Skoda Kodiaq RS Makes India Debut, Bookings Open
The much-awaited Kodiaq RS has made its India debut. Bookings for the performance SUV are now open. Interested buyers can make reservations by paying Rs 3,00,000. The carmaker hasn't revealed the ex-showroom price yet. The Kodiaq has become Skoda's first SUV to get an ‘RS’ badge here.
It will be brought as limited-number CBU (Completely Built Units) imports, and may thus carry a notable price premium over the standard Kodiaq. The first batch will be limited to just 50 units.
The price announcement is expected in the coming weeks. Skoda is celebrating 125 years of its motorsport heritage in 2026. The year also marks 50 years of the Rally Sport (RS) badge. Perfect time indeed to bring the RS version of the Kodiaq to India!
The RS version has clear design changes over the standard version. The styling here is sportier and more aggressive. The SUV has a redesigned bumper at the front. It gets larger air intakes and functional air curtains.
There is an increased use of Black trims. The grille is finished in Black and has an RS badge. Additionally, it also has a light bar at the front connecting the Matrix LED headlamps on either side.
The first thing you would notice in the side view is the massive 20-inch alloy wheels. These come with performance-oriented Hankook tyres. The brake calipers are painted in bright Red.
In the side view, we will notice that the roof rails, side view mirror caps, window surrounds, and C-pillar trim are finished in Black. At the rear, the Kodiaq RS gets a new bumper, sporty spoiler and connected LED tail lamps with dynamic turn indicators. Four exterior colour options will be offered.
The Kodiaq RS gets several unique elements inside. It has an all-Black cabin with contrast Red stitching. The front row gets sports seats with good bolstering and integrated headrests with RS badges.
The feature list will include a large 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 10.25-inch fully digital driver's display, 13-speaker Canton audio, ambient lighting, dual wireless smartphone chargers with cooling, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, rear AC vents, ADAS Level 2 and more.
The Kodiaq RS is based on Volkswagen Group’s MQB Evo platform- the same that underpins the standard SUV. The difference lies in the suspension setup. The Kodiaq RS feels sharper around corners- thanks to the tuning difference.
It has also been equipped with the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) Plus that offers 15 selectable levels of damping adjustments. A progressive steering further helps in improving the overall handling and usability.
The biggest highlight of the RS is its engine itself. It features a heavily upgraded 2.0 TSI turbocharged petrol engine. It makes 261hp and 400Nm. The standard Kodiaq, on the other hand, makes 201hp and 320Nm. The RS version thus makes 60hp and 80Nm more.
Interestingly, this is the same state of tune as the engines of the Octavia RS and Volkswagen Golf GTI. Mated to this engine is a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission and a permanent All-Wheel Drive system. The Kodiaq RS does the 0-100 kph sprint in just 6.3 seconds and becomes the fastest Kodiaq yet. The top speed in this case is 231 kph.
The RS version also comes with upgraded braking hardware. It gets ventilated and slotted brake discs and larger two-piston calipers.