Skoda Kodiaq RS pricing revealed

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Skoda Australia has announced pricing and spec details for its new twin-turbo halo model - and the fastest three-row SUV ever at the Nurburgring - the Kodiaq RS.

Retailing at $65,990 and offered as a single, highly-specified variant, the five-door, seven-seat Kodiaq RS sits at the very top of the range with a sizable $14,500 gap between it and the previous Skoda Kodiaq flagship, the Kodiaq 132TSI Sportline.

Helping justify the extra outlay is a unique powertrain that elevates performance significantly, along with a bespoke suspension to help control that extra mechanical muscle.

The price puts it in amongst entry-level premium-brand medium SUVs like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3, but the Kodiaq is better equipped and more powerful.

Likewise, it's more powerful than top-spec diesel competitors like the Mazda CX-5 Akera ($50,360).

The Kodiaq RS is powered by a 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel four-cylinder, producing 170kW and 500Nm. With the two turbochargers operating in series, the RS boasts a torque band that's much broader than typical diesel engines, while other tweaks to the cylinder head, block and combustion chamber aim to imbue it with a more athletic edge.

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Power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, with the Kodiaq RS suspended on electronically adjustable dampers with a dedicated sport mode. Its braking hardware (above) is also beefed up to cope with the elevated performance.

Standard equipment levels are typical Skoda - generous by default. An electronic instrument panel is standard, as are leather/Alcantara-trimmed electronically adjusted sports seats, an RS-specific steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, active cruise control, sat-nav and smartphone mirroring.

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In fact, the only options available are the car's colour, a panoramic glass sunroof, and metal side steps.

The Kodiaq RS is officially available for order, but with the car only just now made available for our market - something that only became possible due to Volkswagen Group's reclassification of Australia to a cooler climate category - the first vehicles aren't due to roll into showrooms until February next year.

PRICING

Skoda Kodiaq RS - $65,990

Metallic paint - $770

Panoramic roof - $1900

Side steps - $1300