If you’re in the market for a quality family mid-size SUV, the Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan are two exceptional cars to choose from. These two SUVs are spacious with a seven-seater capacity. But which car is better?
The Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan have Volkswagen as their parent company. Therefore, they have a lot of similarities. Besides, both SUVs provide plenty of room and they are very reliable. They are also well built with a comfortable cabin. What’s more, they are practical with ample cargo space.
Features of the Volkswagen Tiguan VS Skoda Kodiaq
Appearance
While both cars look spectacular, the VW Tiguan offers a more elegant and refined look. But when it comes to the interior, these cars are more or less the same. They feature a sleek, yet conservative design. However, there is a difference in quality as the Volkswagen Tiguan provides more soft-touch materials and glossy metal-effect versions than the Skoda Kodiaq.
Therefore, if you’re selecting the cars based on looks, the VW Tiguan is the better car as it’s slightly more refined than the Skoda Kodiaq.
Performance
If you intend to drive your SUV around town, the VW Tiguan is the better car. This is because it is slightly compact with better handling. Moreover, the Tiguan has a high seating position that gives the driver a fantastic view of traffic. On the other hand, the Skoda Kodiaq with its powerful but efficient 2.0-liter diesel engine is ideal for long trips and off-road driving.
Comfort and cargo space
Since these cars are based on the same platform, they are almost the same size. However, the Skoda Kodiaq offers more comfort and cargo space. It has a five-seater and seven-seater option. The five-seater trim offers more cargo space than the seven-seater option. And since our focus is on the seven-seater, it has a cargo space of 270 liters and 720 liters with the third-row seats folded.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is also spacious with ample cargo space, but it is slightly smaller. It has an option of a five-seater and a seven-seater. Unlike the Skoda Kodiaq, the VW Tiguan third-row seat is slightly more comfortable than the third row in the Kodiaq. The seven-seater VW Tiguan has a boot space of 230 liters but this increases to 700 liters with the seats folded.
So, if you desire space and comfort, the Skoda Kodiaq is the better car. It is also more practical.
Safety
As expected, both cars are safe and fitted with top-end safety features. They were also tested and scored five stars when crash tested by EURO NCAP. Nonetheless, the Volkswagen Tiguan scored better results than the Kodiaq. For adult protection, the Kodiaq got 92%, while the VW Tiguan got 96%. VW Tiguan also scored better for child protection as it got 84%, compared to the 77% that the Kodiaq got.
What’s more, the VW Tiguan scored better when it comes to safety tech with 68%, compared to the 54% that the Skoda Kodiaq got.
Fuel efficiency
In terms of fuel economy, the Skoda Kodiaq carries the day as it utilizes less fuel than the VW Tiguan. The base Skoda Kodiaq engine, the 150 hp diesel model has a rating of 52 mpg, while the petrol version has a rating of 42 mpg. Nevertheless, it is also vital to note that the most advanced trims like the vRS models have a fuel efficiency rating of around 33 mpg, which is pretty low.
As stated above, the Volkswagen Tiguan is less efficient as its base model (the 1.5-liter petrol 150 hp) comes with an efficiency rating of around 38.7 mpg. Therefore, if you opt for high-end Volkswagen Tiguan trims, the efficiency will be even lower.
Price
Surprisingly, the Skoda Kodiaq is slightly costlier than the Volkswagen Tiguan. But when you consider all the factors, you will find that the Skoda Kodiaq offers more value for money than the Volkswagen Tiguan.
The base price for the Skoda Kodiaq is about $43,740, but this can go up to $57,30, depending on the trim option you select. Note that the most advanced trim options are the L&K and vRS trims.
On the other hand, the base model for the Volkswagen Tiguan goes for $43250, but high-end models can cost around 451,334.
More information about buying a used Skoda Kodiaq and the Skoda Kodiaq years to avoid.
FAQ
Which car is more reliable – Volkswagen Tiguan or Skoda Kodiaq?
Volkswagen makes reliable cars. So, the Volkswagen Tiguan and Skoda Kodiaq are no an exception. Regardless, the Skoda Kodiaq is slightly more reliable than the Volkswagen Tiguan. This is because apart from registering fewer issues, it is also cheaper to maintain.
Which car is cheaper to maintain – Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen Tiguan?
Both of these cars are costlier to maintain than mainstream SUVs, but cheaper to maintain than high-end SUVs. To be precise, the Skoda Kodiaq is slightly cheaper to maintain than the VW Tiguan. Nonetheless, both have costly spare parts, and the cost of service is also high.
Does the Skoda Kodiaq have more problems than the Volkswagen Tiguan?
No, the Skoda Kodiaq has fewer problems than the Volkswagen Tiguan. This is because the Volkswagen Tiguan comes with slightly more advanced features than the Skoda Kodiaq. As a result, more things can go wrong in the VW Tiguan than in the Skoda Kodiaq.
More information about problems related to these two cars:
Which car will last longer – Volkswagen Tiguan or Skoda Kodiaq?
Volkswagen is popular for making some of the most durable cars on the market. So, since both of these SUVs have VW as their parent company, expect them to last long. Nonetheless, the Skoda Kodiaq will last slightly longer than the VW Tiguan as it is not so complicated.
The Skoda Kodiaq has a lifespan of about 200,000 miles, while the Volkswagen Tiguan has a lifespan of around 180,000 miles.
Final thoughts
Whether you select the Skoda Kodiaq or Volkswagen Tiguan, you won’t be disappointed. This is because both cars are comfortable, spacious, practical, and reliable. So, picking one over the other is not easy. Nonetheless, the Skoda Kodiaq is ideal for those looking for a spacious, low-maintenance, and better off-road SUV.
On the contrary, the Volkswagen Tiguan is better suited for people who desire a more advanced, high-performance, better-looking, and fun-to-drive car. On top of that, the Tiguan offers the best on-road experience. Finally, the Skoda Kodiaq offers value for money.