Volkswagen Tiguan VS Skoda Kodiaq
Volkswagen Tiguan
Likes
- Fun to drive
- Big design and tech upgrade
- Practical, spacious interior
Dislikes
- No new hybrid powertrains (yet)
- Base price will go up
- Touch-based climate
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
Without a doubt, this is Volkswagen’s most important new vehicle.
Roughly eight million Tiguan mid-size SUVs have been sold since the nameplate came into existence in 2007, and the one we’re looking at for this review is the first new-from-the-ground-up version in eight years.
While it might look familiar from the outside, don’t be fooled. This third generation car is significantly different inside and underneath with upgrades the brand will need for it to stay relevant against an increasing array of hybrid traditional rivals and newcomers from China.
Does the 2025 Tiguan have what it takes to be your next family hauler? Stick with us as we find out.
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| Seating | 5 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.
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| Engine Type | — |
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| Fuel Efficiency | —L/100km |
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Verdict
Volkswagen Tiguan7.9/10
It's a hard to deliver a definitive verdict yet, because we’re still some way out from the Tiguan’s local arrival.
Expect a pricier mid-size SUV, but one which leans into its best traits as a semi-premium option, with a stellar cabin and a significant tech upgrade. What sets it apart in such a crowded segment is its ability to appeal to the keen driver, although it’s a shame Australia will miss out on some of the more ambitious and modern powertrain options available overseas, at least initially.
For now though, consider us impressed.
Tune back in in the second quarter of 2025 for all the details on the Tiguan’s local launch and pricing.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
There’s a lot of familiarity with this new Tiguan. It doesn’t stray far from the sturdy, boxy, but pragmatic shape of the current car, at least at a distance.
Up closer, though, it’s clear there are some significant changes this time around. The previous car’s hard and angular character lines have been replaced by curvy finishes over the top of the wheel arches, paired with heavier contours down the doors and across the nose.
The face has dumped the previous chrome highlights, moving the grille lower and replacing the horizontal strips which used to sit behind the VW badge with a solid plastic bar (incorporating an LED light) running across the top.
The grille has been moved lower, and chrome has largely been replaced with gloss black and matt silver finishes. While the outgoing car was attractive in a relatively conservative way this new Tiguan makes more of a statement.
Round the back, expect a similar contemporary translucent plastic light-bar treatment to marry the rear two light fittings, with the VW badge taking pride of place alongside the TIGUAN typeface, as is the current trend.
Design elements carried over in the rear three-quarter include the shape of the rear side windows, the tough extruded bumper and the little roof-mounted spoiler. Trendy aerodynamically-styled wheel choices round out its modern appeal.
Perhaps the strangest thing about this design is how it somehow manages to make the Tiguan look smaller where most next-gen designs make new cars look much larger than their predecessors. There’s something subtle about it.
Inside is a radical departure from the now significantly dated outgoing vehicle. The somewhat drab greyscale dash, which was also strangely upright, has been replaced by something much more intriguing.
A huge piano black panel defines the character line of the dash, housing the air vents, dashboard, and new ambient lighting, sitting behind the enormous pride-of-place 15-inch media screen.
VW clearly heard the audience and for this car has put a major focus on tech. The new software to match looks much better, the screen is sharp and fast, and as usual the brand’s digital dash is easily one of the best on the market.
Swapping out old switchgear has also allowed for a more contemporary, pared-back centre console with the nicely-designed steering wheel carrying across. EV-like controls from the ID series take their place on the steering column.
This is not a car you can judge from several metres away. This is a car that's been well and truly launched into the 2020s.
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
The previous Tiguan was always notable for how spacious its cabin was, and for the most part that pragmatic approach continues.
The re-designed seats proved comfortable over the significant amount of time we spend behind the wheel traversing central Germany, and while it feels a little smaller inside due to the much busier design of the dash, there’s plenty of room for even tall adults given the cabin's height and width.
As usual with Tiguan, it’s easy to find a comfortable and sporty seating position, and the touchpoints are all excellent with much less hard plastic in the doors and centre console.
Each door offers an enormous pocket and bottle holder, and the new car gets a two-tiered shelf design in the centre console, housing a wireless charger below.
