Once again, your channel is punching way above it's weight, Tom. One of the best comparisons I've seen in recent times, and the one I'll be sure to direct anybody I know shopping in this segment to. That said, it's not really a segment that I'm interested in (yeah, I know that I'm in the minority), but out of this lot it's the Kodiaq that would have taken my money as well. Please keep doing what you are doing - I seriously believe that you are right up there with the very best quality car review sites online. .
Thankyou for an excellent review. I put a deposit down on a CX-5 GT 2.5 turbo this weekend. I was interested in the Toyota but the eight month wait and the dealers arrogance put me off.
Nice review Tom. As mentioned before here, I bought a GT 2.5T CX-5 after a long search. After doing the dealer dance, I couldn’t get the Skoda within $10k of the Mazda. That and unknown resale value meant the Mazda was the ‘best’ buy for our needs. These are two points you fail to mention here and if you believe the forums the Mazda holds its value incredibly well (more than 50% after 5 years), does feel just that bit more luxurious than the Skoda and much more than the truck like RAV4, but has a smaller load area and no niceties such as luggage hooks and removal luggage torch. I’m incredibly happy with my CX-5 and would have been equally as happy in a Skoda Kodiaq I feel, but I’m $10k better off and probably further in front come renewal time.
Good point tgis was one issue I was after, as mazda and vw good resale at 5 years although we would want a car for 5 to 10 years,plus technology is so quick these days, so I may wait 2021 tiguan r
Great to hear the process you went through. If I'd been in your position I would have done the same. The findings of this video are essentially based on price being more or less equal - but if any one was offered to me at a $10K discount, you'd have to consider it much more strongly. CX-5 GT turbo is a phenomenal package.
@@robcig 2 years ago, $44,500 with some extras such as extra load area LEDs, mats, etc.. This started with a sticker price at the time of $53,700, but took 3rd exterior colour choice as it had been in stock the longest. It was also sold as a “demo”, but had less than 20km on the odometer. Good luck in your search.
Not to mention the Mazda with a 6sp auto will likely be more reliable mechanically than a VW drivetrain with DSG. European cars might have a premium allure to some people but the resale values of these cars after few years show what cars are in demand once the warranty is up and that is overwhelmingly Toyota and Mazda.
Great review, as always. I think you’ve made up my mind about my next car. Recently test drove the XC40 T5 R design and the Tiguan R Line, but the Kodiaq has so many great reviews, I’ve got to go and check it out this weekend.
Well done Tom; I have a RAV4 since 2019 & I am really happy with the performance; I was wondering why VW Tiguan was not included in your comparison as it was the only option I’d consider + Škoda to swap with my car
He explains why early on, saying that while the Skoda shares many components with the Tiguan, it beats it in several metrics including interior quality and the niceness of the materials.
Overall very enlightening review as always...Just thinking that the Skoda Karoq would have been a better fit as a Mid size SUV in this line up rather than the Kodiaq which falls more inline with the larger SUVS such as the Kia Sorento,Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9 etc.
Thanks. Karoq and Kodiaq are both midsize - at opposite ends of the midsize segment size-wise. The Kodiaq is a substantially smaller car than the vehicles you mention: 38cm shorter than a CX-9!
Great review as usual. These comparison reviews are really valuable and interesting. Some simple comparison tables of keys stats at the end (engine outputs, fuel types/economy, dimensions, price etc) would be really useful to save us doing the work if you have the info handy
Nice one again Tom. Kind of have to agree as did the same comparison and ended up with a Kodiaq too. Ex demo VRS though which for ski field duty, going up big hills, and long trip economy has been excellent. You didn't even have to show the umbrella holders either ;-)
@@therealjeffg I'm in NZ Jeff so was $60k in May this year. They are $73 new here. I live in Queenstown and ski a bit so including going up big hills at least twice a week this winter plus some longer trips it's averaging 8.5 L per 100kms so far. Always gets 600km out of a tank regardless, most ive got is 720km. I've had it for 7000kms, so all up has done 14000kms so far.
scollyutube Thanks mate. I’ve got a VW golf and Kia Sorento diesel 2011. The golf is a great car but the cost of the premium ULP is expensive. Looking to update the Sorento which does about 8.5L/100kms. I’m leaning towards the RAV4 cruiser hybrid due to the fuel economy and it uses 91 ULP, but I do like the Skoda review. Will have to take one for a drive, cheers
@@therealjeffg all good Jeff. I came from 7.5 Golf R too this too. Golf just gets wrecked on the roads here so was time to get some capability, size and not too much of a compromise on the open road. We drove the latest RAV Hybrid too and its a big step up on previous ones. I'm just used to VAG interiors, all the UI and the Kodiaq drives like a car if you want to when in Sports modes plus it has a bit more performance and size. Diesel here is $1.10 a litre plus road user charges so for something this size like your Kia, and the torque (500nm), its not too bad to run.
Great comparison. Not sure if you got the chance whilst playing around withthose cars but I noticed they all had brand name sound systems - do you have any comments / comparisons on how they sounded? May help some decide if it's worth spending the extra on the option. Here in the UK I think Bose and JBL are standard on higher end Mazda and Kia but HK, Canton are options on Volvo and Skoda. Only pensioners drive Toyota's over here so sound doesn't matter on the Rav4 :)
The problem with your winner is the engine. I just went through the buying decision with this group, and bought the RAV4 because of the running costs and economy.
Thanks! Hopefully a clear and evidence-based conclusion, even if not everyone agrees. Yes, West Head and McCarrs are a haunt of ours. Say hi if you see us filming!
