Toyota Fortuner VS Skoda Kodiaq
Toyota Fortuner
Likes
- Safety features
- Good size for everyday use
- Powerful engine
Dislikes
- Retro tech
- Lack of child seat options
- Third row stowage
Skoda Kodiaq
Likes
- Bigger, better than before
- Cabin tech overhaul
- The keen driver's seven-seat SUV
Dislikes
- Hybrid tech unlikely for Oz initially
- Might be thirsty compared to rivals
- Probably won't be more affordable
Summary
Toyota Fortuner
The Toyota Fortuner Crusade is a strange beast. It’s a four-wheel drive that feels like a HiLux hybrid but it lacks the fun of its ute sibling, despite being able to seat seven.
The four-wheel drive capabilities, seat configuration and high-ride should be a winning combo but it sits awkwardly in Toyota’s SUV line-up.
It’s not as family-oriented as the Kluger and not as refined as the Prado. It’s like that cousin that you only see once a year and don’t know well – you’re not quite sure what to do with them.
Read more about the Toyota Fortuner
I've been driving the top of the range Crusade for a week to get to know it for you. And my family of three has put it through its paces! Let’s see how it fared.
| Safety rating | |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | 2.8L turbo |
| Fuel Type | Diesel |
| Fuel Efficiency | 7.6L/100km |
| Seating | 7 seats |
Skoda Kodiaq
It’s time. Life is calling for a seven-seat SUV.
The thing is, you don’t like to follow the crowd, and you’re not drawn by the Nissan X-Trails, Honda CR-Vs and Kia Sorentos of the world. You’re looking for something a little different, a thinking person’s SUV that stands out.
There’s no better time then, to meet the Skoda Kodiaq. Now entering its second generation with some major upgrades, it could be the right SUV for your family. Does it have what it takes to make the case against those very compelling rivals?
Read more about
- If you want a cheaper Skoda, tell them! Here's why the Czech brand won't fight cut-price Chinese rivals such as the MG ZS and Haval Jolion on price alone
- No hybrids, no worries: Skoda says NVES 'not scary' but believes its model mix will need to change in coming years
- Why this electric SUV won't suffer the same fate as the Tesla Model Y and BYD Seal
We drove the Kodiaq in Europe ahead of its Australian arrival to find out.
| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | — |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | —L/100km |
| Seating | — |
Verdict
Toyota Fortuner 7/10
So, after a week of driving the Toyota Fortuner Crusade, did it have a podium finish for my family?
I was hopeful, but no. The driving performance was mixed and only being able to fit two car seats will limit flexibility for younger growing families. I don't like the way the third row is stowed as it makes the boot a bit awkward to use. Combined with the retro-feeling tech and short servicing intervals, there can be some improvement here, especially in a market that is surging forward with all of those elements. I did enjoy the high driving position, safety features and the forgiving suspension, though.Â
My son liked the 'Feverish Red' colour and that he didn’t need my help to climb in and out of it.
Skoda Kodiaq7.9/10
If you’re already a Skoda buyer, you know the drill. I don’t need to tell you the Kodiaq is a genuine off-beat alternative to the mid-sized seven-seaters of the world.
If you’re a newcomer to the idea of a Kodiaq though, you’d be getting by far the best version yet. Not only is this one bigger and packed full of tech, but it’s also distinctly European in the way it drives, setting it apart from popular nameplates from Japan, Korea, and China.
Keep an eye on CarsGuide in early 2025 for detailed pricing and trim levels for the Australian market.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
Design
Toyota Fortuner
Nothing discernible to me has been changed since the last model but let me paint the picture for you. Imagine a dual-cab HiLux with a boot and you’ll come up with something similar to the Fortuner.
It sits proudly at 1835mm tall. The sides are almost slab-like and it's squared off at the rear, which the chunky C-pillar and dark windows do nothing to detract from. It’s definitely prettier up front with a nicely tapered bonnet.
City-dwellers need not beware, at 4795mm long and 1855mm wide, it’s accommodating in a tight car park.
The interior is classically Toyota. Everything is where you expect to find it but it’s lacking some wow factor. There are a lot of hard plastics throughout that highlight this.
With tech, trims and ambience all getting upgraded in the market, the interior is a bit of a let down.
However, there’s a certain comfort in seeing a traditional gear shifter, handbrake and manual clock in an off-roader. In my mind, it lends a certain weight to the vehicle's capability.
Skoda Kodiaq
Like its Superb sedan sibling, the Kodiaq adopts small changes to a familiar existing formula, despite being significantly upgraded underneath.
