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.
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.
Damn that’s awesome. 75 miles would definitely be in the sweet spot. My XC90 T8 gets 34 miles, which I burned up today before noon running the kids around to all their summer stuff. Most days that won’t be the case but today I really wish I had 75.
Damn that’s awesome. 75 miles would definitely be in the sweet spot. My XC90 T8 gets 34 miles, which I burned up today before noon running the kids around to all their summer stuff. Most days that won’t be the case but today I really wish I had 75.
We also don’t get the 60 mile Golf PHEV which is a bummer but these are both just too expensive for me anyway.
We also don’t get the 60 mile Golf PHEV which is a bummer but these are both just too expensive for me anyway.
While I agree this would be a nice option in the U.S., I think that is only if Skoda has figured out a way to skip the general unreliability of VW. Given articles I’ve read about how unreliable Skoda vehicles are, even compared to parent VW, I’m not yet won’t over on it (though I do like most of the exterior design, except for the awkward grill).
Not correct that Skodas are unreliable. A lot of Taxi drivers in Europe use them
yep, I think they generally use the more tried and true bits of VW parts catalog.
While I agree this would be a nice option in the U.S., I think that is only if Skoda has figured out a way to skip the general unreliability of VW. Given articles I’ve read about how unreliable Skoda vehicles are, even compared to parent VW, I’m not yet won’t over on it (though I do like most of the exterior design, except for the awkward grill).
Not correct that Skodas are unreliable. A lot of Taxi drivers in Europe use them
yep, I think they generally use the more tried and true bits of VW parts catalog.
I’d buy an ID4, but only if i can get an e-go to go with it.
The ID has the soul of Ferdinand Piëch bound to it right? That would need a bit of moderation.
I’d buy an ID4, but only if i can get an e-go to go with it.
The ID has the soul of Ferdinand Piëch bound to it right? That would need a bit of moderation.
Germany’s recent elections should invigorate the automobile sector as protectionist measures limit the impact of imports and supercharge the German Manufacturing Industry. So yeah, it’ll come.
Germany’s recent elections should invigorate the automobile sector as protectionist measures limit the impact of imports and supercharge the German Manufacturing Industry. So yeah, it’ll come.
Volkswagen can’t do the right thing till it’s done all the wrong things, like dragging their feet on the buzz
Kinda like Churchill talking about America in regards to wars in Europe.
Volkswagen can’t do the right thing till it’s done all the wrong things, like dragging their feet on the buzz
Kinda like Churchill talking about America in regards to wars in Europe.
Even if it does come here, I don’t think will happen in time to solve your problem.
Even if it does come here, I don’t think will happen in time to solve your problem.
Me: oh this looks cool
*mated to a 1.5 liter VAG turbo 4*
….never mind
Me: oh this looks cool
*mated to a 1.5 liter VAG turbo 4*
….never mind
I’m assuming 75 is WLTP range, so EPA would be 56-58 or so. Still would lead the pack here and would make for a good addition to the available PHEVs
Yes. I think this would sell like crazy, just because consumers often have range anxiety. I know that I would definitely consider this over the options available now.
Would range anxiety really be an issue with a plug in? As you still have the ICE when the battery goes is out of charge. Like me personally I wouldn’t say it is anxiety with a plugin but I wouldn’t want one currently just because my drive to work and back is ~90 miles and I would prefer that to be off a single charge and not have to worry about filling up gas but yeah all the current plugin’s electric only range is really low.
I think he’s saying that this would sell because it *alleviates* range anxiety associated with BEVs.
Yes. Not so much anxiety, but honestly in my current Volt, I actively try to use just battery for all my driving. I like having the ICE for longer trips, but definitely try to do all my daily driving on battery, and 32 miles (the average for most it seems), is not enough, especially when colder weather hits.
I’m assuming 75 is WLTP range, so EPA would be 56-58 or so. Still would lead the pack here and would make for a good addition to the available PHEVs
Yes. I think this would sell like crazy, just because consumers often have range anxiety. I know that I would definitely consider this over the options available now.
Would range anxiety really be an issue with a plug in? As you still have the ICE when the battery goes is out of charge. Like me personally I wouldn’t say it is anxiety with a plugin but I wouldn’t want one currently just because my drive to work and back is ~90 miles and I would prefer that to be off a single charge and not have to worry about filling up gas but yeah all the current plugin’s electric only range is really low.
I think he’s saying that this would sell because it *alleviates* range anxiety associated with BEVs.
Yes. Not so much anxiety, but honestly in my current Volt, I actively try to use just battery for all my driving. I like having the ICE for longer trips, but definitely try to do all my daily driving on battery, and 32 miles (the average for most it seems), is not enough, especially when colder weather hits.
They’ve Škoda lot of nerve!!!
ACK! Double post! Sorry!
Just makes it twice as funny.
They’ve Škoda lot of nerve!!!
ACK! Double post! Sorry!
Just makes it twice as funny.
They’ve Škoda lot of nerve!!!
They’ve Škoda lot of nerve!!!
it even has a better name than the stupid id.shit
it even has a better name than the stupid id.shit