The post-COVID renaissance of Australia’s Great Highway has meant two things: local hotels have been fully booked for months, and seven-seater family SUVs are in high demand.
Two examples of them are the Kia Sorento and the Skoda Kodiaq, two large family trucks with all-wheel drive offerings and specification grades to suit different budgets.
Kia’s SUV won the Drive’s Car of the Year award in 2021 and continues to be one of the best sellers in its class, earning 7889 sales in 2022, up 53% from last year.
Meanwhile, Skoda’s Kodiaq is the loser in this fight: it racked up just 1555 sales in 2022, but with a mid-aged update late last year, refining a package already.
In this comparison, we’re going to pit an entry-level petrol engine Skoda Kodiaq against a mid-range diesel-powered Skoda Kodiaq, answering the age-old question: is it better to buy in the rear of a more premium Skoda Kodiaq?range, or in the mainstream mid-range?
Priced at $54,990 in a car, the Skoda Kodiaq Style is powered by a 132kW/320Nm 2. 0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Meanwhile, the Kia Sorento Sport is more expensive, starting at $61,390 in a car and features a 2. 2-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with 148kW/440Nm mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
If there’s one thing Skoda knows how to do well, it’s that it delivers a near-premium powertrain in a relatively affordable package. The updated 2022 Skoda Kodiaq only underlines this reputation. In a smart way.
While the 2022 styling year update only makes minor tweaks to the brand’s giant SUV, the truth is that few tweaks were needed, the Kodiaq is already an impressive seven-seater family SUV.
But successive years of style demand updates and, in the case of the Skoda Kodiaq range, those updates translate into sophisticated external and internal improvements.
A new grille, framed through revised hood and front bumper designs, is complemented by a new rear bumper and LED taillights with dynamic signals.
Inside, sophisticated changes to the guide wheel have improved usability, while technicians will love the wireless smartphones’ mirroring and inductive charging features, new for 2022.
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Kia Sorento
SKODA Kodiak
The Kodiaq includes only 3 variants: Style, Sportline and RS, all with easy-to-understand national prices.
Entering the lineup is the 2022 Skoda Kodiaq Style priced at $54,990 in a car.
Sitting in the middle, the Kodiaq Sportline asks for a premium list of $5,000 to $59,990. That extra expense adds some aesthetic improvements, and yet leaves the 132kW/320Nm 2. 0-litre turbo under the hood intact.
An engine “tuning” is reserved for the warmer Kodiaq RS, which includes a tougher 180kW/370Nm 2. 0-liter turbo petrol under the hood for $74,990. For this cost, the Kodiaq RS will send the reference script from 0 to one hundred km / h in just 6. 6 seconds.
However, there are no such antics for our control car, the entry-level Kodiaq Style, which has much impact in terms of apparatus and overall design.
Highlights come with 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless access and push-button start, forced tailgate, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, door edge protectors, 9. 2-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, configurable virtual motive power display, dual-zone air conditioning, Seat upholstery in leatherette and suede and shelf holder for the row at the moment.
That’s a lot of car for the price, with features that aren’t popular with its main rivals.
Those looking for a seven-seat SUV can opt for Toyota Kluger, which in its most basic all-wheel drive form, the GXL, costs $63,187 in a car.
Similarly, a Mazda CX-9 Touring AWD edition costs Kluger, at $64,565 per car, while a Hyundai Santa Fe Active AWD sits somewhere between the Kodiaq and Toyota and Mazda at $55,043 per car.
That makes the Kodiaq Style’s starting price of $54,990 in a car a very exciting proposition, even with some wiggle room to load optional extras.
Our model vehicle comes with two: the $2,200 Tech Pack that adds a dynamic chassis with drive modes, parking assist, off-road mode and the standby package with rear window hood and rear headrest with folding fenders; and the $6,700 luxury package that adds LED matrix headlights, three-zone climate control, adaptive lane guidance lane assist, forced front seats with memory function, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear outer seats and leather seat upholstery.
In addition to its $770 Moon White metallic paint tone, our Kodiaq leaves the showroom and enters its entrance for $63,660.
Unless you plan to venture off-road or launch the Kodiaq on certain corners significantly, you can save a few bucks and throw away the Tech Pack. The luxury package, on the other hand, elevates what is already one breathtaking experience to another. Point and makes it a compelling proposition compared to some of its higher-impact rivals.
