Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen Tiguan: which crossover to choose?
At the request of readers, the authors of “Behind the Wheel” continue to compare versions of models – direct competitors and technical “twins”. Who is more attractive: “Czech” or “German”?
Having compared two “Koreans”, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, we could not give a definite answer, which of them is more attractive. Everything depends on the engine and a level of equipment, which the potential buyer prefers.
The point in the dispute between the crossovers Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan can be put right away, if you need a seven-seater car. The modular MQB platform allows varying the dimensions of the cars built on it within a huge range. For example, a hatchback B-class Polo is based on the shortened chassis, a giant Teramont with length over five meters is based on the stretched one. Therefore there is nothing surprising that approximately for the same price Volkswagen offers exclusively five-seater Tiguan, and Skoda – longer Kodiaq, which list of options includes the third row of seats. It is strictly for children, it will be cramped for adults there, and such option costs quite a lot – 51,900 rubles. But anyway the Kodiaq remains one of the most attractive choices among all-seaters for seven seats in our market. The most affordable option with three-row cabin is priced at 2,116,900 rubles.
Skoda in its latest models allows itself liberties in the design of lighting. It does not always look straightforward, but it makes the car stand out in traffic.
Skoda in its latest models allows itself liberties in the design of lighting. It does not always look straightforward, but it makes the car stand out in traffic.
Volkswagen Tiguan is strict 100%. German design is verified not less than the technics and ergonomics. Are you bored? The sales statistics show that people really like it.
Volkswagen Tiguan is strict 100%. German design is verified not less than the technics and ergonomics. Are you bored? The sales statistics show that people really like it.
The engine and gearbox
If you are ready to be content with a front wheel drive or a manual gearbox, in this case also the competition on equal will not turn out. Already here the advantage on the side of Volkswagen brand. Such paradox. It is possible to buy Tiguan on the “manual”, with the front driving wheels and in simple complete sets, and Kodiaq standing on a lower step in Volkswagen’s table of ranks while it is on sale in Russia only with the DSG robot and all-wheel drive transmission. And the choice at the dealers of Volkswagen brand is big: 125 hp plus front-wheel drive – with manual or robot; 150 hp plus all-wheel drive – also with manual or robot, and another 150 hp in a mono-drive version with DSG.
The dashboards of German and Czech crossovers are designed differently, but the style of Volkswagen concern is recognized unmistakably. The digital combination of devices is another “chip” of Tiguan that is inaccessible to Kodiak. It is included in the Highline and Sportline configurations, and for the Comfortline version it costs 29,500 rubles.
The dashboards of German and Czech crossovers are designed differently, but the style of Volkswagen concern is recognized unmistakably. The digital combination of devices is another “chip” of Tiguan that is inaccessible to Kodiak. It is included in the Highline and Sportline configurations, and for the Comfortline version it costs 29,500 rubles.
With the third row of seats it is possible to get only Skoda (plus 51,900 rubles). The Tiguan comes in a seven-seat extended Allspace body. The company is going to introduce it to the Russian market, but it has not happened yet. Compared to this car, the Skoda Kodiaq will probably be cheaper.
With the third row of seats it is possible to get only Skoda (plus 51,900 rubles). The Tiguan comes in a seven-seat extended Allspace body. The company is going to introduce it to the Russian market, but it has not happened yet. Compared to this car, the Skoda Kodiaq will probably be cheaper.
Those who have their eye on the Kodiaq but aren’t ready to shell out at least two million rubles for the car should wait a month. Dealers will start delivering cars assembled in Russia from May. The 1.4 TSI model with 125 horsepower, front wheel drive and manual transmission will start selling for 1,339,000 rubles. A Volkswagen with a similar powertrain costs 10,000 more.
Their options are likely to be identical, and you’ll have to pay extra for Skoda’s third row (if it will be available for cheap versions at all). Therefore, if five seats in the interior are enough for you, and you do not need a huge luggage carrier, you can bravely go for Tiguan already now.
All four-wheel drive Tiguans have a washer of a choice of modes of control electronics. For Kodiak it is an option for 4100-9700 rubles depending on equipment level. By default, it is only for the Scout.
All four-wheel drive Tiguans have a washer of a choice of modes of control electronics. For Kodiak it is an option for 4100-9700 rubles depending on equipment level. By default, it is only for the Scout.
Trendy interior background lighting with a choice of 10 colors can be ordered on a regular Kodiaq for 9,400 rubles, or you can get it in the Scout and Sportline configurations. Tiguan does not have it in any configuration.
