Skoda Kodiaq RS Spied Ahead of June 22 India Launch as CBU Import

Skoda Kodiaq RS is set to make its India debut on June 22, 2026, and this is the first time the Rally Sport badge drops onto a seven seat SUV here. It will come in as a fully imported Completely Built Unit, with just 50 units kept for the opening batch so yeah, a serious waitlist is already forming.

With a 265-horsepower turbocharged engine, a sprint time of 6.3 seconds for 100 kmph, and an expected price that should land somewhere between ₹45 lakh and ₹55 lakh, the Kodiaq RS brings a pretty rare blend that, right now, no other rival in this segment can really match. It is got genuine, track-ready type performance, but still in a proper practical three-row family SUV, not just the showy kind.

Bringing the RS Badge to India's SUV Segment

In India, customers have been faithful to the RS nameplate for more than 20 years since the launch of the first Octavia RS model. This history remains relevant today. Last year when Skoda Auto India opened up orders for the Octavia RS, all available vehicles sold within a 20-minute time frame. The new Kodiaq RS is also leveraging the performance genetics of these vehicles but at a much greater scale.

Skoda Brand Director Ashish Gupta confirmed at the Kushaq facelift event that the RS badge represents a 50-year global performance heritage. By extending it to the seven-seat SUV segment, Skoda is making a statement, that performance and practicality are no longer a trade-off. The Kodiaq RS is the quickest production Skoda currently on Indian roads, and it will be booked, not browsed.

A Powertrain Built for Performance

The Kodiaq RS it runs on a heavily tuned 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, kind of shared with global performance icons like the Volkswagen Golf GTI. What comes out is 265 horsepower and 400 Nm of peak torque, which is a gain of 60 horsepower, plus 80 Nm over the standard Kodiaq model. The power then goes to all four wheels via a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission, and paired to a permanent all-wheel drive system. So the 0 to 100 kmph time is 6.3 seconds , faster than the BMW X1 sDrive20i and the Jeep Meridian in similar cost brackets.

Key powertrain highlights:

• 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged petrol engine
• 265 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque
• 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox
• Permanent all-wheel drive system
• 0 to 100 kmph in 6.3 seconds

To support the additional performance, engineers upgraded the braking hardware with dual-piston front brake calipers and larger slotted rotors to dissipate heat more efficiently under hard driving conditions.

RS Design That Means Business

The Kodiaq RS does not wear the badge quietly. Every exterior element is tuned to signal intent:

• Gloss black RS-specific grille with honeycomb mesh
• Bold red brake calipers visible through the alloy spokes
• 20-inch Hankook performance tyres
• VRS badge on the tailgate
• Blacked-out roof rails and mirror caps
• Sportier front and rear bumpers with improved aerodynamic cooling

At first glance, it is evident that the Kodiaq RS can be distinguished from the standard Kodiaq by the aggressive stance, lower ride height, and unique wheel design derived from motorsport. This is not just another trim change with a new colour, the Kodiaq RS has its own much more aggressive visual identity and styling.

Interior Built Around the Driver

Inside the Kodiaq RS, everything points toward the driver without sacrificing comfort for three rows of occupants.

• All-black cabin with red stitching throughout the upholstery
• 13-inch central infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• RS-badged sport seats with increased lateral bolstering
• Digital instrument cluster with performance-oriented displays
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• Panoramic sunroof
• Seven-seat layout fully retained

The cabin balances the dual brief of everyday usability and performance focus. Whether commuting through Bengaluru traffic or cruising on an expressway, the interior never lets you forget which variant you are sitting in.

Skoda Kodiaq RS vs Standard Kodiaq: What Changes

The RS is not a cosmetic package, it is a mechanically distinct performance product that shares the Kodiaq platform but diverges on every measure that matters to a driving enthusiast.

How It Stacks Up Against the Competition

No rival in this price bracket combines seven seats with over 260 horsepower and all-wheel drive. The Kodiaq RS occupies a segment of one, at least for now.

Expected Price and Availability

It is anticipated that the Kodiaq RS, which will be manufactured by Skoda Auto in India, will be priced between ₹45 lakh and ₹55 lakh (ex-showroom). The actual price will be announced at the vehicle’s official premiere on 22nd June 2026. Since it is Class B, (CBU) Class B and will have 50 units allocated for the initial build, there will likely be a long wait time following the close of the first booking period.

Pre-orders will have been confirmed to open on June 22, 2026. This date will be solely for the purpose of launching the vehicle in an official capacity.

Conclusion

The Skoda Kodiaq RS does something no other SUV in India currently does, it packages genuine RS performance into a practical seven-seat body and prices it within the reach of aspirational luxury buyers. With 265 horsepower, a 6.3-second sprint to 100 kmph, all-wheel drive, and a fully loaded RS interior arriving as a limited 50-unit CBU, this is less of a purchase decision and more of a timing one. The June 22 launch is the starting gun. Those who have been watching the RS badge on Skoda's Indian showroom floors for two decades now have their clearest shot at taking one home in SUV form.