The Kodiaq has got all the right ingredients – it’s got four-wheel drive, seven seats and a diesel engine. With price tag of ₹36 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), its closest competition includes the Ford Endeavour, and the VW Tiguan. So, which SUV offers the perfect balance of luxury and off-road skills?
On the Inside
The Kodiaq feels properly luxurious on the inside - there is an expensive feel to everything. The dashboard has a simple but subtle layout and in the centre, sits a rather large touchscreen. The vertically aligned AC vents also look classy. The seats are comfy and spacious and cushioning is great, so you’ll be cocooned in comfort on those long drives. The seats at the back are comfortable too and the sense of space is excellent. There’s also a large panoramic sunroof to add to the feeling of space. There’s enough legroom and headroom too. The middle row gets AC vents but they protrude into the middle passengers’ space. The last row in the Kodiaq is best for kids.
On the inside, the VW Tiguan has all-black interiors with stylish silver accents. The buttons and knobs feel very upmarket, but the seats feel a bit firm, and you will feel uncomfortable in them after a while. At the back, there is a good amount of legroom and headroom. This car also comes with a panoramic sunroof, but the all-black cabin robs it a bit of airiness. This car doesn’t have a third row of seats.
Getting into the Endeavour is definitely a confidence booster – it’s massive. You sit perched quite high. There’s a touchscreen in the centre console and this car also comes with a panoramic sunroof. Quality of materials is great – there’s dual-tone double-stitched leather on the dash, brushed aluminium AC vents, and beige upholstery, which feels expensive and luxurious. The seats are extremely comfortable and there’s lots of space, in fact, it feels more spacious than the Kodiaq.
Features
You get loads of tech in any of the three cars. The Kodiaq gets LED headlamps and tail-lamps with DRLs, automatic parking, driver fatigue alert, cruise control, off-road modes, electrically adjustable front seats with memory function and ventilation, three-zone climate control, tyre pressure monitoring system, neck support for the middle passengers and also two umbrellas in the doors. On the safety front, you get nine airbags, ABS with ESP, hill hold control, parking sensors in the front and the back and Isofix mounts for child seats.
The Tiguan is fitted with full LED automatic headlamps, automatic boot opening, off-road modes, heated front seats which are electrically adjustable as well, hill hold, three-zone climate control and for safety, six airbags, Isofix mounts, ABS with EBD and ESP amongst others.
The Endeavour comes with proper off-road modes, a low-range gearbox cruise control, LED DRLs, parking camera with front and rear sensors, automatic parallel parking system, electrically adjustable front seats, hill descent and hill hold controls, four power outlets, tyre pressure monitoring system and a noise cancellation system. In terms of safety, the Endy gets seven airbags, ABS with EBD, curve control and also roll stability control.
The Performance
The Skoda Kodiaq is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine developing 150hp and it’s quite quick off the line. The engine’s mid-range is good, and it doesn’t feel like it lacks power at all till you hit the 4000rpm mark, post which it feels a bit out of breath. The seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is smooth and shifts seamlessly - there are paddle shifters too. It can hit 100kph from a standstill in just 10.62sec. The car handles pretty well for its size, and there’s a good amount of grip on offer
The 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine in the Tiguan makes 143hp and is also mated to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. This car can hit 100kph in 10.55sec. But overall, this car feels more car-like to drive than SUV. It’s definitely the most agile, and feels lighter and quicker. Overall refinement is great. The Tiguan, like the Kodiaq, gets VW's 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. This aids the car on wet roads, and through mud or slushy paths.
The Endeavour is powered by a 3.2-litre, five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine which makes 200hp, the most here. It can hit 100kph in 11.22sec. This car doesn’t feel as refined as the other two, and its six-speed gearbox is slow to respond and dulls the overall driving experience. The steering is light, accurate and quick, and this car is surprisingly agile for its size. The high ground clearance, a proper low-range gearbox and the multiple off-road modes will come in handy if you decide to go off the regular path. The car’s suspension is also the most supple of the three.
Which One Should I Buy?
The Kodiaq is priced at ₹34.49 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and you get it only in one variant. VW’s Tiguan is available in two trims, the Comfortline and the fully loaded Highline, priced at ₹27.49 lakh and ₹30.87 lakh, respectively. The Ford Endeavour’s 3.2-litre is only available in the top-of-the-line Titanium variant is priced at ₹31.40 lakh.
The Tiguan is the best value if you insist on not raising your budget. You miss out on the third row, and the car doesn’t feel as plush as the other two. The Endeavour feels a bit rough around the edges, but its well-built interiors and comfy cabin will keep you happy through the years. Plus, it has a strong engine and even drives well. The Kodiaq goes even further, it’s spacious, several times more refined, and lighter and easier to drive. It comes loaded with tech and offers a genuine luxury-car vibe, while simultaneously giving you the best blend of off-road skills and on-road driving manners. Sure, it does cost ₹3.1 lakh more and could do with more power, but overall, it’s the one we’d pick.