The boxy lines of the previous car have been traded out in favour of a few more curves over the wheel arches, while the LED light fittings have been tweaked to keep them looking cutting-edge in an era of more exciting and challenging designs in this SUV space.
It doesn’t rock the boat though. This is still a big oblong of an SUV - but it does lean into the stately quality exuded by larger Skoda models, reflected in its long wheelbase and imposing bonnet height.
Sure, it’s more conservative than BYD’s aquatic Sealion 6 or Hyundai’s Land Rover-emulating Santa Fe, but it also avoids the popular sharp-edged design motifs favoured by the CR-V, RAV4, or Kia Sorento.
The interior receives a massive upgrade, particularly centred around its enormous new 13-inch central touchscreen, but there’s also a pleasing array of soft-touch materials adorning the entire span of the dash, and some nicer highlight trims, too.
The older VW Group switchgear has been swapped out in favour of the latest rotary shifter mounted on the steering column, although the Kodiaq maintains the funky two-spoke steering wheel that appears throughout the brand’s range.
Practicality
Toyota Fortuner
The interior isn’t terribly practical for a seven-seater, so there’s room for improvement. And that seems to be the running theme for the Fortuner.
First and second-row occupants will enjoy the most room but it’s best to think of the third row as 'sometimes seats'.
It was easy for my six-year old to get in and out with the side steps, and he had a great view from the wide rear window.
Individual storage is good with a double glove box, cooled middle console, two cupholders and drink bottle holders in the first and second rows plus an extra two retractable cupholders in the dash (hurrah!). Third row occupants miss out on them completely, though.
However, I think the storage bins and map pockets are a tad too shallow to be that useful.
The boot space is on the smaller side and the way the third row stows on the side encroaches on the space and creates a large blind spot on an already chunky C-pillar.
With all three rows in action, there is 200L of cargo capacity available, but you can stow the third row to get 716L. If you want maximum cargo capacity, the middle seats can also be folded and that figure jumps up to 1080L.
The tech feels retro and not in a good way. The 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system is plain on the graphics and laggy, plus on the smaller side for the market now.
It also only has wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but it's fairly easy to connect.
Also, there is only one USB-A port in the whole car and no wireless charging pad. You do have a couple of 12-volt ports and a handy 220-volt plug for when you’re camping or something but that’s it for charging, which is surprising for a family SUV nowadays.
Skoda Kodiaq
The space inside the Kodiaq feels enormous no matter which seat you’re in, with a tall roof and plenty of width. Up front, there’s a commanding view of the road, while adjustability for the seats seems extensive (although we only tested a high-spec car with electrically adjustable seats).
The new screens offer sharp software which is much better laid out than before. This makes it relatively easy to find all the functions of the car, although the resolution is so high some shortcuts can be a little hard to jab at.
The real win here is the new set of three rotary dials set below the screen in place of the touch-based sliders in other VW Group products. The two outside dials control the temperature of the climate zone, or it can cycle through the heating and ventilation for the outside seats. The centre dial controls fan speed, drive mode, or volume. It’s even customisable so you can remove functions you don’t want if you’re tired of having to press it a few times to get the function you want.
There’s no shortage of storage up front including large door pockets, cupholders in the centre console, and a massive rubberised tray for the wireless charger which disappears below the rotary dials up front.
The centre console is now enormous and features a set of floating trays that can be removed. These feature conveniently-sized brackets for quick access to keys or wallets, and included here is a little suede-style cleaning block for the touchscreen. It’s part of Skoda’s signature ‘simply clever’ features and I must say I’ve never seen it before, so props to the brand for including something new.
The rear seat is, of course, enormous, offering me plenty of room at 182cm tall behind my own driving position. Unfortunately, this car’s platform requires a significant raise in the floor below the centre seat position, which eats into legroom for centre passengers.
Back here, there’s also plenty of amenities. In the car we tested, which is reflective of what high-spec cars in Australia will be equipped with, there's a rear climate zone (rare for the segment) with an independent controller, adjustable air vents, USB-C ports, and even built-in sunshades and heated outboard seats.
Unfortunately I couldn't test the third row in our brief time with the car, although the second row is on rails, so the amount of room on offer isn’t fixed at any rate. Check back for our Australian launch review for a better analysis of the third row.
With the third row seats folded the boot offers an impressive 910 litres of space, or an ambitious 340L with the third row up. It also has its share of ‘clever’ touches, like velcro cargo dividers, an included cargo net (in addition to the sliding cover), and bag hooks on either side.