You'd better check the Sportage spare wheel again Tom. All Sportage models come with a full sized spare. It's even clearly shown as a full size at 16.47.
Thanks but I see two things are missing in a good review 1. Running costs - I understand my favourite, the XC40 is very expensive to service here in Australia 2. Resale- no point buying a car that has poor resale value- it works against
Am actually cross shopping the Karoq, Kodiaq, XC40, XC60 at the moment (they're more similar in pricing than you'd think) and was super impressed by the Kodiaq in Sportline trim, and so was my wife surprisingly (I thought she'd want the Karoq). Going to take the two Volvo's out again this week.
Great review, but as you said, there are no duds here. I'm not in this segment, I just bought a new VW T-Cross, but if I was in this segment, the Volvo would be the only option on looks alone. ps. I'm a Volvo tragic, but sadly they don't have a car for me atm.
I cannot decide between the Volvo xc40 t5 r design or the Skoda karoq sport line 140tsi. Any help/comments people? Currently have a year old a250 4matic and love the turbo surge, brisk performance and the interior but would like a larger car as well that is quick but more roomy
The SKODA looks the better car and it's more roomy, it should be in the large suvs not medium, also how reliable are they for the tough Australian conditions, also how many do you see on the roads.
Sheer beef. The twin-turbo 450Nm engine goes hard! Beautifully refined and the real world fuel consumption is substantially - 40 or 50% - lower than the petrols offered in the Mazda.
Thoroughly like the review though...I felt the Skoda was a bit above the class of the other 4 vehicles in this compare...though presented very nicely. Looking forwards to more reviews 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻
Thank you for another informative comparison review. Unfortunately too many car buyers fail to consider brand after sales service. I think all truly independent reviewers should refer to Australian or overseas reliability surveys/reports. Just like most reviews discuss the 5 star safety ratings, potential buyers should be alerted to potential risks; especially the risks involved with pathetic after sales customer service and basic reliability. Jeep reviews are worthless if they don't alert would-be buyers to the pitfalls of owning these lemons. Similarly, the Volkswagen Group's hopeless after sales service that will leave you high and dry if something goes wrong, which it will.
Hi Tom, How reliable is the Skoda Kodiaq? Usually when you think of European cars, reliability is not something they are known for. Waiting for your response. Thanks
I have a few family friends who own them and I haven't heard any specific complaints. Seems decent when you look at reliability surveys. There's a five year warranty in Australia which gives you some peace of mind. None of the models in this video come across our desk for substantial reliability woes - but that said, we don't have a crystal ball for future performance.
Not a bad car in this segment, that Skoda kodiaq looks alot bigger than the other cars on test by a mile, nice car, best looking ones for me is the Volvo xc40 and the Kia Sportage very nice looking cars 👌👍🏴
I agree with you Aaron. The Kodiak is a great car except is too large for me - i don't need the third row seats. I would have liked to see how a top spec Karoq compared. It's interior might not have matched some the other vehicles tested here, but what about it's ride & handling?
I have a Mazda CX-5 in the uk 20L and it’s Gutless couldn’t pull yourself out of trouble can’t wait to get rid of it this year plus the Entertainment system and the satnav are so out dated with the 7 inch screen
I think im sold on the kofiak better features, cheaper and more practical, its essentially the same as the tiguan but 15 k cheaper. Can you do a skoda kodiak vs tiguan review
Hey Zac -- that's the answer. The Kodiaq is mechanically very similar to the Tiguan, but it's roomier (without being much larger, physically), the interior is more plush, and it's actually even better to drive. The ride and handling is very sweet. You can get faster Tiguans but the 132TSI engine is enough for almost anyone, I think.
We had the Toyota RAV4 and only replaced as we needed a larger vehicle to tow our caravan,we purchased a grand Jeep Cherokee diesel which people said would be a risky option,but actually has been great and economic to run. The decision now is we need to keep the kilometres down on the Jeep so we don’t have to purchase a expensive tow vehicle we have a Toyota 86 but wife doesn’t like the harsher ride and being low down my wife does the higher kilometres so a smaller suv like these would be a good option. Skoda looks like a good option but from experience German running gear may not be as reliable as Toyota.the other concern I have is will the Jeep we problematical doing only short trips to my place of work sometimes less than 15 mins. I did hear Skoda are going to start using a torque converter transmission which may be more reliable than the vw transmission.we could simply buy a new Jeep and keep the Toyota 86 the Jeep has 65000 kms and the 86 has only 22000 kms but is one year older then the Jeep.what would you recommend. Great review best I have ever viewed honestly.
Hi Malcolm -- thanks for the feedback. If you are after something smaller than the Grand Cherokee but you aren't keen on a dual-clutch auto or another RAV4, I'd look at the other alternatives here: the XC40 T4, Sportage diesel or CX-5 are all standouts.
Tom, love your reviews but there is one thing you may have overlooked in all your reviews of the RAV4. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I've never seen you sit in the front passenger seat. I was recently looking at purchasing a RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid until I sat in the front passenger seat. I am also 6ft tall and I'm guessing since you've not mentioned it before, you haven't noticed that you wouldn't be able to sit there. There is no where near enough headroom. It's not that my head was brushing the roof, I had to tilt my head to the side to fit in the seat. Not a good design from Toyota. Curious to know your thoughts.
@@patrickl6185 No definitely not. Without the sun roof it's no problem. But with the sunroof in there, the head room is SIGNIFICANTLY compromised. Guess they didn't have anyone in the testing department at Toyota tall enough to notice! 😉😂
We test drove the RAV4. We found that it kept talking to us and telling us to obey the road rules which we were. It would show on the dash that we were in a 60 zone and doing 54kmh but still tell us to obey the rules. Maybe this feature can be turned off? It certainly turned us off this car.
