Table of Content
▼- What Makes the Kodiaq RS Different?
- Price and Availability in India
- Skoda Kodiaq RS Mileage
- Engine and Performance Specs
- Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC)
- Exterior Features and Design
- Feature Breakdown: Interior and Cabin Tech
- Safety and Practicality
- Skoda Kodiaq RS vs Rivals: Where It Stands
- Should You Buy the Skoda Kodiaq RS?
- Buy it if you:
- Think before buying if you:
- Conclusion
The Skoda Kodiaq RS is officially here, and it sort of marks a genuinely big moment for the brand, this is Skoda's first-ever RS-badged SUV in India. Priced at Rs. 66.99 lakh ex-showroom and brought in as a fully imported CBU with just 50 units in its first batch, every single one sold out almost as soon as bookings opened. The real story here isn't just the badge, it's what Skoda has actually done under the skin to earn it.
What Makes the Kodiaq RS Different?
Most performance SUV badges in this segment lean on styling tweaks and stop there. The Kodiaq RS goes a fair bit further, retuning the same 2.0-litre TSI engine that powers the Octavia RS to a genuinely higher output, adding Dynamic Chassis Control, and upgrading the brakes, not just badges and blacked-out trim. It's aimed squarely at buyers who find the standard Kodiaq refined but kind of want more punch without giving up the seven-seat practicality.
Price and Availability in India
|
Detail |
Specification |
|---|---|
|
Ex-Showroom Price |
Rs. 66.99 Lakh |
|
Import Route |
CBU (Completely Built-Up) |
|
Units in First Batch |
50 (sold out) |
|
Variants Offered |
Single, fully-loaded trim |
Skoda Kodiaq RS Mileage
Skoda has not disclosed the Kodiaq RS's ARAI mileage figures, which is a common situation in limited-run CBU imports. For reference, the regular Kodiaq with a weaker version of the same engine is rated at 14.86 kmpl by ARAI, but in reality, owners are getting around 10-12 kmpl in the city and about 16-19 kmpl on a highway drive.
Since the RS has more power and weighs more because of its bigger brakes and 20-inch wheels, the mileage figures are expected to be lesser than that of the regular variant, especially in city driving where the extra performance makes one want to exploit it.Fuel efficiency clearly isn't the point of this car, though, performance and exclusivity are.
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Engine and Performance Specs
|
Spec |
Skoda Kodiaq RS |
Skoda Kodiaq |
|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
2.0L TSI Turbo-Petrol |
2.0L TSI Turbo-Petrol |
|
Power |
265 hp |
201 bhp |
|
Torque |
400 Nm |
320 Nm |
|
Transmission |
7-speed DSG (DCT) |
7-speed DSG |
|
Drivetrain |
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) |
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) |
|
0-100 kph |
6.3 seconds |
Not comparable |
|
Top Speed |
231 kph |
Not comparable |
The RS makes 61 hp and 80 Nm more than the standard car, and that gap is genuinely noticeable on the road. Skoda has also fitted slotted brake discs with two-pot calipers up front and stiffened the suspension setup, so the extra power actually has the hardware to back it up.
Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC)
Dynamic Chassis Control is one of the impressive engineering breakthroughs of the Kodiaq RS. The system functions using an adaptive damper system that actively examines the road status and modifies the system's stiffness accordingly. As a result, it gives drivers options to switch from the softer comfort mode during daily journeys with the family to a firmer sports-focused mode when they want to push their vehicles further.
Exterior Features and Design
- Butterfly grille in black with RS badging
- Front bumper with a sportier design featuring vertical air inlets
- Twenty-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers
- LED matrix headlights as well as taillights
- Glossy black accents of the vehicle, which include a black and red insert on the B-pillar
- Body-coloured side skirts instead of the standard black cladding
Colour options for the India-spec Kodiaq RS include Moon White, Magic Black, Velvet Red, and Steel Grey, all exclusive to this RS lineup.
Feature Breakdown: Interior and Cabin Tech
Although the appearance of the interior remains the same as the Kodiaq, Skoda has brought a sporty vibe to it with the good use of black-and-red design elements in the cabin.
- 12.9-inch freestanding touchscreen infotainment system.
- 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster.
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
- Dual wireless phone chargers.
- Powered ventilated and heated front sport seats with RS logo.
- Three-zone automatic climate control.
- 13-speaker CANTON premium sound system.
- Flexible ambient lighting and panoramic sunroof.
- Three-spoke sports steering wheel.
- Sliding and reclining second-row seats with sunshades.
- Electric tailgate, 360-degree camera, and adaptive cruise control.
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Safety and Practicality
The safety kit carries over from the standard Kodiaq, so you're getting 9 airbags, a 360-degree camera with park assist, lane keep assist, electronic stability control, hill descent control, tyre pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX mounts, all built on a platform that already holds a 5-star Euro NCAP rating.
On the practicality side, the RS retains the full three-row layout and offers roughly 281 litres of boot space with all seats up, which expands quite a bit once you fold the third row flat.
Skoda Kodiaq RS vs Rivals: Where It Stands
|
Feature |
Skoda Kodiaq RS |
Closest Rival |
|---|---|---|
|
Starting Price |
Rs. 66.99 Lakh |
VW Tayron R-Line (Sibling Platform) |
|
Engine |
2.0L TSI, 265 hp |
Similar TSI Platform |
|
Seating |
3-Row, 7-Seater |
Varies by Rival |
|
Verdict |
Practicality + Performance |
Direct Rival Absent in India |
There isn't really a direct rival to the Kodiaq RS in India right now. The closest comparison is its platform-sibling, the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line, though some enthusiasts will also draw comparisons to the Skoda Octavia RS or Mini Countryman JCW, even though those are smaller body styles altogether.
Should You Buy the Skoda Kodiaq RS?
Buy it if you:
- Want a genuinely quick seven-seat SUV that still handles family duties well
- Value adaptive suspension tech like DCC for a dual-character ride
- Are drawn to owning something rare, with only 50 units in India
- Want a premium, sport-themed cabin loaded with tech as standard
Think before buying if you:
- Are working with a tighter budget, since the RS costs over Rs. 20 lakh more than the standard Kodiaq
- Prioritise fuel efficiency, since official mileage figures haven't been revealed and real-world numbers will likely be modest
- Want easy after-sales access, given the limited CBU import batch
Conclusion
The Skoda Kodiaq RS actually demonstrates that a proper seven-seater family SUV can also be a source of enjoyment even for someone who loves driving. It offers 265 hp of power, makes the sprint from 0 to 100 kph in 6.3 seconds, and has the adaptive DCC suspension and truly premium sport-themed interior design. Its mileage figures haven’t been disclosed. The price of Rs. 66.99 lakh makes it a rare vehicle attractive to a narrow segment of buyers, and the sold-out batch of 50 vehicles marks the good demand for this kind of car.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Aakash Mehra
Automotive Journalist & Car Reviewer. Aakash Mehra is a seasoned automotive journalist with over 9 years of experience in car journalism and consumer-focused reviews. Having test-driven more than 550+ vehicles, he delivers detailed comparisons, expert insights, and unbiased advice to help readers confidently choose the right car.