Trendy interior background lighting with a choice of 10 colors can be ordered on a regular Kodiaq for 9,400 rubles, or you can get it in the Scout and Sportline configurations. Tiguan does not have it in any configuration.
Folding tables in the backs of the front seats are convenient and multifunctional, and they are offered very rarely in the segment. In Tiguan they cost in all versions, except for initial Trendline, in Kodiak they are estimated in additional 5000 rubles.
Folding tables in the backs of the front seats are convenient and multifunctional, and they are offered very rarely in the segment. In Tiguan they cost in all versions, except for initial Trendline, in Kodiak they are estimated in additional 5000 rubles.
Packages and prices
Kodiaq in the simplest version on our market is 1.4 TSI engine with 150 hp, 6-speed pre-selective and all-wheel drive. In the initial configuration Ambition Plus for 2 065 000 rubles the set of options is not bad: self-dimming mirrors, heated steering wheel, windshield, washer jets and all seats, parktronic “around the circle”, LED headlights and lights, dual-zone climate control, light and rain sensors, cruise control, tire pressure monitoring and blind spot monitoring systems.
There are Scout (left) and Sportline versions in Skoda’s lineup. They differ in decorative design and a slightly more extensive set of options. These cars cost from 2,254,000 and 2,228,000 rubles, respectively. The power units are the same as for the regular Kodiaks.
There are Scout (left) and Sportline versions in Skoda’s lineup. They differ in decorative design and a slightly more extensive set of options. These cars cost from 2,254,000 and 2,228,000 rubles, respectively. The power units are the same as for the regular Kodiaks.
Tiguan in Highline configuration is cheaper (from 1,969,000 roubles) and turns out to be better packed! It does not demand to pay extra for a driving mode selector, a rear-view camera with a washer, three-zone climate control, electric drive of the fifth door and function of automatic switching on/off high beam. The same set of options with a two-liter engine rated at 180 hp will cost 2,159,000 rubles, while for Kodiaq they ask 2,412,000 already. With a 150-horsepower diesel Volkswagen costs 2,069,000 rubles, Skoda – 2,367,000 rubles. The only strong argument in favor of the Czech car is the ability to order a third row of seats. But even without it it is more expensive than its coplatformer, and much more.
Volkswagen Tiguan offers potential buyers a bigger choice: 21 options for packages and powertrain (without taking into account additional options) at a price from 1,349,000 to 2,349,000 rubles. The Skoda Kodiaq comes in 12 versions priced from 2,065,000 to 2,673,000 rubles.
Volkswagen Tiguan offers potential buyers a bigger choice: 21 options for packages and powertrain (without taking into account additional options) at a price from 1,349,000 to 2,349,000 rubles. The Skoda Kodiaq comes in 12 versions priced from 2,065,000 to 2,673,000 rubles.
There is another advantage on the Tiguan’s side – the 2.0 TSI engine with 220 hp. The Kodiak has no such engine in principle. And the Volkswagen in a Highline configuration with the top-end motor costs 2,239,000 rubles – 173 thousand less than the 180 hp Skoda. It’s a weighty difference. Do you want a crossover with sports ambitions – the choice between Skoda and Volkswagen is obvious.
Both cars have a lantern in a trunk, but the ice scraper – only at Skoda. This is one of the many elements of the Simply Clever brand philosophy.
Both cars have a lantern in a trunk, but the ice scraper – only at Skoda. This is one of the many elements of the Simply Clever brand philosophy.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is offered in eight combinations of engine and transmission, and the Skoda Kodiaq has only three. The German model has five options, and the Czech model has four. And the Kodiaq has two of them, Sportline and Scout, differ in the main part by a decor, instead of functional equipment. Potential buyers, trying on executions easier or, on the contrary, with the greatest efficiency, a road one – to dealers of “people’s” brand Volkswagen. But even in average versions they ask less money for Tiguan. It is explainable: the Kodiaq is bigger and more spacious. If these two qualities are principally important for you, Skoda will be your rational choice. In other cases the overpayment is unjustified. However, in a month, when more accessible complete sets enter the market, the balance of forces can change.
