Hello, 

 

I'm new here, though I've been doing plenty of research on this forum. As a young family dad with our third kid on the way  I'm looking to upgrade to a Skoda Kodiaq. My wife has been very positive about the 7-seat option, however I'm aware this also has its downsides. (Hard to access, rather slim, not ideal with booster seats, eating up some boot space..) 

 

Since my eldest will do fine in a booster seat, which seems it will fit on the 2nd row middle seat, would it be wiser to save the money and boot space and opt for the 5-seater? Having 7 seats will of course add more flexibility but seeing how difficult to access they are with 2 child seats installed on the 2nd row I'm wondering if we'll ever use them. 

 

Thanks for the advise. 

I guess it all depends on how long you intend on keeping the car for… if it’s for long enough the kids will be out of child seats, then maybe short term pain for long term flexibility? Even with my kids now 18 and 16, it’s still useful having 7 seats - they’re usable for short journeys but anyone over about 5ft wouldn’t want to go any sort of long distance. Also, has been useful in the past to have 2+1+1 when visiting IKEA 😂.

 

As for saving money… it might be slightly cheaper to buy a 5 seat version, but I do wonder if they will hold their value as well because if you only want 5 seats, why not go for a Karoq? The exception is the iV as that’s 5 seats only…

Thanks Yogi-Bear. 
 

Indeed the 7 seat is for a big part the marketing of the Kodiaq. Just a bit of a shame it’s an optional extra. 
 

I will stick to the 7 seater then. Planning to keep the car as long as possible. Indeed there will be many scenario’s I would be blaming myself for not having 7 seats. We are quite the IKEA family, good argument there. 

Edited 30 October, 20241 yr by Darks

41 minutes ago, Darks said:

Indeed the 7 seat is for a big part the marketing of the Kodiaq. Just a bit of a shame it’s an optional extra. 

 

The Mk1 only had 5 seats available at the beginning in the lowest trim. It's been 7 seats only for many years in the UK until the Mk2 came out - and other than the fact the iV is 5 seat only because of the battery, I'm convinced the only reason Skoda UK are now offering 5 seat versions across the board is because they realise how expensive the Kodiaq is now and want models at those slightly lower price points.

 

Let's just remember that, at launch in 2017, you could get a 5 seat SE for £21k.

 

Edit: Apologies, it was a Kodiaq S... an even lower trim level that hasn't been seen for a very long time.

Edited 30 October, 20241 yr by Yogi-Bear

Yes the pricing seems to have gone mad.  I think I'll be investigating the Dacia Bigster as an alternative...

On 30/10/2024 at 19:55, Yogi-Bear said:

 

The Mk1 only had 5 seats available at the beginning in the lowest trim. It's been 7 seats only for many years in the UK until the Mk2 came out - and other than the fact the iV is 5 seat only because of the battery, I'm convinced the only reason Skoda UK are now offering 5 seat versions across the board is because they realise how expensive the Kodiaq is now and want models at those slightly lower price points.

 

Let's just remember that, at launch in 2017, you could get a 5 seat SE for £21k.

 

Edit: Apologies, it was a Kodiaq S... an even lower trim level that hasn't been seen for a very long time.

Australia was only ever 7 seat.  I bought the koduaq as i wanted7 seats.  Not all the time, but when yiu need it, you really need it. For short trips with 5 passengers, we often do 2,2,2 and fold the middle down on the 2nd row.

The second row slides to add/reduce leg room depending on passengers. 99% of the time my kodiaq is a 5 seater with max leg room set for second row. But kids birthday groups, dropping ectra kid off somewhere, occasiinal extra person for airport pickup. Definitely worth the 7 seats.  (For my family's purposes of course)

On 30/10/2024 at 08:59, skomaz said:

Yes the pricing seems to have gone mad.  I think I'll be investigating the Dacia Bigster as an alternative...

I am looking at Dacia if I ever need to replace my wife's car. They seem to have kept their prices relatively sensible.

Have a seat in any model of Dacia and you'll quickly realise why they are so cheap. They are designed to a minimalist specification and it won't take you long to walk away.

