I get that my appreciation for Volkswagen-owned, Czech Republic-based automaker Škoda is out of the norm of even your average car nerd. Of all the brands to covet that we don’t currently get, Škoda is somewhere just ahead of Proton and well behind Alpine on the list of marques that most American enthusiasts want. But Škoda builds something incredible that shares a platform with many vehicles we get here in the United States, just with a lot more style and a lot more capability.
I’m talking about the Skoda Kodiaq iV, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) crossover that gets an incredible and useful 75 miles of range on a single charge. Volkswagen is unique in that it doesn’t have any hybrid offerings on sale in the United States currently, having jumped from diesel straight to electric cars.
For as much as we talk about loving PHEVs, there aren’t a ton of great choices when it comes to having the kind of range that would make them useful as David pointed out:
Jeep Wrangler 4xe: 22 miles
Ford Escape plug-in: 37 miles
Chrysler Pacifica PHEV: 32 miles
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe: 26 miles
Hyundai Tucson PHEV: 33 miles
Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV: 31 miles
BMW X5 xDrive45e: 31 miles
BMW 330e: 23 miles
Toyota Prius Prime: 44 miles
Lexus RX450H+: 37 milesThese numbers are pathetic.
Many of these cars don’t even have enough range to get the average American to work and back without recharging, and even if you can plug in these low-range PHEVs at work, plenty of Americans will still not be able to do a full home-work-home commute
Indeed, with the exception of the Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime, which I liked when I drove it, most choices here are a little weak in the range department. And even the Toyotas could benefit from just a little more juice, being just at the edge of what’s acceptable.
Škoda, though, has it figured out. This means that its parent company Volkswagen has it figured out, because the Škoda Kodiaq is just a nicer-looking Volkswagen Tiguan. Here are the stats from the automaker:
The second-generation PHEV system makes local emission-free travel possible in electric mode for up to 75 miles (five seat, SE model), but also gives drivers the option of using the petrol engine in hybrid mode working alongside the electric motor for longer distances.
Key to the significant improvement in range (over the first-generation system) is a larger battery pack. The new Kodiaq iV is fitted with a 25.7kWh pack (19.7kWh usable) that is located under the rear seats. Equipped with integrated water cooling, the pack stores energy to drive the electric motor, accumulates energy gained from regenerative braking, and supplies energy for the heating and air conditioning compressor.
A 22-30 kWh battery pack is probably the sweet spot for a vehicle this size. There’s no one number that makes sense because a vehicle’s weight will determine how much range it’ll get, but a handy rule of thumb for PHEVs should be 7 kWh of battery for every 1,000 pounds of weight, meaning the roughly 3,700 pounds of Skoda Kodiaq’s 25.7 kWh battery back is pretty much dead on what it should be.
And ,yeah, this is just a FWD commuter car with a 1.5-liter turbo four mated to an electric motor built into the gearbox. It isn’t sexy or fun. But it doesn’t need to be.
Assuming access to charging, a PHEV like this can be used for days without needing a charge. It’s also using a battery that’s less than half the size of what a comparable Volkswagen ID.5 uses.
While some people might just want a full EV–and, hey, great for them–those that might need a little petrol power can still have what is essentially an electric car most of the time. The 75-mile Kodiaq is just £41,935 in the UK, which is $53k, but compare that to the cheapest ID5 at £45,860, or $58,000.
Since this is basically a Tiguan, and assuming a similar spread, that’s probably something Volkswagen could sell here for $38,000? I’m making some big assumptions here, but I feel like that would be highly competitive.
Volkswagen’s boss has already hinted at this, saying:
“Within the last six months, all of a sudden everyone wants hybrids.”
Right now this PHEV might just be for Europe, but the American market wants them, too.
Plus, look how great it looks. If we’re going to get Cupra as the cool EV brand, maybe we can get Skoda as the hybrid brand? A boy can dream.
I think all of the “budget” Euro brands are more interesting than their mainstream counterparts. Škoda, SEAT, Dacia — I wish we could get them all over here.