Since people shunned station wagons for being uncool. Now, SUVs are mainstream and wagons are the cool, rebellious option. Funny how things are cyclical like that.
Is a 7 seater still a mid-size SUV in AU ? I agree with your verdict that's the best of a bunch but your not comparing apples to apples. In my location Kodiaq is nearly 40% more expensive than Kia Sportage and I live in EU... I'd expect its direct competition is Sorento and Mazda CX-9. In terms of price it's on par only with Volvo.
Here in Australia the prices of all these vehicles are pretty comparable. All available for around $50K in Australian dollars. Some options add to the cost but they’re not must haves. I understand the Skoda is more expensive overseas than this set, but we get a great deal here. As for sizing, Kodiaq is under 4.7m so I count it as just scraping in midsize. It certainly doesn’t feel large!
Not enough is made about the spare wheel, especially on SUV’s. unless they spend their lives puttering around the ‘burbs, the absence of a full size spare should be a real show stopper for anyone contemplating long haul driving in Australia. Space savers are speed and distance limited to such an extent that they are potentially dangerous in many typical scenarios.
It seems you have a soft spot to VW group cars. I bet the Rav4 will not only be more frugal, but more reliable as well. As for the Skoda have 7 seats, well its because it competes with the Sorento, Santa Fe and upcoming Nissan X-trail
No, I have a soft spot for objective victors. The RAV4 Hybrid has won so many comparisons on this channel now - I’m certainly not against it! And Kodiaq is significantly smaller than both the Sorento and Santa Fe, and timings for the X-Trail haven’t even been confirmed for Australia. Can’t judge hypothetical vehicles.
The kodiaq is 4.7m in length, the Santa Fe is 4.77 , Sorento is 4.8 while the Sportage is 4.35... The Skoda entrant to this class is the Karoq, 5-seater, smack in the middle of this class size wise. The Sorento is Kodiaq’s rival, and against it Im not sure it would walk away more practical, more equipped... Too bad you can’t face criticism.
...and as fir the Rav4 coming away victor in other comparisons, well it wasn’t against VE froup cars. I have been following you for a while and while you are comprehensive, it seems that anything Audi, Skoda, VW make is just beyond reproach. Shame
Should compare toyota rav4 vs mazda cx-5 vs Honda CR-V vs skoda karoq not kodiaq vs vw tiguan , you should compare volvo with audi lexus or skoda kodiaq because it's in luxury category. Anyway stop watching at title 🤣 , like your other videos btw keep it up 👍
Thanks, though I stand by my justification. The Volvo starts at $47k, so it's clearly in contest with mainstream midsize SUVs - and the Kodiaq just scrapes in as midsize. The Karoq is perhaps a very compact midsizer. Skoda like to do 'in betweener' sizes.
Third comment asking this 😂 old Tucson isn’t a top-5 contender any more, and the new Tucson doesn’t launch until mid-2021. Nobody has driven it on the road yet.
Could’ve, but final timings for that car haven’t been locked in launch-wise and then it wouldn’t really be a fair 2020 video. We’ll do it again next year if the new Escape makes the cut.
Space saver tyres should be made illegal for SUVs. In a remote country like Australia unless people are sticking to the city limits it can prove suicidal. I LOVE cars but am petrified of Australian drivers and road rules. Today on a 2 lane road I had a garbage truck and a Holden Commodore Ute flying at about 115km in 100km zone so I decided to sit behind - the 2 lane ends and whoa immediately they dropped down to 85km and then continued at 80km/hr! Men, women, old, young- this disease is becoming a pandemic and all the Authorities look at is reducing speed limits and then expecting slower than that on all roads EXCEPT 2 lanes where this type of dangerous behaviour is accepted and expected.
Didn't quite make the cut, Kev. I considered it, but the wayward body control and lack of a premium (read: torquey) engine ruled it out. Certainly, interior space and practicality are excellent. I'm sad that the Forester Hybrid really suffered when we compared it to the RAV4 Hybrid earlier in the year.
Chasing Cars - Ford told me a month ago it would be here by late September. I just figured it had arrived with the Puma. Guess they are made in different countries? I’ve no idea. I’m desperately waiting to test drive it though.
Until you need to dispose of 7 years later with a odd 100000km stay on car sales months on end with bugger all interest. But with the rav4 and CX5 phone doesn't stop ringing and heaps of enquiries in fact the rav4 can be 15yo 200000km and there is still strong demand
@@robertceroli3512 and in the meantime you have only had to drive 100,000 km in an inferior car. You have no idea what the resale figure will be in 7 years for any of these cars. Ask anyone who bought a Holden in 2019.
HeyTom it would be good to mention these days what real world fuel economy and what the carbon emissions are of all the cars you review. I think one of the reasons the Rav 4 hybrid is so popular is because people are concerned about climate change and trying to minimise emissions (short of currently spending big on all electric car with limited infrastructure ).
Hey Nikos - we will have a very exciting development coming in future videos in this area. But in short, I’m totally on board with this and agree that transparency around real world (not lab!) fuel/energy use and carbon emissions is very important.
Sunny, the answer is that the Kodiaq does everything the Tiguan does - but better. They're the same car underneath, but the Skoda is slightly bigger, packs in a usable third row, has a nicer interior, and has even greater driving dynamics. Tiguan's very good … Kodiaq is even better!
@@chasingcars sold mate, been looking at this for the past 12 months, wife loves the look of tig r line white so I am trying to convince her otherwise haha
Skoda put it into the large category for reporting sales, but it isn’t really large. It’s substantially shorter than say, a CX-9 or even a CX-8. To us, it’s an upper midsizer.