Kia Sorento’s lineup starts with the Sorento S priced at $50,790 on a 3. 5-liter 2WD gasoline V6, or $53,790 on a 2. 2-liter turbo diesel and all-wheel drive.
The Sorento Sport then costs $3,000 more in the 2WD and AWD diesel petrol forms, then the Sport duo which costs $4,600 more.
The GT-Line leads the petrol and diesel tiers with a $7600 premium over the Sport. The GT-Line is also offered as a plug-in electric vehicle combined with a 1. 6-liter turbocharged petrol engine, six-speed automatic transmission. and four-wheel drive worth of an $81,990 intoxicating car.
This Sorento Sport turbodiesel AWD I’m here is priced at $61,390 in a car, putting it one-on-one with other seven-seater SUVs like Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-8, Ford Everest, Skoda Kodiaq, Toyota Fortuner and Volkswagen Tiguan.
If you prefer gasoline to diesel, the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Kluger, Nissan Pathfinder and Mitsubishi Outlander are also considering.
The option fixed on our test car is Gravity Blue premium metallic paint, which increases the price up to $695.
Luxury Package – $6700- Matrix LED headlights- Tri-zone air conditioning- Lane assist- Power seats reminiscent- Leather upholstery on the seats- Ventilated seats- Heated front and rear seats- Front seats with massage function- Exterior mirrors with reminiscence function- Auto – blackout mirror
This is familiar territory within the Kodiaq, the same old features of Skoda are evident even to the naked eye.
The cabin remains superbly sober, a sleek design that’s pleasing to the eye. The dashboard with contrasting stitching looks great, while the mottled grey details on the door lining and dashboard bring a fresh air. Its seats are comfortable and electrically adjustable, thanks to the optional luxury package, finding the ideal driving position is child’s play.
We love the new guide steering wheel, finished in perforated leather, which incorporated rollers (instead of the more classic switches) into some of the Kodiaq’s infotainment features. The rollers fall smoothly under the thumb and provide a more intuitive user experience.
Dual-zone climate control is standard, our optional Kodiaq has 3 zones. But regardless of the number of zones, accessing those purposes through the giant touchpads located just below the 9. 2-inch infotainment screen is a tactile pleasure. Without complicated touch sliders, there are no menus and submenus buried at 3 internal depths of a screen. Well done.
The same old Skoda touches are ubiquitous, adding flocked door compartments (to minimize annoying click of stored items), a small trash can for when you just don’t know what to do with your eraser or lollipop wrapper, the ubiquitous umbrella inside the driver’s door, and even a convenient little slot for the Kodiaq key in the center console.
And folding door guards are a great touch, as they help cushion door bumps against objects (like other cars) if they’re too close or you’re a little careless. Skoda knows how to pack interiors. This one is no different.
The Moment row is generous with the seeds of space, with seats that slide back and forth as well as reclining backrests for added comfort. Keep them warm, as do the optional heated seats.
The lack of USB charging features is so clever that those limited to the row at the moment have to argue about the single 12V plug if they want to keep the devices charged.
While the row of the moment is still spacious and comfortable, the same cannot be said for the third row, which is difficult to climb up and squeeze into the area once there. The leg and knee area is compromised, the head area is strangely fine. Kodiaq as a five 2 and would be in the money, six and seven seat seats more preserved for occasional use.
This is great news in the shipping realm, where there’s a small but appropriate 270L domain available with all 3 rows of seats used. This extends to 765 L with the 3rd row rowed and a 2005 L mammoth with either row folded.
A sensible word, however, folding the row of the moment will require the seat to slide to its farthest position, otherwise the headrests will stick to the backrests of the front seats. It’s a slight drawback at first, but get used to with extended possession.
A space-saving spare component lives underground that also includes a convenient component for storing the shipping awning when in use.
For starters, the cabin is premium enough for a car that charges upwards of $60,000. It has an all-leather interior with heated front seats, a forced driver’s seat, multi-zone climate control, a decent audio system, and plenty of useful garage space.
The Sport benefits from dual-zone climate with air vents at the moment and third rows and seats in the rear. The front seats have heating and no cooling.
