1 hour ago, Kenny R said:

Could be a misprint, did you check the plate on the drivers door pillar.

The driver's door sticker will only quote the maximum train weight, and that would be for the braked trailer.  This is particularly sneaky, as I would look at it and think "oh, it's OK for towing up to 2 tonnes".

1 hour ago, ahar said:

Quick update as Skoda are at it again with homologation.

 

I was looking to swap my 2019 Kodiaq for a 2022 one the dealer had in stock with a 200 PS TDI engine.  Luckily I checked - the current models with the 200 TDI engine are not homologated for unbraked towing.  The 150 TDI engine is, as is the TSI engine.  Just not the top diesel engine.  It is homologated for braked towing, to the same weight as the other engines.  

 

Very odd. Check page 30 of the brochure on Skoda website for details...

 

https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/5782ef00-768c-43df-8faf-51cba9730287

Gosh! I've never seen that before!  The things (from a homologation point of view) that limit towing capacity, are usually either brakes or hill start capability.  Clearly it is capable of doing a hill start with 2 tonnes on the back, so it's unlikely to be that.  At the same time, I'm struggling to believe that the 200 horse one would have less capable brakes than the 150!  Looking at the two asterisks, I see it has a note about towbar prep.  This suggests (to me at least!) that this is stuff-all to do with homologation, and that they're just hiding behind "homologation" as a reason.  I could believe that the 200 horse one might need cooling system mods for towing, but that's not a homologation issue.  Homologation is only about safety and environmental performance - both of which would be excellent, once your engine has blown up!  But then again, if it's a cooling problem, how could it be OK to tow 2 tonnes?!  Doesn't make sense at all...  very strange....

The Skoda configurator shows unbraked trailer towing weight for 200 hp diesel, so as my comment could be a mistake in brochure. Brochure has recently been updated and previous version showed correct towing weight also.

Which brochure is that page from?  The one below is from the skoda website (https://www.skoda.co.uk/discover/download-a-brochure) and then pick the Kodiaq one....

Could this be the start of Skoda's recently communicated proposal of specifying zero towing capacities on the VIN unless the factory towbar preparation or towbar itself is fitted?

I'm just about to close the deal on a new-from-stock 'Kodiaq L&K 2.0 TSI 190 PS DSG 4x4'.

 

It doesn't have towbar prep, and the dealer has told me they can't fit a Skoda folding towbar, because no suitable kit for that exists.

 

However, the VIN plate shows it has towing capacity (presumably braked) of 2000kg:

 

 

and the latest brochure lists 750kg unbraked and nose weight of 100kg.  So perhaps Skoda aren't yet zeroing the VINs for cars without towbar prep?

 

So, for this car, am I right in thinking I could get an independent to fit a towbar without any issues?  If so, I'd go ahead and buy the car. If not, then I'll keep looking.

15 minutes ago, Yearofthegoat said:

I'm just about to close the deal on a new-from-stock 'Kodiaq L&K 2.0 TSI 190 PS DSG 4x4'.

 

It doesn't have towbar prep, and the dealer has told me they can't fit a Skoda folding towbar, because no suitable kit for that exists.

 

However, the VIN plate shows it has towing capacity (presumably braked) of 2000kg:

 

 

and the latest brochure lists 750kg unbraked and nose weight of 100kg.  So perhaps Skoda aren't yet zeroing the VINs for cars without towbar prep?

 

So, for this car, am I right in thinking I could get an independent to fit a towbar without any issues?  If so, I'd go ahead and buy the car. If not, then I'll keep looking.

Yes,  there's no legal problem with getting a third party towbar fitted.  Demand an EU "Certificate of Conformity" with the car.  That will give you a load of type approval data, specific to your car, including what it can and can't tow, braked and unbraked.

You might, however, run into warranty problems if anything goes wrong.

18 minutes ago, Avocet said:

Yes,  there's no legal problem with getting a third party towbar fitted.  Demand an EU "Certificate of Conformity" with the car.  That will give you a load of type approval data, specific to your car, including what it can and can't tow, braked and unbraked.

You might, however, run into warranty problems if anything goes wrong.

Yes, that's the bit that worries me.  The wording in the brochure under towing doesn't mention warranty implications:

 

Please note, if a tow bar or tow bar preparation is not fitted on the car, the VIN plate may not show any towing weights and the car will never be eligible for towing. As such it may not be possible to retrospectively fit a tow bar if the car is not fitted with tow bar preparation at Factory. Please speak to your Retailer
to confirm the exact towing eligibility.

 

But the warranty section 'Exclusions and limitations' mentions non-original replacement parts:

 

Damage resulting from the use of non-original replacement parts.

 

Haven't looked yet but maybe I can find the warranty Ts & Cs online.

I think you're right to be concerned.  Frankly, it's utterly ridiculous that a manufacturer should produce a vehicle of this type and NOT expect people to want to tow with it!  Ours has had an aftermarket towbar fitted (and actually seems to be a very good tow car), but was out of warranty when it was fitted.

 

Also wierd, that the 5-seater also is only homologated with 2000kg braked trailer in Austria... 750kg unbraked is clear, but why just 2000kg with brakes? Is the gearbox also to weak for 5 persons and a trailer with the original towbar???

Edited 24 July, 20241 yr by KODYBear

that has to do with the gearbox. The DSG is rated to 2500.

2 hours ago, brettikivi said:

that has to do with the gearbox. The DSG is rated to 2500.

Wow! That's not really speak for the manual gearbox then. Thank you very much for the information!

... and i've just done around 1200km with the 4x4 150 DSG and can confirm, it works *really* well. Would be sloooooow with 2000kg on the hook, but it handles the 1400kg we've got on there just fine, really nicely with some fine-tuning. Another few hundred Sunday and again next week. My Spritmonitor is going to suffer for this.

 

Handled the rapid stops caused by reindeer very well, too. 90km/h, it dropped to 4th a couple of times on steeper hills, with the cruise dropping towards 85, but grumbles along in 7th on the flat. My maths says an 1800kg van would see me at around 10l/100, this one is running at 9,x. Better data when we return it as I can brim the tank at both sides of that trip to give a good indication.

 

There is a PDF on ErWIn listing all weights with all engine / gearbox / seating combinations. Apparently it may be possible to get 3.3t for the 150 with a d-value over 14, but TBH, I think it will struggle with 2500.