Skoda Kodiaq RS | Photo Credit: Prashant Shetty

Don’t drive the Kodiaq RS. I mean it. Unless you are comfortably equipped to bring one home, which includes finding yourself a spot on Skoda’s waiting list, you must do your best to steer clear of this car. It’s that good.

Sounds like I’m gushing? True, but not for the same reason as you might suspect. This Kodiaq sure wears the RS moniker and it looks the part, too, but there’s something deeper to it than outright performance-driven supremacy. That, some may debate, is still the mantle of the Octavia RS, given that it’s a sedan. Fair enough. The Kodiaq RS, however, is something that feels great to drive even if you happen to be moving house in it. It’s figured duality out to perfection.

Being a CBU import, Skoda has set aside just 50 units of the Kodiaq RS for India (for the time being) and, unsurprisingly, they’ve all been spoken for. It’s unclear when the next batch will arrive, but unless you move quickly, that lot will be usurped just as quickly, too. What’s the big deal about it, you ask? Well, it’s got a 261-bhp turbo-petrol by the way of an ice-breaker, and it’s wearing an RS badge. That’s enough for most car enthusiasts, but the Kodiaq RS doesn’t stop there, of course.

There’s a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox with paddle shifters, adaptive damping (dynamic chassis control) which offers 15 levels of adjustability, and there’s even an Individual drive mode that allows you to configure suspension stiffness, drivetrain responsiveness and steering weight as well. It’s got AWD, too and paired with inner-wheel braking tech, the Kodiaq counters understeer rather brilliantly. There’s ADAS, as well and I’m happy to report it takes no time to turn it off.

road calling

From behind the wheel, the Kodiaq RS feels very special. It’s a proper RS number and it sounds the part, too. Even the artificial soundtrack is inoffensively done and, from the onset, it gets you in the mood for spirited driving. This worked out rather well for my 250-km day with it, as you can imagine. Skoda claims a 0-100-kph time of 6 seconds which I found to be true and, given the confidence it inspires, I nearly attempted to verify its 231-kph top speed as well. It’s spectacularly engaging, and yet, it very much is a Kodiaq. I verified this, too, by driving the non-RS right after.

You’d think of the RS as an unforgiving car and that couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, with its upgraded suspension, it actually rides as well as the made-in-India Kodiaq, if not better! Yes, even with 20-inch wheels instead of the 18s on the standard Kodiaq. For all its sporty inclinations, the cabin still is perfectly suited to a full-sized family, although the third row is best left to kids or, even better, folded flat so you get a 786-litre boot. Is it a car you can road trip with, then? Easily. And it’ll get you there quicker than anything else can, for that price.

Speaking of which, is its price tag of ₹70 lakh justified? Without a doubt. The Kodiaq RS is as poised as it is premium and it feels so, in every aspect. That it’s a driver’s car your family won’t grudge you buying only helps its case. This or a VW Tiguan R-Line? Oh, they aren’t even in the same league! How about something electric, then? Sure, but it just won’t feel as pure and exciting as the RS. If that’s something that matters to you — driving pleasure — the Kodiaq RS is very hard to beat. It’s a car with a great deal of finesse and sophistication, and above all else, a personality that’s impossible not to love. Unless you take my word for it and don’t drive it, that is.

@TheMotorGram

Published on July 10, 2026