As an owner, I can tell you that you can buy an epic Skoda Kodiaq fully loaded for about 55k and often with cheap finance, plus capped service at $300 per year and 5yr warranty. This review is bang on. Except maybe was diplomatic with the rivals, perhaps with the exception of the more expensive and small Volvo, the Kia, Toyota etc are all very average products. The Kodiaq is streets ahead of the rest. A deserved winner.
Nick Pavlakis Indeed, it’s a great one and much better than toyota, kia, and mazda here. But again, it still more expensive than others expected XC40. For example, you can get a Rav4 Hybrid Cruiser AWD at 47k, which is 8k cheaper and $210 per year over 5 years.
Fair enough. I'm probably biased as an owner, but I drove the RAV, nice and smooth. But no fun. Happy with the extra I paid for Kodiaq. Feels bulletproof and is truly fun to drive, awesome driving assist, feels very premium and my dogs never get sick from the ride unlike in my old CX9. Would recommend to anyone.
Once again, your channel is punching way above it's weight, Tom. One of the best comparisons I've seen in recent times, and the one I'll be sure to direct anybody I know shopping in this segment to. That said, it's not really a segment that I'm interested in (yeah, I know that I'm in the minority), but out of this lot it's the Kodiaq that would have taken my money as well. Please keep doing what you are doing - I seriously believe that you are right up there with the very best quality car review sites online. .
Awesome review as ever 👍🏼. Pls make an exclusive Skoda Kodiaq detailed review.
Thankyou for an excellent review. I put a deposit down on a CX-5 GT 2.5 turbo this weekend. I was interested in the Toyota but the eight month wait and the dealers arrogance put me off.
this was a really nice comprehensive review thank you very much
Interesting roundup, thanks Tom.
Nice review Tom. As mentioned before here, I bought a GT 2.5T CX-5 after a long search. After doing the dealer dance, I couldn’t get the Skoda within $10k of the Mazda. That and unknown resale value meant the Mazda was the ‘best’ buy for our needs. These are two points you fail to mention here and if you believe the forums the Mazda holds its value incredibly well (more than 50% after 5 years), does feel just that bit more luxurious than the Skoda and much more than the truck like RAV4, but has a smaller load area and no niceties such as luggage hooks and removal luggage torch. I’m incredibly happy with my CX-5 and would have been equally as happy in a Skoda Kodiaq I feel, but I’m $10k better off and probably further in front come renewal time.
Good point tgis was one issue I was after, as mazda and vw good resale at 5 years although we would want a car for 5 to 10 years,plus technology is so quick these days, so I may wait 2021 tiguan r
Great to hear the process you went through. If I'd been in your position I would have done the same. The findings of this video are essentially based on price being more or less equal - but if any one was offered to me at a $10K discount, you'd have to consider it much more strongly. CX-5 GT turbo is a phenomenal package.
If you don't mind, how much did it cost you?
@@robcig 2 years ago, $44,500 with some extras such as extra load area LEDs, mats, etc.. This started with a sticker price at the time of $53,700, but took 3rd exterior colour choice as it had been in stock the longest. It was also sold as a “demo”, but had less than 20km on the odometer. Good luck in your search.
Not to mention the Mazda with a 6sp auto will likely be more reliable mechanically than a VW drivetrain with DSG. European cars might have a premium allure to some people but the resale values of these cars after few years show what cars are in demand once the warranty is up and that is overwhelmingly Toyota and Mazda.
Fantastic video.
Personally would have never considered the Skoda. Something to look at more closely once lockdown ends...
An Excellent report 👍👍
Great review, as always. I think you’ve made up my mind about my next car. Recently test drove the XC40 T5 R design and the Tiguan R Line, but the Kodiaq has so many great reviews, I’ve got to go and check it out this weekend.
Let me know how you go.
Try the VRS Kodiaq version so long as you are okay with diesel too just quietly.
Kodiaq is a great car
The RS model is a great drive too!
I think it would be great if you add the actual drive away prices on these cars. Cheers.
Well done Tom; I have a RAV4 since 2019 & I am really happy with the performance; I was wondering why VW Tiguan was not included in your comparison as it was the only option I’d consider + Škoda to swap with my car
Because the Skoda is essentially a Tiguan
He explains why early on, saying that while the Skoda shares many components with the Tiguan, it beats it in several metrics including interior quality and the niceness of the materials.
Overall very enlightening review as always...Just thinking that the Skoda Karoq would have been a better fit as a Mid size SUV in this line up rather than the Kodiaq which falls more inline with the larger SUVS such as the Kia Sorento,Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-9 etc.
Thanks. Karoq and Kodiaq are both midsize - at opposite ends of the midsize segment size-wise. The Kodiaq is a substantially smaller car than the vehicles you mention: 38cm shorter than a CX-9!
Great review as usual. These comparison reviews are really valuable and interesting. Some simple comparison tables of keys stats at the end (engine outputs, fuel types/economy, dimensions, price etc) would be really useful to save us doing the work if you have the info handy
Great review.
As always a very informative review, you can’t disagree when you already own a winner😂
Thanks for watching, Ankit! Hope you're enjoying your Kodiaq.
Nice one again Tom. Kind of have to agree as did the same comparison and ended up with a Kodiaq too. Ex demo VRS though which for ski field duty, going up big hills, and long trip economy has been excellent. You didn't even have to show the umbrella holders either ;-)
scollyutube What fuel economy have you been getting and can I ask what you paid for your Skoda?
