Skoda Kodiaq Facelift Vs Toyota Fortuner: Detailed Comparison

Full-size SUVs at some point in time was the most crowded segment in India. The early departure of Ford Endeavour might have been one of the saddest moments for car enthusiasts but for carmakers, it was definitely a blessing in disguise.

They can now try and test as much as they want and the reason behind it is that the only major rivalry they will be facing is with the new Fortuner. Lately, Skoda has introduced the facelifted Kodiaq in India and people are struggling to find out if it really outperforms Toyota Fortuner in any sector or not.

Confused between these two capable seven-seater SUVs? Here is a detailed comparison to find out which one is a better option for you and why.

Skoda Kodiaq

There’s a reason why everyone terms Kodiaq as a family SUV. Firstly, it has got a seven-seater layout and secondly, it feels more sophisticated when compared to the typical ladder on frame SUVs. The brand is strictly offering a four-wheel-drive system but that doesn’t make it truly capable of the road. Frankly speaking, it is more of a terrain response management system.

Feature-wise, the new Kodiaq does have an upper hand and to begin with, it gets a massive panoramic sunroof, three-zone climate control, fully digital instrument cluster (mid and top-end variants), 12-speaker Canton surround sound system, keyless entry, six driving modes and LED lighting.

For occupants safety, the carmaker has decided to offer 9 airbags across the entire range.

Without any diesel engine onboard, the new Kodiaq doesn’t feel mileage friendly at all. Since the brand seriously wants to stick with a petrol-only lineup, they have decided to offer a sole 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine on the updated SUV.

The overall output rated from this motor currently stands at 190PS and 320Nm and interestingly, it is powerful when compared to the naturally aspirated petrol engine offered on the Fortuner. Transmission duties for this setup are managed by a 7-speed DSG gearbox with power channelled to all four wheels as standard.

Toyota Fortuner

Fortuner on the other hand is something raw and rugged. Thankfully, it is even massive in terms of dimensions with a lot of road presence. It is also known for its offroad capabilities because of its unmatched ground clearance of 221mm. So basically, it is available with everything you will ever need except dated interiors and lesser modern-age features.

Coming directly to the feature’s list, the new Fortuner is loaded with LED headlamps, a wireless charger, ventilated seats, automatic climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an 11-speaker surround-sound system to name a few.

Unlike Kodiaq, Toyota Fortuner is available with two engine options. The first is definitely a 165PS, 2.7-litre four-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol unit. However, the other one is a mile-munching 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine which is only available on the top-spec variants.

Toyota claims that the diesel engine is tuned to produce a massive 201PS of power and 420Nm of peak torque with the manual gearbox. Interestingly, the torque output rises to 500Nm when this same unit is mated to an automatic gearbox. Also, the four-wheel-drive system is only available with the diesel engine on the new Fortuner.

Skoda Kodiaq Vs Toyota Fortuner: At A Glance

Conclusion

Toyota Fortuner is still unmatched in several leagues. However, if you wish to go with a luxury SUV for your family, the all-new Kodiaq does its job pretty well.