaq vRS – the brand’s first performance SUV and only the third model to be given the vRS badge since its inception.

The new model will start from £42,870 and comes fully loaded with premium equipment.

Under the bonnet sits the brand’s most powerful diesel engine – a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged unit producing 237bhp. It’s mated to four-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, making for an impressive 0-60mph sprint of just 6.8 seconds.

Based on the seven-seat Kodiaq, the three rows offer ample space for a family, and there’s a generous equipment list to justify that high price tag. The exterior features 20-inch ‘Xtreme’ alloy wheels and a gloss-black grille plus dual exhaust pipes and a vRS body kit. Dynamic Chassis Control is fitted as standard, allowing the driver to choose Comfort and Sport settings.

Inside, there’s vRS-specific stitching and Alcantara-trimmed sports seats, plus a black headliner. The kit list includes niceties such as full LED lights front and rear, three-zone climate control and Skoda’s touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and sat nav. All-round parking sensors and a dynamic sound booster are standard as well.

There’s also the brand’s first iteration of the Volkswagen Group’s ‘Virtual Cockpit’ driving display. Skoda’s designed this with a special ‘sport’ view, placing the speedometer and rev counter in the centre of the display Porsche 911-style.

Order books for the Skoda Kodiaq vRS are open now, with first deliveries to UK customers expected in the spring.