@@therealjeffg I'm in NZ Jeff so was $60k in May this year. They are $73 new here. I live in Queenstown and ski a bit so including going up big hills at least twice a week this winter plus some longer trips it's averaging 8.5 L per 100kms so far. Always gets 600km out of a tank regardless, most ive got is 720km. I've had it for 7000kms, so all up has done 14000kms so far.
scollyutube Thanks mate. I’ve got a VW golf and Kia Sorento diesel 2011. The golf is a great car but the cost of the premium ULP is expensive. Looking to update the Sorento which does about 8.5L/100kms. I’m leaning towards the RAV4 cruiser hybrid due to the fuel economy and it uses 91 ULP, but I do like the Skoda review. Will have to take one for a drive, cheers
@@therealjeffg all good Jeff. I came from 7.5 Golf R too this too. Golf just gets wrecked on the roads here so was time to get some capability, size and not too much of a compromise on the open road. We drove the latest RAV Hybrid too and its a big step up on previous ones. I'm just used to VAG interiors, all the UI and the Kodiaq drives like a car if you want to when in Sports modes plus it has a bit more performance and size. Diesel here is $1.10 a litre plus road user charges so for something this size like your Kia, and the torque (500nm), its not too bad to run.
hkĥ@@scollyutube
Awesome and comprehensive review. Chasing Cars is killing it.
Thanks, AL. I appreciate your support!
Great comparison. Not sure if you got the chance whilst playing around withthose cars but I noticed they all had brand name sound systems - do you have any comments / comparisons on how they sounded? May help some decide if it's worth spending the extra on the option.
Here in the UK I think Bose and JBL are standard on higher end Mazda and Kia but HK, Canton are options on Volvo and Skoda. Only pensioners drive Toyota's over here so sound doesn't matter on the Rav4 :)
The problem with your winner is the engine. I just went through the buying decision with this group, and bought the RAV4 because of the running costs and economy.
I like the Mazda interior and design but my heart wants that volvo
Love my Volvo XC40
@@KuyaArbee l
L
same
Mazda 💪🏻
Great review. Surprising winner but it makes sense.
Looks like you were shooting in West head and McCarrs creek reserve.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks! Hopefully a clear and evidence-based conclusion, even if not everyone agrees. Yes, West Head and McCarrs are a haunt of ours. Say hi if you see us filming!
Chasing Cars lte us know when your back filming in the Hunters Hill/Gladesville area and you can run some performance takes on my CX-5 2.5T.
Good review here. Looking to see more of the top of the line mainstream SUV models up against some of the base luxury SUVs.
Always best reviews from Tom
Thanks Greg!
You'd better check the Sportage spare wheel again Tom. All Sportage models come with a full sized spare. It's even clearly shown as a full size at 16.47.
Correct winner. Smart choice! Very useful review. Nice one!
Thanks but I see two things are missing in a good review
1. Running costs - I understand my favourite, the XC40 is very expensive to service here in Australia
2. Resale- no point buying a car that has poor resale value- it works against
+ long term reliability
Am actually cross shopping the Karoq, Kodiaq, XC40, XC60 at the moment (they're more similar in pricing than you'd think) and was super impressed by the Kodiaq in Sportline trim, and so was my wife surprisingly (I thought she'd want the Karoq). Going to take the two Volvo's out again this week.
What did you go for?
@@dragospahontu Sportline. Had it for a couple of years now
@@brendanfeldwick6493 is it reliable?
@@brendanfeldwick6493 nice
I wonder what the Kodiaq would be like to own long term and for 50k plus it would want to be reliable
Would like to see a mg HS review Tom.
Great review, but as you said, there are no duds here. I'm not in this segment, I just bought a new VW T-Cross, but if I was in this segment, the Volvo would be the only option on looks alone.
ps. I'm a Volvo tragic, but sadly they don't have a car for me atm.
Love the look of the square shape RAV 4 but like the interior of the CX5
Not sure if it’s been pointed out prior, but if you turn on closed captioning at toms intro, it’s translated as “I’m sorry baker…” 🤣
3:26 CX-5 interior does look like K… WAIT A SECOND 👀
Whoops - little error. Thanks for pointing it out.
Supertitle still not fixed 😬😂
Hi Tum baeka, you are my favorite aussie car reviewer.
I agree Tom the Skoda is amazing - interesting to see how the new Escape Vignale looks in this sector with not a dud amongst the cars selected :)
Looking forward to driving the new Escape when it arrives in Australia!
Another comprehensive review. Well done. There is still a perception the Tiguan is the better car than the Kodiaq. This suggests otherwise.
Thanks, Noel. Good to get into the finer details.
Tomwhat about vw tiguan versus kodiak, we may hold our for the 2021 update
VW Australia ban car sites from comparing their in house brands against each other. You never see a VW, Skoda or Audi compared.
@@Harry-lq5jd thanks, why is that when the are essentially the same business and subsidart
@@d.j.z.j I don’t think they want people to know how much money they are wasting when they buy a “premium” badge instead of the Skoda. 😂
Are you really sure that the Kia Sportage has a space saver spare? My 2020 S model diesel has a full size spare.
With the new Kia Sorento being recently launched, it would be great to see a comparison between the Kodiaq and the Sorento on equal grounds.
Skoda meant a car with indistinct front & back, for old peps like moi...like your style of reviews
What your thoughts on the new bmws Tom?!
Depends which ones. Anything on the Cluster Architecture platform is great (3 Series and up, X3 and up). The FWD-based stuff isn’t very impressive.