24 minutes ago, Colin1051 said:

Have a seat in any model of Dacia and you'll quickly realise why they are so cheap. They are designed to a minimalist specification and it won't take you long to walk away.

But some people like a minimalist specification and don't want their vehicle to be all singing and dancing with lots of functionality they will never use...

Added to that a minimalist specification seems to make them more reliable.

More reliable? It isn't just the interior trim that's compromised. Engine, electronics, gearbox, suspension are all built to a price. Good luck if you choose one !!

Dacia / Renault know what VORSPRUNG DURCH TECHNIK ment and VW / SKODA just forgot. If VW Group did more on reliability and practicality they might do better. Also deal with snagging issues and design and engineering faults. Sort out rubbish software as well.

2 hours ago, Colin1051 said:

More reliable? It isn't just the interior trim that's compromised. Engine, electronics, gearbox, suspension are all built to a price. Good luck if you choose one !!

I'd respectfully suggest that many of the electronic systems in a Dacia, that are largely proven technology from Renault et al (as Skoda used to be with VAG) are far less prone to glitches and far more reliable than those in the VAG stable at present...

It is true that Kodiaq has a bit higher price, than it should, but show me a sole manufacturer nowadays who hasn't risen the prices....

On the other hand, one Kodiaq costs, as 2 Dacia bigster, or 2 1/2 duster ...this is not marketing policy at all....you can see difference in quality almost everywhere....have you checked underneath? You can see economy class in every link, ball, and metal...for that quality, it may be characterized even as overpriced too....and I think, that, when Skoda entered the market 25-30 years ago, it offered good quality, at a lower price....that was until up to days, in a less aggressive way of course...I am afraid that this is not the case with Dacia...and anyway, they admitted so, as when they were asked, about low ncap results, and if they were about to improve things, Dacia CEO, and should be honoured for that, that their target, is not making good cars, but to offer cheap alternatives...which means, if others wouldn't have risen prices, Dacia, wouldn't exist

On 14/01/2026 at 14:48, Colin1051 said:

More reliable? It isn't just the interior trim that's compromised. Engine, electronics, gearbox, suspension are all built to a price. Good luck if you choose one !!

Are you talking from experience, or from some other part of your body?

Dacia is built on reliable technology from Renault, technology they are phasing out from their Renault cars to replace with new one.

Yes, plastics are cheap, but actually very resistent and the limited number of computers and quirks make it more reliable from this point of view.

None of the things you mentioned are an issue. There are issues with insulation, consumption, lack of power, quality of materials, but you get what you paid for. They are reliable cars, comfy enough and suitable equipped.

On 30/10/2024 at 10:15, Darks said:

Thanks Yogi-Bear. 
 

Indeed the 7 seat is for a big part the marketing of the Kodiaq. Just a bit of a shame it’s an optional extra. 
 

I will stick to the 7 seater then. Planning to keep the car as long as possible. Indeed there will be many scenario’s I would be blaming myself for not having 7 seats. We are quite the IKEA family, good argument there. 

Not sure if you bought it or not, so not sure if it will help or not, but here it is:

• Think about what YOU need, now and for the foreseeable future, what is best for YOU.

• Don't think about what others might want, resale value and what you would need 1% of the time.

• 7 seater has no isofix in the 3rd row, making it good for occasional, unplanned, short trips. How many of those you do? Once again, don't think about kids at a b-day party, think of you, your money in your pocket, your space in the trunk.

• 7 seater is having 2 seats that can be used for short people over the age of seat bumper / child seat requirement. So in other words from 7-8 years old to 150 cm tall. Do the math, how much is that? When that point in the life of your kids will come? Still makes sense? I never understood who are those seats made for.

• 5 seats offers bigger trunk, less complex system, looks better. Does not have that 1% flexibility, so you might do a second trip with those kids. Once again, how many second trips will fit into the 1K pounds/euro extra cost? Quite a lot.

• 5 seats offers the flexibility of choosing the IV, if that's what you need, or simply more space and less price.