New Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4 | Do You Even Need a Hybrid?

The 2026 Skoda Kodiaq Diesel 4x4 might not be trendy. It’s not electric. It’s not shouting about performance. And yet, in a world obsessed with plug-in hybrids and oversized screens, this big, four-wheel-drive diesel SUV could quietly be one of the smartest choices on sale. In this first drive review, we put the Skoda Kodiaq 2.0 TDI 4x4 to the test on real UK roads. We look at ride comfort, motorway refinement, diesel torque delivery, towing ability, cabin quality, practicality and seven-seat usability. This is a proper family SUV, but does it still feel modern enough in 2026? We also dig into real-world fuel economy, long-distance cruising ability and winter-ready AWD capability, because for many buyers, reliability, range and effortlessness matter more than electrified complexity. Key rivals include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Peugeot 5008, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4 AWD and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace, many of which now lean heavily into hybrid power. But the Kodiaq Diesel takes a different approach: one that might feel refreshingly straightforward. If you’re looking for a large 4x4 family SUV, need serious practicality, or just want something that gets on with the job without fuss, this review breaks down whether the diesel Kodiaq still makes sense in today’s market. Buckle Up, because sometimes the old-school option might just be the clever one! 🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co Headturner by Max Brodie, https://t.lickd.co/l/9kW2q9p2jLr ----------------------------------- BUY OUR MERCH: https://shop.spreadshirt.co.uk/buckle-up-merch/all ----------------------------------- Join Channel Memberships: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQnCvi6zRZolQsxlIf6ePtQ/join ----------------------------------- Follow us on Social Media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Buckle.Up.Official.Productions/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@buckleup_show X: https://x.com/BuckleUp_Show Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/buckleupshow.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buckleup_show/ Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/buckleup_show TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRy9erBk/ --------------------------------- Visit Our Website: https://buckleup-show.com/ --------------------------------- Follow the lads on Instagram Rob - https://www.instagram.com/the_rob_wilson_/ Harry - https://www.instagram.com/mccrazyfish/ Jasper - https://www.instagram.com/jbrucewright/ --------------------------------- #BuckleUp #skoda #automotive --------------------------------- Buckle Up is a channel that is only interested in one thing – cars! We upload a myriad of different content including car review videos, car challenge videos, car news videos and much, much more! Our videos are made in a similar style to that of Top Gear, Fifth Gear, Car Throttle, Doug DeMuro, carwow, Carfection, The Grand Tour, MotorTrend and many more. We would all thoroughly recommend their channels, so why not go and check them out.