Access to the row at the moment is easy thanks to the giant but not heavy doors, and the 3rd row is as simple as expected once the outer seat is folded forward.
Rows 3 and 3 have ISOFIX anchors in the outer positions and more sensitive clamping anchors in all five locations. We kept the 3rd row for the entirety of our Sydney holiday due to the mountain of luggage we had to carry.
The trunk is a relatively small 187L with the 3rd row of seats in place, but it reaches impressive proportions with the 3rd row folded completely on the floor and the row of the moment slid forward.
I think we used the 616L in the trunk of the Sorento in this configuration.
She swallowed a double stroller and a stroller, two cribs and portable bedding, a portable convertible table, 3 weeks of diapers (for two), two folding baby seats, medications for all known and unknown ailments from the formative years, baby monitors, and white noise. machines, and all the clothes and other essentials of life for two tired children and two parents.
Oh, I almost forgot about the combined nuts, fish fry shapes, snakes, water, and other road trip foods.
There’s a picture of our entire team in a hotel cart right next to the trunk, and I promise you’re okay, the Sorento’s trunk forced lock feature needed to be persuaded to lock completely.
It is also complicated to organize it in such a way that nothing can fly at the time of the line if we had to brake suddenly. In the future, it is worth considering a loading door.
A sleek 9. 2-inch touchscreen cleverly housed inside the dashboard anchors the ŠKODA Kodiaq’s infotainment system. It’s a decent setup, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as built-in satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity (for those who avoid smartphone duplication).
Cordless phone charging is also standard, while a pair of USB Type-C elements and a single 12V outlet offer charging and connectivity options. However, there are no USB dots in the current row, which is a misstep in our opinion.
The touchscreen is sharp and its menu design undeniable for an undeniable and intuitive user experience.
As the 12-speaker Canton premium audio formula was held in the past as part of the Tech Pack, it has been phased out for the time being due to the global shortage of semiconductors. This caused the value of the Tech Pack to fall (from $2900 to $2200). You’ll have to settle for the popular audio formula; Number of speakers not revealed.
Reported missing? DAB Radio, which continues to confuse us. To be sure, adding virtual radio results in a massive tax on costs. This has long been a factor with the wider Volkswagen Group, with the eponymous VW logo only adding DAB to its lineup earlier this year. Is Skoda next on the list? We hope so.
But the Kodiaq has many problems for its perfect virtual demonstration of the driving force that, borrowing from his teammate from the Volkswagen Audi organization, he nicknamed “Virtual Cockpit”. In addition to offering crisp graphics and transparent instrumentation, its configurable capability is easy to use and provides a wealth of information, literally under your thumb, the controls mounted on the guide wheel.
From undeniable insights like engine speed and revs to full-screen direction directions, Skoda has surpassed its high-end Audi sibling in the way it has implemented this technology. Its transparent and uncluttered interface, as well as the large amount of data it can access, are pleasing to the eye.
The Sorento Sport features Kia’s large and impressive 10. 25-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is a modern affair and very easy to use.
Speaking of breeze, each and every time I started the Sorento Sport, the multimedia formula preferred the built-in Sounds of Nature playlist, which includes tracks called “running streams” and “gentle breezes. “
If it’s not a sophisticated form of torture, I don’t know what is. I guess there’s a setting there to use the radio or smartphone by default, but I haven’t figured it out.
In addition to the sounds of nature that cause the bladder to explode, the formula integrates the connectivity formulas of Apple and Android smartphones: a stressed connection, satellite navigation, AM/FM/DAB radio, onboard computers and other virtual essentials, adding a back-seat intercom that would have been convenient if I needed to communicate with luggage.
The Kodiaq earned a five-star ANCAP defense score in 2017 when the style was launched. It scored a fair score of 92% for adult occupant coverage, 77% for child occupants, 62% for vulnerable road users, and a mediocre 54% for its defense assistance systems.
Nine airbags the 3 rows of occupants.
The Sorento earned five stars from ANCAP, adding 82% for adult occupant coverage, 85% for child occupant coverage, 63% for road user coverage and 89% for defense assistance.
Eight airbags are standard, but curtain airbags make the third row larger.
The global shortage of chips means that some technologies, such as blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and wide-view cameras, have been phased out for the time being.
