The luxury Kodiaq SUV just got more tempting with a new 2.0 litre petrol engine and a redesigned cabin

For the new year, Skoda has come bearing gifts. The Czech manufacturer has launched the facelifted version of the Kodiaq SUV starting at Rs 34.99 lakh for the Style AT variant, Rs 35.99 lakh for the Sportsline AT variant and Rs 37.49 lakh for the L&K variant (all ex-showroom India). The premium SUV for 2022 comes with changed exteriors, interiors and an all-new engine.

In terms of design, the folks at Skoda have given the Kodiaq a wider front grille, with bits of chrome spread across. Additionally, it now gets sleeker LED lamps, restyled LED taillamps, tweaked air dams and all-new dual-tone alloy wheels.

Step inside and you’ll notice a redesigned cabin, with Laurin & Klement furnishing, LED ambient lighting, 3-zone climate control air conditioning, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system. And yes, you do get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto here. Other creature comforts include a 12-way electrically adjustable front seat with heating and cooling, a panoramic sunroof and a Canton sound system with a subwoofer.

Safety is taken care of by nine airbags in total (front, rear, head, knee), traction control, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control along with front and rear parking sensors.

As part of the facelift, Skoda has given the Kodiaq a new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol unit, which replaces the outgoing 2.0-litre diesel engine. Power is also up from 150hp to 190hp, with 320Nm of torque. Transmission is still handled by the smooth 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

The 2022 Skoda Kodiaq locks horns against the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Volkswagen Tiguan, the Mercedes-Benz GLA and the BMW X1.