Great review as always.😄
I cannot decide between the Volvo xc40 t5 r design or the Skoda karoq sport line 140tsi. Any help/comments people? Currently have a year old a250 4matic and love the turbo surge, brisk performance and the interior but would like a larger car as well that is quick but more roomy
The XC40 T5 is noticeably quicker, but I would test drive both.
@@chasingcars Thank you!
The SKODA looks the better car and it's more roomy, it should be in the large suvs not medium, also how reliable are they for the tough Australian conditions, also how many do you see on the roads.
What would you pick between Mazda CX-5 gt/akera turbo petrol or Kia Sportage turbo diesel? I’m struggling to pick 😭
Neither. I’d go CX-5 diesel.
@@chasingcars fair enough ! Why the cx5 diesel?
Sheer beef. The twin-turbo 450Nm engine goes hard! Beautifully refined and the real world fuel consumption is substantially - 40 or 50% - lower than the petrols offered in the Mazda.
@@chasingcars agreed but no one test drives them! I have 2021 CX5 Akera diesel, use mine if Mazda wont give you one to test :-)
Thoroughly like the review though...I felt the Skoda was a bit above the class of the other 4 vehicles in this compare...though presented very nicely. Looking forwards to more reviews 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻
Thank you for another informative comparison review. Unfortunately too many car buyers fail to consider brand after sales service. I think all truly independent reviewers should refer to Australian or overseas reliability surveys/reports. Just like most reviews discuss the 5 star safety ratings, potential buyers should be alerted to potential risks; especially the risks involved with pathetic after sales customer service and basic reliability.
Jeep reviews are worthless if they don't alert would-be buyers to the pitfalls of owning these lemons. Similarly, the Volkswagen Group's hopeless after sales service that will leave you high and dry if something goes wrong, which it will.
Good point. Probably why I put a deposit on a CX-5 although the 10,000 k's service intervals are a bummer.
thank you!
Hi Tom,
How reliable is the Skoda Kodiaq? Usually when you think of European cars, reliability is not something they are known for. Waiting for your response. Thanks
I have a few family friends who own them and I haven't heard any specific complaints. Seems decent when you look at reliability surveys. There's a five year warranty in Australia which gives you some peace of mind. None of the models in this video come across our desk for substantial reliability woes - but that said, we don't have a crystal ball for future performance.
@@chasingcars thanks Tom. This gives me sufficient information for the time being. Cheers
7 year warranty now in 2023!
Not a bad car in this segment, that Skoda kodiaq looks alot bigger than the other cars on test by a mile, nice car, best looking ones for me is the Volvo xc40 and the Kia Sportage very nice looking cars 👌👍🏴
Shouldn't it have been a Karoq instead of a Kodiaq for mid-sized SUV?
I agree with you Aaron. The Kodiak is a great car except is too large for me - i don't need the third row seats. I would have liked to see how a top spec Karoq compared. It's interior might not have matched some the other vehicles tested here, but what about it's ride & handling?
Some of the comments here are so annoying. "why didn't you include this car...?" jeepers there's a great selection for a comparison here!!
Great review as always, small mistake on the text in the Kia Interior section (you have Mazda written instead)
Thanks Stephen. Annoyed I didn’t catch that one, thanks for point it out. That is indeed a Sportage!
what about their prices???
Can any Skoda Kodiaq owners please give me feedback on Skoda's after sales service.
Any good?
It depends. In Europe they're ok.
Hi mate so skoda kodiak 132 kw is better then the vw tiguan in all areas? Tossing up for a family car
Yeah, in my opinion it is.
@@chasingcars plus cheaper, better tech, better onroad costs, vw is way over priced for what u get, although love how it loojs
@@d.j.z.j Tiguan drives better because it is stiffer.
Skoda kodiaq is great my wife bought one herself because of the practicality.
Hi mate its 70 k in Perth, for the vrs what did you guys pay, the tiguan 162 r line is 67 k drive away
@@d.j.z.j I just bought a fully optioned Sportline for 56 drive away. The same dealership quoted 65 for the RS.
@@Harry-lq5jd what location? 68 in Wa atm
@@d.j.z.j Sydney
@@d.j.z.j and those prices are for ordered cars - not stock.
RAV4 overall including brand and resale value, Kodiaq for value and practicality.
Pretty good summary, Siquan.
We love our one!!!
Glad to hear it!
I have a Mazda CX-5 in the uk 20L and it’s Gutless couldn’t pull yourself out of trouble can’t wait to get rid of it this year plus the Entertainment system and the satnav are so out dated with the 7 inch screen
Kodiaq is nice, but I’d still like the Volvo XC40
Hi Tom, why was the tiguan not featured.
I think im sold on the kofiak better features, cheaper and more practical, its essentially the same as the tiguan but 15 k cheaper. Can you do a skoda kodiak vs tiguan review
Hey Zac -- that's the answer. The Kodiaq is mechanically very similar to the Tiguan, but it's roomier (without being much larger, physically), the interior is more plush, and it's actually even better to drive. The ride and handling is very sweet. You can get faster Tiguans but the 132TSI engine is enough for almost anyone, I think.
@@chasingcars all good, now to convince my wife hhah
I just wish European cars would also move the indicator stalk to the right position for righthand drive.
Big fan of the Skoda
We had the Toyota RAV4 and only replaced as we needed a larger vehicle to tow our caravan,we purchased a grand Jeep Cherokee diesel which people said would be a risky option,but actually has been great and economic to run. The decision now is we need to keep the kilometres down on the Jeep so we don’t have to purchase a expensive tow vehicle we have a Toyota 86 but wife doesn’t like the harsher ride and being low down my wife does the higher kilometres so a smaller suv like these would be a good option. Skoda looks like a good option but from experience German running gear may not be as reliable as Toyota.the other concern I have is will the Jeep we problematical doing only short trips to my place of work sometimes less than 15 mins. I did hear Skoda are going to start using a torque converter transmission which may be more reliable than the vw transmission.we could simply buy a new Jeep and keep the Toyota 86 the Jeep has 65000 kms and the 86 has only 22000 kms but is one year older then the Jeep.what would you recommend. Great review best I have ever viewed honestly.