A single multi-function dial can control either audio volume or drive mode with a quick press, and without additional switchgear. There is a versatile set of bottle holders and a centre console armrest box behind.
The huge screen is oriented towards the driver. In the pictures it looks like too much, but it’s somehow low enough and the software largely has clever shortcuts to minimise distraction.
The most unfortunate feature of the screen, though, is the requirement to control the climate via touch sliders or a screen-based menu.
If only the brand had committed to giving us two more dials to control the climate zones or fan speed as appear in its Skoda relations. Still, it’s a significant step-up from the outgoing car.
The back seat offers heaps of room for myself, at 182cm tall, behind my own driving position. The generous seat claddings continue (as usual for a VW), with adjustable air vents, a rear climate zone and USB-C ports offered on the back of the console for rear passengers.
Lovely soft trims continue in the doors, and there are a set of three pockets on the back of each front seat, good for phones, tablets, or whatever you can think of.
Boot space measures in at an enormous 652 litres, proving VW found a significant amount of space somewhere in this new design.
Need more? The second row is on rails, so if you’re not using it, or you’re using it for kids who don’t need the legroom, you can boost the load space even further.
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
Australian deliveries of the new-generation Tiguan were still a while away at the time of writing, so we don’t have precise pricing and specifications to share just yet. However, the brand’s Australian division tells us to expect a similar grade walk to the outgoing car.
This will likely mean three key variants tied to three drivetrain options. We know for now the incoming base version will retain the same 110TSI engine, but will take a significant hike in standard equipment, while the next two variants up will use upgraded engines, a mid-spec 150TSI and a top-spec 195TSI.
The bad news is Volkswagen says it will be fair to expect a price-hike on base versions, what we understand is “closer to the $50K mark”, while the outgoing car starts from $43,990, before on-road costs.
The good news is the standard equipment is “more in-line with what the VW customer expects” according to the brand, with the main problem not being price, but apparently buyers wanting things like standard leather seats and upgraded cabin tech with the more basic engine.
Next up, the 150TSI 2.0-litre all-wheel drive will replace the outgoing 132TSI, and at the top of the range, the most important R-Line grade (which VW sells the highest proportion of) will also get a significant boost, not only with the 195TSI engine (up from the current 162TSI), but also new equipment.
Across its grades, the new Tiguan will have access to new-generation matrix LED headlights, large alloy wheel choices, and a 15-inch multimedia screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There is also a completely overhauled software suite, with a new version of the VW's renowned digital dash cluster, and you can expect impressive spec highlights from the current vehicle, like tri-zone climate control, to continue over.
And this third-generation car also scores completely re-designed seats, revised ambient lighting, a new head-up display and extended soft-touch materials throughout the cabin to solidify its semi-premium market positioning.
Stay tuned closer to the new Tiguan’s arrival in Australia in the second quarter of 2025 for full local pricing and specs. That said, the cars we drove for this review were largely representative of what we might see land on our shores.
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
In some ways, I don’t envy our European friends, who can choose from a whopping eight different drivetrain permutations in the new Tiguan range.
However, again there’s good and bad news for the Australian market.
The bad news is we won’t see the new and more efficient 1.5-litre mild-hybrid engine option which is the base version (and one of the cars we drove) in Germany.
We also won’t see the surprisingly finely-tuned diesel versions, and we also won’t see the great new plug-in hybrid version, at least not at launch.
With this out of the way, what we can expect is a familiar line-up. The 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine (110TSI) will carry over from the outgoing vehicle, producing 110kW/250Nm, a new mid-spec engine, producing 150kW/320Nm, and a new top-spec engine (dropped out of the Golf GTI, no less) producing 195kW/400Nm.
As usual, expect all three options to be mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
It's a shame the local division isn’t ambitious enough to launch with the next-gen plug-in hybrid version, which pairs the new 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a big 25kWh battery for an estimated 100km electric driving range.
It also brings with it robust charging specs, like an 11kW AC inverter (for a slow charge time of two hours on a compatible charger) and even the ability to charge on DC at 50kW (for a fast-charge time in half an hour).
Our experience in a German-market example proves one of the other benefits of this powertrain, which is a fuel-efficient hybrid mode even when the battery is drained.
