AUTOMOTIVE

When a car this size wears the RS badge, you expect more than just family-friendly practicality with a splash of sporty trim. You expect a statement — and the second-generation Škoda Kodiaq RS delivers it with a grin and a growl.

Škoda has given their flagship performance SUV the heart of a true athlete: a 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine pushing out a feisty 195 kW and 400 Nm of torque. Hook that up to a razor-quick 7-speed DSG and all-wheel drive, and suddenly this seven-seater feels more rally-stage than school run. The Dynamic Sound Boost isn’t just a gimmick — it’s the aural reminder that you’re driving something far friskier than your average family hauler.

On the road, the Kodiaq RS is a bit of a magician. Progressive steering and the new DCC Plus chassis system mean this SUV shrinks around you when the bends arrive, yet stays calm and composed when you’re cruising over Canterbury’s wide-open straights. The suspension changes, now with separate valves for compression and rebound, make a noticeable difference — comfort when you want it, taut precision when you need it.

Visually, Škoda hasn’t held back. Glossy black detailing from the grille frame to the D-pillar, a horizontal light strip slicing across the nose, and those exclusive 20-inch Elias alloys make it clear this isn’t just any Kodiaq. There’s a muscularity to its stance — the sort of presence that turns heads at the lights and in the supermarket carpark alike.

Inside, the RS Suite Design is unapologetically premium. Sports seats wrapped in black perforated leather with red stitching, a 13-inch infotainment screen, Virtual Cockpit, and a Canton sound system that turns even a quick dash to Akaroa into a private concert. Acoustic side glass keeps the cabin hushed, unless of course you want to drop a gear and let that RS voice through.

What really sells the Kodiaq RS to me, though, is how it blends all this performance kit with real-world usability. Seven seats. 2,500 kg towing capacity. Off-road mode. Space for the kids, the bikes, the dog — and still the ability to leave a hot hatch scratching its head at the lights.

The second-gen Škoda Kodiaq RS is more than an SUV with sporty badges. It’s the SUV for those who refuse to choose between space, sophistication, and a genuine driving thrill. Canterbury roads just found their new champion.

Verdict: A family SUV with the heart of a performance car and the polish of a luxury tourer. The Kodiaq RS doesn’t just tick boxes — it redraws them.