Skoda has officially announced that it will launch its most powerful and high-performance ‘hot-SUV,’ the Skoda Kodiaq RS, in India in the second quarter of the current financial year, June 2026. This is the first time a Skoda SUV is being launched in India with its legendary ‘RS’ (Rally Sport) badging.
Since this performance-oriented vehicle will be imported directly from across the globe as a CBU (Completely Built Unit), it will likely be a bit expensive. Its on-road price in major cities like Mumbai and Delhi is expected to be between ₹60 lakh and ₹65 lakh, which will put it directly in competition with the top variants of the Toyota Fortuner and the recently launched MG Majestor.
Daring and Aggressive Look
While the regular Kodiaq is known for its premium and sedate design, its ‘RS’ avatar takes on a more aggressive, sporty, and intimidating look. Skoda has made several major visual changes to its exterior to make it stand out on the road.
The front features a newly redesigned sporty front bumper, wide air dams, and Skoda’s signature front grille, which comes in a completely high-gloss black finish. To reinforce the car’s sporty stance, its ORVMs (mirror caps), roof rails, window frames, and rear D-pillar are all painted in a gloss-black theme.
Furthermore, to give the car’s side profile a rugged look, it features large, exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels with red-painted brake calipers. At the rear, a new rear bumper and the Skoda RS signature—a reflector strip running from one end to the other—add to its aesthetic appeal.
RS-Spec All-Black Cabin
The Skoda Kodiaq RS’s interior evokes a racing car or cockpit feel. The cabin is entirely finished in an all-black theme, with contrasting bright red stitching and red accents on the seats, dashboard, and armrests to add to the sportiness.
The car’s feature list is the best and longest in its segment. A massive 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system sits at the center of the cabin, delivering extremely smooth response. The driver enjoys a 3-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel and a new customizable digital driver’s display.
Furthermore, front passengers are equipped with powered sports seats with ventilation, heating, and massage functions, a premium Canton sound system for a cinematic feel, a large panoramic sunroof, 3-zone automatic climate control, wireless charging, a head-up display (HUD), and Skoda’s new “Smart Dials” (physical rotary knobs).
Safety
On the safety front, this car is also an impenetrable fortress. Skoda is offering a full suite of advanced Level 2 ADAS (Adaptive Cruise Control, Turn Assist, and Crossroad Assist). Additionally, high-tech features like nine airbags are standard, a 360-degree ‘Area View’ camera, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Intelligent Park Assist with memory function for easy parking in tight spaces.
Engine and Powertrain
The true heart of this performance SUV is its engine, which sets it far ahead of today’s standard vehicles. The Kodiaq RS features the same popular and powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol engine as the Skoda Octavia RS, which has been specifically tuned for immense power.
This engine generates a whopping 265 hp of maximum power and a massive 400 Nm of peak torque. This is a full 65 hp more powerful than the regular Kodiaq. To distribute this tremendous power equally to all four wheels, it’s paired with Skoda’s renowned 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive (AWD) system.
In terms of performance, this massive 7-seater SUV can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds and has a top speed of 231 km/h. Although the Toyota Fortuner’s diesel engine offers slightly more low-end torque, Skoda’s petrol engine, with its 265 horsepower, has the power to outdo the Fortuner.