Comparing a one-year-old Kodiak and a new Tiguan
In the comments to the previous post about Tiguan someone wrote that it would be interesting to read a comparison of Tiguan and its big brother-bear. That entry, by the way, was blocked and I had to move it to my personal blog, now it is available here at this link. The Tiguan was taken new in November 19, so some things may not apply to earlier cars of the second generation. I do not want to describe at length what and how, I will only say that the differences in the exterior/interior will not discuss, and the story will be mainly about the work of different systems. At the beginning of the thesis or in the process will explain this for me plus or minus signs (+) or (-). Oh, and there won’t be many actual photos as I am far away from this car right now.
Lights. Overall, the headlights are no different in intensity and brightness than those on the Kodiak, but they are better nonetheless. In addition to adjusting up and down, they also ride left and right. (+) I think it’s called DLA assist, the car can turn the headlight away from oncoming traffic on the highway, for example. But the fog lights were disappointing, they do not shine white but yellow, as if there is a light bulb, not diodes. If so, no questions, although why is it not diode fog?! (-)
Inside. You can note a number of things. First, the seats have much better side support, which goes up to the ribs. (+) But it is rather feature of a complete set Sportline, as in usual Tiguan – I do not remember. Pleasant little things, such as cool (aluminum) door handles. (+) They are just nice to touch. Also liked that the centers of the door cards are finished in leather. (+) But I don’t know if that’s a sportline privilege or not. In general, the quality of materials is the same, but the amount of plastic is less. Due to this the interior looks neater. The steering is nice. The SL has a short steering rack, 2.2 turns. (+) It is more convenient and more accustomed to me, because I have steered the similar on the previous car all my life 
The aesthetic illumination was a shock. It does not change color, and the colors can not be activated, the diodes in the doors and handles are not RGB. (-) On the dash the colors were able to activate. There is not much to say about the simpli clover stuff either. The two most important of them (for me) are the voice amplifier and the umbrellas in the doors. They are not here (-).
By the way, a couple of words about the dashboard. It has less modes (-) Only three, no sport mode, no night mode. There is no sport mode of dashboard in Tiguan sport line, you didn’t mishear that. But black colors are more “black” (+), therefore absence of a night mode is not so critical.
I would like to single out this lame cruise control as a separate paragraph. On a steering wheel. I shall keep silent that the steering wheel becomes overloaded because of it. BUT. Even taking into account overloadedness, they put double function on some buttons without any marks. Guess for yourself My dad is many years old, explain to him how to use cruise in the Kodiak – “on and go.” Explaining him how to use the cruise in his car is much harder, I didn’t immediately understand it myself. It is not clear why miracle-engineers made such a decision, as the cruise lever is on all WAG cars – from Bentley to Skoda. But not in VW!
Trunk. Not the strongest side. First of all, instead of a compact roll – the curtain ala avtovaz. (-) But some people like it, in any case, it can still be stowed in the basement (+), but unfortunately, the flat curtain is the only thing that will fit in that basement. (-) Compared to the Kodiak there is none. But at least they left side compartments… Though the organizer of a spare part was turned backwards. Hello garage, who came up with the idea to make a jack (and useful niches) near the back seat? (-). Another disappointment was the flashlight. Shines not white, but yellow, though diode … But still not so bright (-) And another thing – could not close the trunk from the cabin. In the door is some kind of button is not. I do not know why and how. (-)
A little bit about the torture of searching. Find a car with electric adjustment of two front seats – almost unreal. (-) And if you find one, it will be 100% Sportline. There are NO electric adjustable seats and alcantara. (-) At all. At all. There is an Ergo-active on alcantara, but there is a mechanical adjustment, though these seats are more comfortable. NO auto with blind spot sensors (-). Accordingly, the parking assist is also at a disadvantage, as it hangs on the same sensors. (-) And there is no gasoline with Webasto, so if you want it – you can only kolhozit. However, a big plus is the price of the car, now Tiguan cheaper than kodak, and there are good discounts. Certainly, it is cheaper in many respects due to the fact that it is cut down on options.
And don’t get me wrong – I’m not picking on you. (Although very similar). But I really don’t understand why it’s done this way and not the normal way. Clearly, the partial answer to that question is economy. The cars that have been on the road for a couple of years seem to be better equipped than the brand new ones. As they say, the one who had time is the one who ate it. And finally I want to thank once again the guys from W60BRO who help us to keep our cars without any scratches for many years.
UPD. Found a little… but pretty wild thing. Opened the hood on a tiguan the other day and found one (ONE) gas hood stop. I’ve only seen this on a Helic and it’s not a plus. Economy is supposed to be economical, but not that much… and the hood now only needs to be closed from the left side, otherwise it will bend.