Price and features
Toyota Fortuner
There are three models for the Fortuner and the Crusade sits at the top.
As with everything, there’s been a minor price hike since the last model but you can pick this up for $62,945, before on-road costs.
There are some nice standard features, like electric heated front leather seats, a powered tailgate, three-zone climate control, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, seven seats (2/3/2 config), 18-inch alloy wheels and side steps.
Our model is fitted with an optional tow bar kit, which adds a tow bar, tow ball and trailer wiring for an extra $1350.
It’s a little annoying that each item has to be individually purchased, so make sure if the model you’re looking at has a tow ball, that the wiring is connected, too.
Compared to the market, you get a decent array of accessories and features for the price tag.Â
Skoda Kodiaq
Because we’re testing European cars and the company hasn’t even started building right-hand drive examples for Australia, it’s too early to tell what the price will be, but Skoda tells us for now to expect it to stay around the same level as the outgoing car.
That should mean you can pick up a base model from the mid-$50k region, with high-spec versions reaching to the high $60-grand bracket.
When it comes to variants, we can expect there to be a new entry-level Select version with boosted standard equipment. From there, it’s likely we’ll see a more luxurious option pack and a self-explanatory Sportline version reflecting the current range. A replacement for the outgoing top-spec RS is yet to be confirmed.
This price region puts the Kodiaq in close competition with some notable rivals. In the seven-seat SUV space this includes the Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V, and outgoing Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace.
Half a size (and price-bracket) up will net you versions of the cool-looking Kia Sorento or the dramatically redesigned Hyundai Santa Fe, notably both cars available as hybrids, while the Kodiaq won’t be.
We’ll talk about powertrains later, but standard equipment will be bumped to include a 13-inch multimedia touchscreen with slick new software, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. There’s also an upgraded version of the VW Group digital instrument cluster, an improved array of switchgear and extended soft-touch interior materials.
What will be missing for the Australian launch is the full array of connected services features that were included in the Euro-spec cars we tested.
Keep an eye out for final spec closer to the Kodiaq’s Australian on-sale date in quarter one 2025.
Under the bonnet
Toyota Fortuner
All Fortuner models share the same 2.8-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel engine but it’s the main star that perfectly complements the 4WD system.
With a maximum output of 150kW and a massive 500Nm of torque, most weekend adventures can be pursued. It also doesn’t feel like you’re digging deep for that power, which is great.
The six-speed auto transmission is fairly smooth but occasionally the pick up is slow, so I wouldn’t be zipping across traffic in this.Â
Skoda Kodiaq
Expect evolution not revolution here, with the Kodiaq likely to maintain a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and all-wheel drive in the Australian market.
This is likely to be an updated version of the engine in the current outgoing model, which in overseas spec produces 150kW/320Nm. It is not in production yet, so the car we drove for this test was a 2.0-litre turbo diesel (which won’t be launching in Australia) producing 142kW/400Nm. Either way, expect a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Frustratingly, we won’t be getting hybrids of any kind, at least at launch. Overseas, the Kodiaq is available with a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine in either mild hybrid (MHEV) or ‘iV’ plug-in hybrid (PHEV) forms.
Efficiency
Toyota Fortuner
The official combined cycle fuel number is 7.6L/100km. Real world testing saw my figure at 9.1L and I covered a good mix of urban and open road driving this week.
Considering its size and that it’s a turbo, I thought it was fairly efficient for how I drove it, but it could be better given it’s a diesel.
The Fortuner has an 80L fuel tank with an approximate range of 880km, using our on-test average fuel economy figure.
Skoda Kodiaq
Expect similar fuel consumption to the outgoing car which sits at 8.2L/100km. VW Group turbocharged engines require 95RON unleaded fuel and the new Kodiaq has a variable fuel tank size depending on the engine. Check back closer to its local arrival to see more accurate figures for Australia.
It is unfortunate that it seems hybrid powertrains won’t be making it to our shores, at least in the short term, which will make it difficult for the Kodiaq to compete with hybrid versions of the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda CR-V on the fuel efficiency front.
Driving
Toyota Fortuner
Mostly okay but there are points to consider for long-term use.
We’ve already covered that the engine has enough grunt for off-road pursuits but I enjoyed the torque because it means it's fairly easy to maintain a consistent speed on hills, which isn’t always the case for large SUVs.
However, the steering feels heavy at lower speeds. It makes the car feel older than it is and cumbersome to turn in car parks.