Perhaps it’s a story of petitioning your dealer for one if you want it. No doubt the brand will be listening to on-the-ground feedback post-launch.
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
Given the engines will be familiar don't expect any radical changes when it comes to fuel consumption.
We don’t have official WLTP-certified figures yet because the 1.4-litre 110TSI and 2.0-litre 150TSI engines aren’t even in production in the new body yet, but it's fair to assume they won't stray far from the 7.7L/100km of the current 110TSI, up to 8.5L/100km for the current 162TSI R-Line.
For those wondering, the difference between the carryover 110 and the new one in Europe, it’s about 0.9L/100km according to overseas figures (with the new 1.5-litre MHEV engine consuming 6.8L/100km).
Even better news is the power boosted 195kW engine has the same fuel consumption as the outgoing 162TSI.
Meanwhile, the 1.5-litre eHybrid (PHEV) version we’ll miss out on has claimed fuel consumption of just 0.5L/100km.
As usual, these turbocharged Volkswagen engines will require a minimum of 95RON premium unleaded fuel.
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
The Tiguan has always been a stand-out drive in the segment (which VW says underpins the high-spec R-Line version's popularity in Australia) and the improvements for this new-generation car lean even further into its on-road prowess.
Significant revisions as part of the new Tiguan’s upgraded MQB Evo platform include improved chassis rigidity and all-new suspension, which has an immediate and obvious effect as soon as you hop behind the wheel.
We were able to sample a 1.5-litre MHEV (an engine we won’t get, but in a trim level indicative of 'our' base car) as well as a 2.0-litre 150TDI diesel all-wheel drive (as a stand-in for the not-yet-in production 195TSI model) and both stand well above the segment in terms of handling and straight-up fun (at least for a mid-size SUV).
Don’t expect the kind of doughy ride and compliant steering of rivals, instead prepare yourself for what feels like a scaled-up Golf.
The third-generation Tiguan is defined by accurate, engaging steering, punchy and reactive engines, a sandpapered-smooth response from the dual-clutch transmissions, even at low speed, and (particularly for the front-wheel drive) an SUV which feels light on its feet.
This all makes for a mid-size SUV which, if anything, encourages you to push harder on a bit of curvy tarmac. Sure it doesn’t have the nearly EV-like smoothness of its hybrid rivals, but this is supplanted by serious fun to be had, which is extremely rare for this segment.
In our experience, the new ride is springy and reactive, although it was hard to gauge how the new Tiguan might feel in Australia due the high quality of German roads which don’t have the imperfections which riddle the surface of Australian tarmac.
It does feel a bit more locked down, but the previous Tiguan had an outstanding ride considering its more sporty intent, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see this continue.
Both turbo engine options roar to life when pushed with a pleasing tone, and as usual the dual-clutch autos are lightning fast at shifting and provide a lot more feedback and engagement compared to the usual dull CVT popular on rival mid-sizers.
The one thing which takes away from the experience is the need to interact with the climate controls via touch interface, a bit annoying and potentially distracting on the go.
On the flip side, the active safety equipment (particularly lane keep assist) is thankfully not anywhere near as overbearing as it is in some of this car’s rivals, solidifying the Tiguan’s position as a robust option for a keen driver.
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
The new-generation Tiguan was recently awarded a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating and has significantly increased its array of equipment.
Even the base Tiguan in Europe gets auto emergency braking with vulnerable user protection, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert.
There is also now front cross-traffic alert, a more thorough driver attention monitoring system, traffic sign recognition, and a safe exit warning system, alongside the usual array of stability, traction, and brake aids.
Airbag coverage has also been expanded to include a centre airbag up front, and full side airbags to join the usual curtain set.
Tune back in when the Tiguan launches in Australia to see if its maximum European rating carries across to ANCAP.
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
Volkswagen Tiguan
As of right now, Volkswagen offers a five year, unlimited kilometre warranty with a year of roadside assist, and it would be a shock not to see the usual three- or five-year pre-paid service packages when it launches in Australia.
On the current car, these amount to about $580 annually (for a 2.0-litre 162TSI R-Line) which is on the premium end for the mainstream SUV segment.
Expect the same service interval as the current car, too, set at 12 months or 15,000km. Check back at local launch time for full details.
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.