Hi Malcolm -- thanks for the feedback. If you are after something smaller than the Grand Cherokee but you aren't keen on a dual-clutch auto or another RAV4, I'd look at the other alternatives here: the XC40 T4, Sportage diesel or CX-5 are all standouts.
Tom, love your reviews but there is one thing you may have overlooked in all your reviews of the RAV4. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I've never seen you sit in the front passenger seat. I was recently looking at purchasing a RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid until I sat in the front passenger seat. I am also 6ft tall and I'm guessing since you've not mentioned it before, you haven't noticed that you wouldn't be able to sit there. There is no where near enough headroom. It's not that my head was brushing the roof, I had to tilt my head to the side to fit in the seat. Not a good design from Toyota. Curious to know your thoughts.
Glad its not just me not 6ft close too but have trouble with neck. Just doesn't feel easy or spacious to get in.
@@patrickl6185 No definitely not. Without the sun roof it's no problem. But with the sunroof in there, the head room is SIGNIFICANTLY compromised. Guess they didn't have anyone in the testing department at Toyota tall enough to notice! 😉😂
We test drove the RAV4. We found that it kept talking to us and telling us to obey the road rules which we were. It would show on the dash that we were in a 60 zone and doing 54kmh but still tell us to obey the rules. Maybe this feature can be turned off? It certainly turned us off this car.
I turned that feature off as soon as I could in my long-termer -- so yes, it can be disabled.
Why jeep compass is missing?
because it's a dud!
Why do SUV's ride so high? What does that achieve in a car that is for school runs and shopping centres?
Since people shunned station wagons for being uncool. Now, SUVs are mainstream and wagons are the cool, rebellious option. Funny how things are cyclical like that.
Is a 7 seater still a mid-size SUV in AU ? I agree with your verdict that's the best of a bunch but your not comparing apples to apples. In my location Kodiaq is nearly 40% more expensive than Kia Sportage and I live in EU... I'd expect its direct competition is Sorento and Mazda CX-9. In terms of price it's on par only with Volvo.
Here in Australia the prices of all these vehicles are pretty comparable. All available for around $50K in Australian dollars. Some options add to the cost but they’re not must haves. I understand the Skoda is more expensive overseas than this set, but we get a great deal here. As for sizing, Kodiaq is under 4.7m so I count it as just scraping in midsize. It certainly doesn’t feel large!
Great review. Surprised by the winner .Thanks
Thanks a lot for watching.
The Kia Sportage has a full sized slate, not a space saver.
Not enough is made about the spare wheel, especially on SUV’s. unless they spend their lives puttering around the ‘burbs, the absence of a full size spare should be a real show stopper for anyone contemplating long haul driving in Australia. Space savers are speed and distance limited to such an extent that they are potentially dangerous in many typical scenarios.
These Mid Size SUV's all seem good in various ways. Depends on personal preference, family size, price & sundry others. thanks Tom.
It seems you have a soft spot to VW group cars.
I bet the Rav4 will not only be more frugal, but more reliable as well.
As for the Skoda have 7 seats, well its because it competes with the Sorento, Santa Fe and upcoming Nissan X-trail
No, I have a soft spot for objective victors. The RAV4 Hybrid has won so many comparisons on this channel now - I’m certainly not against it! And Kodiaq is significantly smaller than both the Sorento and Santa Fe, and timings for the X-Trail haven’t even been confirmed for Australia. Can’t judge hypothetical vehicles.
Sounds like you have soft spot for Rav4 or you’re a just another VW hater.
The kodiaq is 4.7m in length, the Santa Fe is 4.77 , Sorento is 4.8 while the Sportage is 4.35...
The Skoda entrant to this class is the Karoq, 5-seater, smack in the middle of this class size wise.
The Sorento is Kodiaq’s rival, and against it Im not sure it would walk away more practical, more equipped...
Too bad you can’t face criticism.
...and as fir the Rav4 coming away victor in other comparisons, well it wasn’t against VE froup cars. I have been following you for a while and while you are comprehensive, it seems that anything Audi, Skoda, VW make is just beyond reproach. Shame
@@ehudk215 RAV4 Cruiser AWD $46k - Kodiaq 132tsi $45k - Karoq Style $36k
Should compare toyota rav4 vs mazda cx-5 vs Honda CR-V vs skoda karoq not kodiaq vs vw tiguan , you should compare volvo with audi lexus or skoda kodiaq because it's in luxury category. Anyway stop watching at title 🤣 , like your other videos btw keep it up 👍
Thanks, though I stand by my justification. The Volvo starts at $47k, so it's clearly in contest with mainstream midsize SUVs - and the Kodiaq just scrapes in as midsize. The Karoq is perhaps a very compact midsizer. Skoda like to do 'in betweener' sizes.
I love Rav4
Why Honda CRV is not on the list?
Not as good. It has a terrible infotainment sistem, bland looks and not as good as VW group SUVs and Toyota RAV4
Thanks mate. The comparo is amazing and useful for buyers out there
Never heard of your channel before. Volvo XC40 is more of a compact SUV. Why is Hyundai, Honda CRV not featured here?
Because they aren’t in the top 5 in this segment.
No CR-V?
