A friend of mine wants to change from his Qashquai to something bigger and more comfortable and, understandably , is eyeing up a Superb or Kodiaq. He is after decent performance and he is some rather long road trips (on top of his annual mileage) at least once or twice per year so I would push him towards the 2.0 TDI 190 instead of the 272/280 TSI.

Obviously I can tell him all he wants to find out about the Superb's ride, cabin, options etc. but the question is how does the equivalent Kodiaq compare to it? He likes it equally, (although not dead set on a SUV) but he is worried about a worse ride, in terms of comfort and driving especially on those 10hr long drives he'll be doing. I think he has got that impression from the Qashquai but I would bet the Kodiaq is much different to it and it should be just as comfortable as the Superb on long journeys or...? What's the verdict from people that have driven both cars extensively? How would they rate them?

Then there's the point of extra weight, worse behaviour and fuel consumption on the Kodiaq, which even though I haven't driven a Kodiaq all seem like fair points considering the extra size and weight, compared to a Superb.

So unless someone really just prefers an SUV or the Kodiaq looks in particular (which I do find very good) over a wagon/sedan are there any other good reasons to consider it over the Superb would you say?

 

I found the Kodiaq slightly more comfortable than the Superb when I drove them both. I think for me it was helped by the overall seating position compared to the Superb, which boosted comfort levels. The ride in the Kodiaq was also more compliant and less crashy. The only reason I choose the superb was the lack of 272 variant in the Kodiaq. The pick for me if I’d been staying diesel would be the VRS Bi-turbo unit. Overall visibility was a lot better in the Kodiaq as well, which I find leaves me more relaxed during a journey. Personal preference though at the end of the day. 

I toyed with these 2 options too.  From memory the Kodiaq is wider, but shorter (and of course taller) with the Superb having more rear leg room.  Surprisingly the Kodiaq was listed as having a bigger boot, but both are huge.

A fairly major consideration for me was that second hand the Superb tended to be cheaper and better equipped (in particular I wanted adaptive cruise, also for long journeys), looking new there doesn’t seem to be much in it.

As you say the running costs on the Superb should be lower.

Ride wise I don’t recall much difference to be honest (both like a pillow compared to the VRS)

2 hours ago, UndertheRadar said:

The ride in the Kodiaq was also more compliant and less crashy.

That was when comparing DCC Superb to DCC Kodiaq? 

Mine is a SportLine DCC and I've had the most comfortable miles ever in it by far, I can't recall a single occasion where I thought it was crashy really, and that remains true even after Eibach lowering springs.

1 hour ago, newbie69 said:

That was when comparing DCC Superb to DCC Kodiaq? 

Mine is a SportLine DCC and I've had the most comfortable miles ever in it by far, I can't recall a single occasion where I thought it was crashy really, and that remains true even after Eibach lowering springs.

Yes. Both DCC. I think it’s probably a personal thing. I just found the seating position in relation to the pedals and wheel more comfortable over distance. 

27 minutes ago, UndertheRadar said:

Yes. Both DCC. I think it’s probably a personal thing. I just found the seating position in relation to the pedals and wheel more comfortable over distance. 

Cheers. Seems like he's leaning towards the Superb Estate SportLine in the end as he prefers the SportLine's looks and touches over the L&K and they end up being identical in price anyway (for the same equipment) with the current campaigns of Skoda Sweden.

Edited 7 December, 20205 yr by newbie69

10 minutes ago, newbie69 said:

SportLine's looks and touches over the L&K and they end up being identical in price anyway with the current campaigns of Skoda Sweden.

all countries have different packages, options and prices.

In Latvia + - equally equipped

Sportline 49 855 €

L&K 45 770 €

Czechs can select VELA 8J x 18" Alloys for free
Germans can select Mud Flaps from factory 25 €

GBRs Configurator offers two versions of 2.0 TSI 4x4

272ps 34mpg 188g/km

280ps 34.5mpg 185g/km, just missing info about DSG gears count,

in Russia still old DSG6 installed for 280ps

 

also little bit worried about Sportline can came without some sound deadening parts

 

On 07/12/2020 at 15:36, MartiniB said:

all countries have different packages, options and prices.

In Latvia + - equally equipped

Sportline 49 855 €

L&K 45 770 €

Czechs can select VELA 8J x 18" Alloys for free
Germans can select Mud Flaps from factory 25 €

GBRs Configurator offers two versions of 2.0 TSI 4x4

272ps 34mpg 188g/km

280ps 34.5mpg 185g/km, just missing info about DSG gears count,

in Russia still old DSG6 installed for 280ps

 

also little bit worried about Sportline can came without some sound deadening parts

 

4K EUR difference is crazy. In Sweden both are ending up around 45K eur for the same equipment, plus there are some stuff that the L&K doesn't get even as an option that my buddy likes, like the flat bottom steering wheel with perforated leather, alcantara trim, tinted headlights, etc. etc. so he's going for the Sportline.

There's no sound deadening difference that I'm aware of between a SportLine and L&K, and I have never noticed too much noise in my SportLine either.

I’ve jyst been through the same thing..

yes the Kodiaq feels bigger seems a bit brighter inside, but, the SEL Derivatives are differently specked.

you only get cruise control on the Kodiaq, not the Adaptive cruise control., you don’t get electric drivers seat abd therefore non Emory settings 

 

Now, they are not big differences and of course you get 7 seats in the Kodiaq

Personally i really liked the Kodiaq, But i just couldn't think of six other people that i liked so i bought the Superb.

If he tows he needs to check which Kodiaks you can tow with.

8 hours ago, IJWS15 said:

If he tows he needs to check which Kodiaks you can tow with.

Doesn't all Kodiaqs in Sweden have a maximum towing weight between 2000 and 2500kg depending on 7 or 5 seats?

RS had lower towing weight at 1750kg i think.

The 2.0 tdi 150 4x4  7 seater with manual gearbox is not homologated for towing and cannot have a towbar fitted.

Well, the order was placed last week for a heavily equipped Superb Estate Sportline TDI 200 4x4 in Steel grey!

In the end, this was the car and trim/looks he preferred the most out of the other options so he pulled the trigger on one. Gotta say in that colour and with Supernovas or other black alloys it even makes me consider an estate   (not gonna happen! )

@Bap33

On the "hot" topic of towbars: current campaign on the Superb (in Sweden) offers the electrical, foldable towbar as standard. I have that too (also included in a 2018 campaign) and never used it but certainly amazes people when you show off  what goodies your car came with 

@Kenny R

I believe you. Just surprised by Skoda decision... The reaction smiley was not obvious to chose to translate my feeling. 😉