I think all of the “budget” Euro brands are more interesting than their mainstream counterparts. Škoda, SEAT, Dacia — I wish we could get them all over here.
Wow, who knew that a bigger battery would lead to longer electric range?
Wow, who knew that a bigger battery would lead to longer electric range?
Uhh…
Next-Gen VW Tiguan Can Travel 62 Miles in Electric-Only Mode (caranddriver.com)
Uhh…
Next-Gen VW Tiguan Can Travel 62 Miles in Electric-Only Mode (caranddriver.com)
For years, VW would have been better off just taking the whole of Skoda’s lineup and rebadging them as Volkswagens in the US. They are almost like the VW of the early 2000’s – decent looking, functional, timeless designs that are better than the similar mainstream cars priced in the same category. I get VW needs a big-ass SUV, but that is really the only car they are missing from the lineup. It seems Skoda these days has the more attractive version of whatever VW is making.
For years, VW would have been better off just taking the whole of Skoda’s lineup and rebadging them as Volkswagens in the US. They are almost like the VW of the early 2000’s – decent looking, functional, timeless designs that are better than the similar mainstream cars priced in the same category. I get VW needs a big-ass SUV, but that is really the only car they are missing from the lineup. It seems Skoda these days has the more attractive version of whatever VW is making.
From the side I thought this thing was a BMW/Honda mashup.
Yeah, I’m not fond of Skoda’s design direction as of late. It reminds me of the grills that Kia used on their K9 crossed with a CRV.
From the side I thought this thing was a BMW/Honda mashup.
Yeah, I’m not fond of Skoda’s design direction as of late. It reminds me of the grills that Kia used on their K9 crossed with a CRV.
I don’t commute like I used to, but when I do, it is about 80 miles round trip and no ability to charge at the office. A 75 mile PHEV would be great for that.
With that said, I don’t know if I am signing up for a PHEV from Volkswagen. Assuming this was affordable. I’d rather burn a little more gas in a Toyota.
I don’t commute like I used to, but when I do, it is about 80 miles round trip and no ability to charge at the office. A 75 mile PHEV would be great for that.
With that said, I don’t know if I am signing up for a PHEV from Volkswagen. Assuming this was affordable. I’d rather burn a little more gas in a Toyota.
Isnt the next gen PHEV Tiguan all-but-confirmed for the US?
https://www.caranddriver.com/volkswagen/tiguan
Coming in 2025, 100KM electric on the WLTP (maybe 40+ on the EPA?), on par with the impossible-to-buy Rav4 Prime, and away we go.
Isnt the next gen PHEV Tiguan all-but-confirmed for the US?
https://www.caranddriver.com/volkswagen/tiguan
Coming in 2025, 100KM electric on the WLTP (maybe 40+ on the EPA?), on par with the impossible-to-buy Rav4 Prime, and away we go.
It’s 4400 lbs and has a little over 19 kWhr usable battery capacity. Compare this to the Lexus (4700 lbs, 18 kWhr) or the Bimmer (5500 lbs, 26 kWhr), or the Jeep (17 kWhr, 5500 lbs) or the Hyundai (13 kWhr, 4200 lb).
Test it under the EPA protocol, and at best it would lead this pack, if not fall right right into the middle of it. No replacement for
displacementactive chemical material mass.It’s 4400 lbs and has a little over 19 kWhr usable battery capacity. Compare this to the Lexus (4700 lbs, 18 kWhr) or the Bimmer (5500 lbs, 26 kWhr), or the Jeep (17 kWhr, 5500 lbs) or the Hyundai (13 kWhr, 4200 lb).
Test it under the EPA protocol, and at best it would lead this pack, if not fall right right into the middle of it. No replacement for
displacementactive chemical material mass.I’ve got to imagine that VW just doesn’t see the US as any sort of priority. They have a serious portfolio of cars they could bring over here, but I think they’re content with shitting out Atlas’ for the foreseeable future.
I’m actually totally cool with the 30-50 mile electric range that a lot of the PHEVs have. I don’t want PHEV range to require such a large battery that we’re pumping up the MSRP and weight of these things too much. Not to mention that manufacturers are clearly having trouble getting their hands on enough batteries to put these out in serious quantities.
