European SUV gets price cut: Skoda Kodiaq 2026 picks up entry grade, undercutting Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Kluger

Skoda Australia has confirmed a brand unique entry-stage Decide out gentle-hybrid from $49,990 drive-away, changing the in kind 140TSI 4×4 entry grade.

While the swap lowers Kodiaq entry-designate by $5000, it makes all-wheel drive dearer, from $58,990 in mid-grade Sportline. The outgoing Decide out 140TSI stays obtainable on runout except existing stock is depleted.

The freshly launched Decide out MHEV sees mixed gasoline effectivity toughen from 9.2L/100km to 6.0L/100km, shedding CO2 emissions from 209g/km to 136g/km — still 19g/km timorous of 2026’s NVES Style 1 restrict of 117g/km.

Peak mixed outputs for the Kodiaq Decide out decrease deal, despite the incontrovertible truth that, down 21.4-p.c from 140kW/320Nm to 110kW/250Nm.

Resultantly, the unique entry-Kodiaq sprints from 0-100km/hr in 9.7 seconds — 1.5 seconds slower than the “ample” 8.2sec posting of the Kodiaq Decide out 140TSI.

The place seven seats came in kind with the outgoing 140TSI, opting for a third row of seating raises Kodiaq Decide out MHEV’s designate by $2000 to originate from $51,990 driveaway.

Treasure many gentle-hybrid Volkswagen Auto Crew merchandise, the unique Kodiaq Decide out utilises a Forty eight-volt belt-pushed starter generator to offer gentle assistance to its 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and seven-inch DSG.

That assistance comes in the style of extra torque in the course of acceleration, regenerative braking capability, and the capability to fly purely on electrical vitality, despite the incontrovertible truth that ‘crusing’ distance is deal restricted.

In distinction, segment main competitors Toyota Kluger and Hyundai Santa Fe compose disclose of more complicated sequence-parallel plugless hybrid systems, which disclose excessive-voltage batteries and electrical motors to abet sustained EV-riding.

The Toyota Kluger begins from $62,410, while the Santa Fe costs $57,650, every sooner than on-avenue costs.

The comparative Kodiaq Decide out MHEV seven-seater outprices every, despite the incontrovertible truth that a fairer comparison could be with the five-seat abnormal Skoda Kodiaq scoot-in hybrid, priced from $63,490 drive-away.

That automobile, as with the sunshine-hybrid, has likely been launched by Skoda as an different to its volume-promoting RS (which historically accounts for round 50-p.c of whole Kodiaq sales), to be in a plight to decrease incoming IEV tokens due to stricter annual emissions targets.

Skoda Kodiaq 2026: costs in Australia

All costs listed are drive-away.

• Decide out gentle-hybrid front-wheel drive five-seat: $49,990
• Decide out gentle-hybrid front-wheel drive seven-seat: $51,990
• Decide out all-wheel drive seven-seat: $54,990 (currently in runout)
• Sportline all-wheel drive seven-seat: $58,990
• Decide out scoot-in hybrid front-wheel drive five-seat: $63,490
• RS all-wheel drive seven-seat: $69,990