And they can only be obtained as a component of the optional $6700 luxury package, a domain we think Skoda didn’t hit the mark.
That leaves autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and rear parking sensors doing the heavy lifting.
There is also a motive force attention monitor, and our test car has been equipped with lane keeping assist as part of the aforementioned luxury package.
Occupant protection is not, in our opinion, optional, in fact not with an initial value on the other hand of $50,000.
If the product creation plan spreadsheet fell into our hands, we would make wireless smartphone mirroring optional and come with more security technologies as standard.
The diversity of active protection features of the Sorento is wide and all elements are included, such as lane keeping and lane-keeping assist, active cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-collision avoidance and blind spot collision avoidance.
The Sport does not feature the GT-Line parking collision avoidance feature in reverse, blind spot view monitor or 360-degree camera; It only has a rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors.
It has LED headlights and fog lights at the front and rear, as well as twilight detection headlights with upper beam assist.
Skoda covers the Kodiaq with its five-year warranty and unlimited mileage. That increases to seven years bail with the purchase of a seven-year prepaid service package priced at $3,200.
Five years of scheduled maintenance can also be paid upfront for $2,200, which is not unreasonable. Kodiaq’s maintenance schedule is every 15,000 km or 12 months, whichever comes first.
In everything new, Skoda also offers a monthly subscription for maintenance. This is not the most cost-effective way to keep your Kodiaq blank and flawless.
The Essential plan starts at $44. 50 per month for the first 36 months, rising to $89 per month thereafter. More than five years of ownership amount to $3738, only $2000 more than the prepaid service plan.
A comprehensive plan paints an even bleaker picture, $59. 50 per month for the first 36 months and then $118 per month thereafter. Total over five years? Try $4974. This expense covers all consumables, tire additions, brake discs, wi-fi with blades, and others, which are not covered by prepaid service packages. And month-to-month plans will also be offering a complimentary car for the duration of the service.
Skoda says the Kodiaq Style will use 8. 2 L/100km of 95-octane unleaded petrol on the bike.
Our week, covering a use case scenario, saw an indication of 8. 5 L/100 km. It’s a decent return opposite to Skoda’s claim. The fuel tank measures 60 L.
Full insurance amounts to $1254. 17 per year in a comparative quote from one of Australia’s leading insurers and based on a 35-year-old driving force living in Chatswood, NSW; Insurance estimates will likely vary depending on your location and driving history.
The Kia Sorento comes with a seven-year unlimited mileage warranty, which adds 12 months of loose roadside assistance. This can be extended up to 8 years simply by maintaining your Kia at a legal Kia broker for one year.
Maintenance periods are every 12 months or 15,000 km and charge $3,463 for the first seven years, an average of just under $500 per year.
As for normal operating costs, the fuel consumption of the diesel Sorento helps keep it to a respectable minimum. When I tested the GT-Line for a few months in Melbourne, which included normal highway trips in the in-laws’ space in Geelong – I was fed an average of 8-9L/100km.
The sport comfortably surpassed that on this three-week holiday to Sydney and back, which we covered 2512km, adding 1800km on the Hume Highway.
At the end of the trip, the Sport made an average of 7. 0 L / one hundred km, and I do not know that almost everything was with two adults, two young people and almost one hundred kg of luggage. It is not hard to believe. number sliding in the six with less load.
Full insurance for the Kia Sorento will charge $1836. 70 depending on the year based on a comparative quote from one of Australia’s leading insurers for a 35-year-old driver living in Chatswood, NSW; Insurance estimates will likely vary depending on your location and driving history.
The turbocharged 2. 0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine under the bonnet produces an average 132 kW and a meaty 320 Nm. And it is the couple who promise that the Kodiaq is left out.
Whether you start from the front or accelerate on the road, there’s a delicious push under your foot. Each of those 320 Nm is available from 1400 to 3940 rpm, giving the Kodiaq a greasy torque curve to play with.
A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission transmits 4-wheel drive, and this is where we find a slight discomfort. As may be typical of dual-clutch transmissions – the generation has evolved, less and less – there are symptoms of hesitation. by moving away from the deadlock.
It’s smooth and can be driven by pressing the gear selector on “S” for Sport, but it brings a touch of excitement to the transmission that can be contradictory in the city.