50 miles gets me to work and back, though barely (and probably not in the winter?), but that’d be fine by me. I’d still use dramatically less gas. Let us not jam in so much battery that these PHEVs end up just as expensive and heavy as the EVs.
I’ve got to imagine that VW just doesn’t see the US as any sort of priority. They have a serious portfolio of cars they could bring over here, but I think they’re content with shitting out Atlas’ for the foreseeable future.
I’m actually totally cool with the 30-50 mile electric range that a lot of the PHEVs have. I don’t want PHEV range to require such a large battery that we’re pumping up the MSRP and weight of these things too much. Not to mention that manufacturers are clearly having trouble getting their hands on enough batteries to put these out in serious quantities.
50 miles gets me to work and back, though barely (and probably not in the winter?), but that’d be fine by me. I’d still use dramatically less gas. Let us not jam in so much battery that these PHEVs end up just as expensive and heavy as the EVs.
What I’m actually looking at is peak euro-design blandness.
This is a big Skoda/VW/Seat and to a lesser extent Audi problem. I’ve been saying it for years . They are all too similar and the brand separation is murky.
Seat? They still produce something other than old Audi A4 with new headlights? I thought all design resources were moved to Cupra (with questionable results…)
The brand separation here is great because that thing looks like a Buick.
The brand separation is how much money you want other people to think you have.
You pick what kind of car you want, eg medium crossover, then if you want to look flash you buy the Audi, and if you want to look frugal you go for the Seat.
You’re basically buying the exact same car, it’s just people’s perception of the badge.
What’s not helping is what I call The McLaren Problem: they all look similar and are too similarly named (this is not such an issue for Audi).
I honestly don’t know how VAG keeps all these brands going. It’s like GM before Pontiac, Olds, and Saturn got canned.
Might be a good idea for a bigger article on how you can be too effective with your design language and how to approach differentiation within the boundaries of brand identity.
What I’m actually looking at is peak euro-design blandness.
This is a big Skoda/VW/Seat and to a lesser extent Audi problem. I’ve been saying it for years . They are all too similar and the brand separation is murky.
Seat? They still produce something other than old Audi A4 with new headlights? I thought all design resources were moved to Cupra (with questionable results…)
The brand separation here is great because that thing looks like a Buick.
The brand separation is how much money you want other people to think you have.
You pick what kind of car you want, eg medium crossover, then if you want to look flash you buy the Audi, and if you want to look frugal you go for the Seat.
You’re basically buying the exact same car, it’s just people’s perception of the badge.
What’s not helping is what I call The McLaren Problem: they all look similar and are too similarly named (this is not such an issue for Audi).
I honestly don’t know how VAG keeps all these brands going. It’s like GM before Pontiac, Olds, and Saturn got canned.
Might be a good idea for a bigger article on how you can be too effective with your design language and how to approach differentiation within the boundaries of brand identity.
Also I think Enyaq (ID4 variant) would have suited american tastes better. It’s got way better interior than ID4, actual buttons, place for wrist support when using the infotainment and HVAC controls stay at the bottom of the screen always. And 4 window switches. Also a bit bigger boot.
I personally went with Enyaq AWD because of the interior vs ID4. Altough I was really bummed at that time there was only boring colors. But that was minor gripe vs the capacitive crap in the ID4.
Also I think Enyaq (ID4 variant) would have suited american tastes better. It’s got way better interior than ID4, actual buttons, place for wrist support when using the infotainment and HVAC controls stay at the bottom of the screen always. And 4 window switches. Also a bit bigger boot.
I personally went with Enyaq AWD because of the interior vs ID4. Altough I was really bummed at that time there was only boring colors. But that was minor gripe vs the capacitive crap in the ID4.
Skoda and Dacia are two brands I dearly wish were offered Stateside.
Skoda and Dacia are two brands I dearly wish were offered Stateside.
Remember this is in WLTP, EPA testing would probably drop the range down to 60 or less miles under optimal conditions.
It still actually usable PHEV range though.