#4 Plenty of standard equipment
One of the key reasons What Car?’s judges named the Kodiaq their value champion for 2026 is how generously equipped it is even in entry-level SE trim. As the judges noted, when you buy the Kodiaq: “It isn’t as though you’ll have to skimp on standard equipment.”
That SE trim includes 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control – features that might reasonably be expected as paid-for options on a car at this price point. Add in the crisp 13.0in infotainment touchscreen, a digital driver’s display, automatic LED headlights, rear parking sensors and the full suite of driver assistance tech, and the Kodiaq feels considerably more expensive than its asking price might suggest.
Step up to SE L and you gain electric seat adjustment and the option to add Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive suspension. And for buyers who want genuine electrification, the Kodiaq plug-in hybrid offers an impressive official electric range of up to 76 miles – leaving the Peugeot 5008 PHEV’s roughly 56-mile range well behind. (Bear in mind that the PHEV is only available in five-seat configuration.)
#5 Tantalising list price
So what does all of this – the upmarket interior, the cavernous boot, the accomplished driving manners, the generous standard equipment – actually cost? The Kodiaq starts from £39,025 OTR, which for a seven-seat SUV with this breadth of ability, is a truly compelling value.
The Hyundai Santa Fe, a key rival in the seven-seat space, asks many thousands more and can’t match the Kodiaq’s running cost advantage. Yes, there are cheaper options – the Chery Tiggo 8 among them – but as What Car?’s judges were clear to point out, “the Kodiaq is more practical and far superior to drive, plus it has a more upmarket interior”, making it well worth the additional outlay.
All of which explains why the Kodiaq walked away from the 2026 What Car? Awards not just as Best 7-Seat SUV for Value, but as Tow Car of the Year too. It’s a car without meaningful weaknesses, and one that makes a powerful case for anyone who needs a genuinely capable, family-sized SUV without paying a premium-brand premium to get it.
Now you’ve seen the five biggest reasons why the Škoda Kodiaq is a What Car? award winner, maybe it’s time to see what the Kodiaq can do for you.
Test drive the award-winning Škoda Kodiaq