However, on the open road, this enthusiasm is in the foreground, the Kodiaq, even in this entry-level specification, voluntarily participates in an energetic ride. The steering is sharp, the throttle reaction (in Sport mode) and its ability to stay flat in more adventurous corners is commendable.
This is partly due to the adaptive suspension installed in our test car as part of the optional Tech Pack, which helps keep the giant SUV sleek and connected to the road.
Its real test, however, comes in Normal and Comfort driving modes, with the surprise dampers doing the task of isolating the cabin from most minor bumps and bumps on the road. Cabin noise is also kept at an adequate level.
And the transmission presents some hesitation when stationary, once in motion, there are no such signals. Instead, the DSG is to be commended for its sleek and intuitive gear changes, which keep the Kodiaq in the right rev diversity to take advantage of its healthy dose of torque.
Sitting at cruising speeds doesn’t do much to annoy the Kodiaq. It’s easy to believe this can be a decent tool for a family travel circle, with the large SUV settling into a comfortable and simple 110km/h while chewing the kays in comfort and silence.
All Sorento AWD models feature a 2. 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel engine with 148 kW and 440 Nm that features one of the most responsive throttles among current diesel engines. Clutch transmission for elegant and effortless acceleration.
It’s a glorious powertrain that runs excellently and quietly almost all the time. My only challenge is with very low-speed maneuvers, like moving slowly in a car seat, when it’s a little abrupt. This is only apparent when the dual clutch transmission is about to kick in, and this is something I would classify as a disadvantage rather than a problem.
For our asphalt only between Australia’s two most populous cities, the Sorento’s all-wheel drive formula was never really tested. Traction has never been scarce, unless you count the gravel parking at Holbrook Car Inn.
The Sorento’s smooth yet controlled suspension made our long-distance driving elegant and a thing. The Sport has 19-inch tyres with a sidewall larger than the GT-Line’s low 20 profile, and I feel that has mitigated some of the problems. blows that the GT-Line would miss.
In other words, it’s a preferable package if comfort is your priority. As for how those tyres have affected dynamism, take a look to check it out on the Hume motorway and tell me how you’re doing.
However, honestly, I don’t think there is enough difference to influence a customer in one way or another. In essence, the Sorento is a competent and agile car, and an inch in sidewall diameter possibly won’t replace it drastically.
Family buyers looking for versatility, technology, space and comfort probably won’t be disappointed with the 2023 Skoda Kodiaq or 2023 Kia Sorento.
When it comes to price for money, it’s kind of a tie. The Kodiaq is more and incredibly well-equipped for an entry-level car, however, expensive option packages can mean you’re paying more for features you can’t live without. .
Meanwhile, the diesel-powered mid-tier Sorento is more expensive to buy, but offers popular gadget damping, impressive fuel economy, and a longer popular warranty, even though the Kodiaq’s prepaid maintenance prices are lower.
From the outside, the Sorento is the largest car, however, the Kodiaq really does provide more trunk space, the comfort and convenience features of both cars are quite similar.
The third row of either car is easily accessible, however, the Sorento smooths the case by providing ISOFIX anchorage issues and child seats with upper support in its third row, making it even more attractive to developing families.
Both earn five-star protection ratings from ANCAP, but the Sorento issued more recently than the Kodiaq.
The Kodiaq also lacks some key protection features as standard, adding blind spot tracking and rear cross traffic alert, but offers rear curtain airbags, the Sorento.
On the road, the Sorento’s diesel engine is more powerful than the Skoda, but the Kodiak is no slouch on the road, providing exact guidance and a forceful throttle reaction while remaining quiet.
Meanwhile, the Sorento features a functional and responsive diesel powertrain with stylish acceleration and a ride.
Both cars may feel choppy when at the desk and when maneuvering at low speeds due to their dual-clutch transmissions, however, in a different way, they are quite capable partners on the road.
With all this in mind, the Kia Sorento overtakes the Skoda Kodiaq as the winner of this comparison, proving to be a better off-roader in spaces such as road performance, fuel economy, protection and equipment.
Still, the Kodiaq’s lower price, exact handling and impressive interior design mean seven-seat SUV buyers are worth checking out.
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Senior Journalist