Two things happened at once. Skoda added ADAS to the Kodiaq. And then quietly cut the base variant price by ₹3 lakh on the same day.
That's not a combination you see often.
The 2026 Skoda Kodiaq went on sale in India at ₹36.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The top-spec Selection L&K sits at ₹46.99 lakh. Three variants, one engine, all-wheel drive across the board. Nothing on the powertrain side has changed. But what's changed above the bonnet matters a lot more than you'd expect from a mid-cycle update.
2026 Kodiaq Finally Gets ADAS: Seven Functions, Not a Token Feature
For the record, this is the first Skoda sold in India with ADAS. The Skoda Kodiaq is now also the only Skoda in the current lineup to have it. That's not a small thing.
The suite runs seven functions: adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, adaptive headlights, frontal assist with warning and emergency braking, blind spot detection with lane change assist, rear cross traffic alert, and an exit warning system. That last one alerts passengers before they open a door into a passing cyclist or vehicle. Genuinely useful.
All seven are available on the Sportline and Selection L&K variants. The base Lounge 5-seater gets none of it, which is fine. It was never meant to be the driver's pick.
2026 Kodiaq Sportline Gets 360-Degree Camera and Grille LEDs Too
There's a second, less-discussed update in this launch. The Sportline variant now carries the 360-degree camera and the grille-mounted LED strip. Both of these were locked to the L&K before. Moving them down a variant without a big price jump is meaningful.
The Sportline now asks ₹43.76 lakh and delivers most of what made people stretch to the L&K. That's a smarter ask.
The Engine Stays the Same — and That's Not a Problem
204 horsepower. 320 Nm of torque. 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol. Seven-speed dual-clutch. AWD on every variant.
It's been the same since the second-gen Kodiaq launched in India, and nothing about it needs fixing. The DSG shifts fast, the AWD system is quiet and competent, and the throttle response on a highway feels properly sorted. ARAI claims about 14.86 kmpl. Real-world, expect 10-12 in city driving.
What Skoda Dropped and Why That Matters
Two colours are gone. Steel Grey exits the Sportline lineup. Red Velvet is out from the L&K. If you liked those, the timing stings. The reason, almost certainly, is the Skoda Kodiaq RS.
The RS is coming to India later this year at around ₹55-60 lakh as a CBU import. It sports a distinctive red look and 265 horsepower. Red Velvet on the standard L&K would have made things awkward. Skoda cleared the decks early.
Should You Buy the 2026 Kodiaq?
If a Toyota Fortuner or Jeep Meridian is on your list, the Kodiaq asks a different question. Less ground clearance, more refinement. Not an off-roader's car. But for a family that lives on highways and wants ADAS, a proper AWD system, nine airbags, and a cabin that doesn't feel domestic. It's now a stronger case than before.
The ₹3 lakh price cut on the Lounge variant is the headline number. The ADAS is the reason to actually go see it.
The Kodiaq RS arrives later this year. That will be the one for enthusiasts. This one is for families who've been waiting for Skoda to finally plug the safety gap.
It's plugged.