India-bound Skoda Kodiaq facelift spotted testing for the first time

-Minor cosmetic changes inspired by Superb facelift.

-New powertrain will also be part of the update, including a new hybrid.

-Expected to make its way to India by late-2020.

Skoda is on a roll. The Czech carmaker took the wraps off the flagship Superb facelift a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, we have already spotted the updated Octavia doing rounds in the Combi guise. Now, our spy sleuths have exclusively captured the Kodiaq facelift undergoing testing in the mountains.

The biggest SUV in Skoda’s line-up will receive its first update since its introduction. The test prototype we see here appears to be the Sportline trim which is sold in the international markets. The giveaway is the badging on the fenders and the sporty looking alloy wheels. Apart from that, the large air dams in the front bumper are hard to miss, even under the heavy camouflage. On the other hand, the shape of the headlamps appear to be unchanged, but it will surely get the Matrix LED units which debuted on the Superb facelift. 

At the rear, the design will be more or less unchanged. But we expect new LED signature for taillamps along with sequential turn-indicator as seen on the Kamiq. On the inside, more features from the updated Superb will also be included in the already long list of the Kodiaq. 

Interestingly, the prototype is hauling a trailer and there are wires sticking out from the back of the car and going into the trailer. We assume that this could be because Skoda might be testing new powertrain options for the Kodiaq. Which means, the seven-seater is expected to get the 2.0 TDI Evo engine from Volkswagen’s stable. But the higher chances are for the plug-in hybrid powertrain which already does duties in the flagship sedan. This hybrid Kodiaq will be a part of Skoda iV subrand and will feature a combination of 1.4-litre TSI engine and an electric motor. With a 13kWh battery pack with a DSG transmission, the total power output is expected to be around 220bhp with an electric range of around 50kilometres. 

The new and updated Kodiaq is expected to break cover either late this year – at the Frankfurt Motor Show – or early next year at the Geneva stage. It will follow the refreshed Octavia and is likely to make its way to our shores by end of 2020, after both the sedans (Superb and Octavia facelifts) are launched in India.