I would definitely replace the Kia for the CR-V
The Fourth Gen. Sportage is considered a CUV, and I believe is much smaller than the Kodiak...an SUV for that matter.
Why there is no CRV?
I don’t count the CR-V in my top five in this segment at the moment.
No mention of sound isolation abilities.
Surprised to see CRV and forester absent
Good cars but just not in the top five midsizers we've driven this year.
Where's Tucson? :(
Third comment asking this 😂 old Tucson isn’t a top-5 contender any more, and the new Tucson doesn’t launch until mid-2021. Nobody has driven it on the road yet.
For average matured buyers, the conservative choice would be RAV4 or CX5 & for the more daring young buyers would be XC40 IMO Nice comparison
Could've waited a month for the Escape ST-Line PHEV
Could’ve, but final timings for that car haven’t been locked in launch-wise and then it wouldn’t really be a fair 2020 video. We’ll do it again next year if the new Escape makes the cut.
@@chasingcars makes sense
Review up on the Escape hybrid as soon as I can get one though.
Space saver tyres should be made illegal for SUVs. In a remote country like Australia unless people are sticking to the city limits it can prove suicidal. I LOVE cars but am petrified of Australian drivers and road rules. Today on a 2 lane road I had a garbage truck and a Holden Commodore Ute flying at about 115km in 100km zone so I decided to sit behind - the 2 lane ends and whoa immediately they dropped down to 85km and then continued at 80km/hr! Men, women, old, young- this disease is becoming a pandemic and all the Authorities look at is reducing speed limits and then expecting slower than that on all roads EXCEPT 2 lanes where this type of dangerous behaviour is accepted and expected.
I'm bummed that the Forester isn't in this. I think that's the most well rounded mid-size SUV there is.
Didn't quite make the cut, Kev. I considered it, but the wayward body control and lack of a premium (read: torquey) engine ruled it out. Certainly, interior space and practicality are excellent. I'm sad that the Forester Hybrid really suffered when we compared it to the RAV4 Hybrid earlier in the year.
What about the New citroen C5 aircross
Very nice
What’s the best suv? The one being fed into a crusher.
Where’s the new Ford Escape?? Twill kill them all I reckon, especially with that 2.0lt eco boost motor.
Sadly not yet available in Australia.
Chasing Cars - Ford told me a month ago it would be here by late September. I just figured it had arrived with the Puma. Guess they are made in different countries? I’ve no idea. I’m desperately waiting to test drive it though.
Kodiak for me... a good all around mid SUV
Until you need to dispose of 7 years later with a odd 100000km stay on car sales months on end with bugger all interest. But with the rav4 and CX5 phone doesn't stop ringing and heaps of enquiries in fact the rav4 can be 15yo 200000km and there is still strong demand
@@robertceroli3512 and in the meantime you have only had to drive 100,000 km in an inferior car.
You have no idea what the resale figure will be in 7 years for any of these cars. Ask anyone who bought a Holden in 2019.
HeyTom it would be good to mention these days what real world fuel economy and what the carbon emissions are of all the cars you review.
I think one of the reasons the Rav 4 hybrid is so popular is because people are concerned about climate change and trying to minimise emissions (short of currently spending big on all electric car with limited infrastructure ).
Hey Nikos - we will have a very exciting development coming in future videos in this area. But in short, I’m totally on board with this and agree that transparency around real world (not lab!) fuel/energy use and carbon emissions is very important.
Chasing Cars That’s good to hear and keep up the great work!
Where is forester
Just missing Tiguan, wonder why thats not in top 5 ?
Sunny, the answer is that the Kodiaq does everything the Tiguan does - but better. They're the same car underneath, but the Skoda is slightly bigger, packs in a usable third row, has a nicer interior, and has even greater driving dynamics. Tiguan's very good … Kodiaq is even better!
Because the Kodiaq is and it’s superior and cheaper
@@chasingcars sold mate, been looking at this for the past 12 months, wife loves the look of tig r line white so I am trying to convince her otherwise haha
I’d rather the 162 instead of a 132 with soft plastics
The Kodiaq is not a large SUV?
Skoda put it into the large category for reporting sales, but it isn’t really large. It’s substantially shorter than say, a CX-9 or even a CX-8. To us, it’s an upper midsizer.
Skoda kodiaq could be expensive when adding optional extras on, so yes and no with the winner. Great car but need to pay more even for safety tech.
Agree, you do need all the option packs to make the Kodiaq as plush as this one - but you can mix and match.
As an owner, I can tell you that you can buy an epic Skoda Kodiaq fully loaded for about 55k and often with cheap finance, plus capped service at $300 per year and 5yr warranty. This review is bang on. Except maybe was diplomatic with the rivals, perhaps with the exception of the more expensive and small Volvo, the Kia, Toyota etc are all very average products. The Kodiaq is streets ahead of the rest. A deserved winner.
Nick Pavlakis Indeed, it’s a great one and much better than toyota, kia, and mazda here. But again, it still more expensive than others expected XC40. For example, you can get a Rav4 Hybrid Cruiser AWD at 47k, which is 8k cheaper and $210 per year over 5 years.
Fair enough. I'm probably biased as an owner, but I drove the RAV, nice and smooth. But no fun. Happy with the extra I paid for Kodiaq. Feels bulletproof and is truly fun to drive, awesome driving assist, feels very premium and my dogs never get sick from the ride unlike in my old CX9. Would recommend to anyone.
No love for the Tucson???
Why no forester ?
Because it’s not one of our top five midsize SUVs
Oh really? I thought forester was up there, I was thinking of buying one soon, maybe we’ll check out the outback instead then