I'm not a fan of the steering wheel, either. The leather is hard/rough and the wood panel insert at the top is slippery, which is an odd combo for an off-roader where you want to stay very much in control.
The taller centre of gravity does give some roll in corners but it’s also not the sort of car you go hard in on bends, anyway. So, that's not surprising.
However, the Aussie suspension tuning gets an A+ because the ride comfort is good and you won’t really notice potholes or bumps.
This has a 360-degree view camera set-up with guidelines but the image is disappointingly blurry for a top-spec model.Â
Skoda Kodiaq
Like its immediate relations, the Skoda Superb and incoming third-generation Tiguan, the Kodiaq’s upgraded platform comes with some notable enhancements when it comes to the experience behind the wheel.
Core changes to suspension and rigidity to the platform make for a big SUV which feels surprisingly reactive in the corners, which is doubled-down on thanks to accurate steering.
It also responds nicely to a prod of the accelerator thanks to punchy engine options and the dual-clutch auto which shifts fast and unlike a CVT lets you ride the gears out for better power delivery.
We only sampled the more powerful of two 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engines, although the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit which we know will ship in Australia is an upgraded version of an existing well-loved engine that will only perform better with less lag.
Sure, the Kodiaq is further off the ground and heavier than some of its VW Group contemporaries, and has to work harder to tame these factors, but it’s rare in the seven-seat SUV segment to have this much fun behind the wheel.
The X-Trail and CR-V for example, may be a little smoother in traffic, especially in hybrid forms, but even cars with comparable dual-clutch set-ups like the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe can’t compare to the Kodiaq in terms of driver engagement.
Ride quality for those moments on less than impressive road surfaces was hard to gauge on the finely-crafted European roads we drove the Kodiaq on, but the previous car was already good and I’d expect the upgraded suspension on this new one to feel even better.
Even the improved switchgear (specifically, those new control dials), and the minimally invasive active safety equipment adds to the Skoda’s appeal.
If you need seven seats, you like to drive, and you don’t want to spend truly premium dollars, it’s hard to get better in this segment.
Safety
Toyota Fortuner
The safety list earns some cred back for the Crusade with the following being standard features: LED daytime running lights, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert (always good to have), 360-degree view camera, front and rear parking sensors and trailer sway control.
A couple of cool features to highlight are the 'SOS Emergency Call' button and 'Automatic Collision Notification' system.
The former is for if you’re ever in a sticky situation but don’t have access to your phone but need emergency services.
The latter, will alert the Toyota Emergency Assistance call centre if an airbag is deployed or a collision is detected by the impact sensors. I think these are good features for an off-roader.
It has seven airbags, which include a driver's knee airbag and curtain airbags covering the third row but it is missing the newer front centre airbags that we’re seeing on newer cars.
The Fortuner has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating but it was tested a little while ago in 2019.
There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard seats in the middle row and two top tether anchor points, so you’ll only be fitting two child seats in (unusual for a seven seater). There is enough room in the front with a 0-4 rearward facing child seat installed.
Skoda Kodiaq
We don’t have final spec for the Australian market, but expect the Kodiaq to maintain all the key active safety items as standard.
These include auto emergency braking (to freeway speeds), lane keep assist with departure warning, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Additionally, the Kodiaq gets traffic sign recognition, an upgraded driver attention alert, and an auto-parking suite.
It is also now better at detecting objects and vehicles around it thanks to a new set of ‘nano radar’ sensors in both the front and rear bumpers.
The new Kodiaq has nine airbags and was recently awarded a maximum five-star EuroNCAP rating. Tune back in closer to its Australian arrival in Q1 of 2025 to see whether the safety rating transfers across to ANCAP.
Ownership
Toyota Fortuner
Ongoing costs are always something to consider and the Fortuner comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is standard for the market.
Unfortunately, it only comes with a three-year capped-priced servicing plan, which is unusual for this class.
The services are affordable at $290 per service but the intervals are painful at every six months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.Â
Skoda Kodiaq
Skoda is the first European brand to take a shot at a seven-year and unlimited kilometre warranty, so points there for moving the game forward.
On top of that, you can expect the usual seven-year pre-paid service pack the brand offers on its other models, although check back in for the details as they become available in Australia. Generally these packs strike a reasonable middle ground between the affordable servicing of brands like Toyota and the more expensive Subaru.
Skoda is also currently pushing a guaranteed future value program and favourable finance with more transparent terms than some of its competitors. Check back in early 2025 for all the numbers.