It wasn’t so way back that diesel shook off its fame as HGV gasoline and easily turned the trendy, economical alternative for any form of automobile. Every part had to be diesel-powered, from metropolis vehicles to supercars, to the purpose that Audi at one stage severely thought-about a V12 diesel R8.
How rapidly that’s modified. A handful of diesel efficiency vehicles stay, just like the Audi SQ5 and the BMW M340d, however the tide has quickly turned. The BMW M550d is lengthy gone and the Ford Focus ST diesel gained’t return after the facelift.
Skoda has a protracted historical past with efficiency diesels – the primary Fabia vRS had a 1.9-litre TDI – however now the most important efficiency Skoda, the Kodiaq vRS, has fallen in step with expectations and traded diesel energy for petrol.
The engine could also be new for the Kodiaq, nevertheless it’s the acquainted Volkswagen Group 2.0-litre EA888, right here in 242bhp tune as additionally discovered within the Octavia vRS and Volkswagen Golf GTI. It’s little question a extra sporting engine than a giant diesel, however in a heavy SUV just like the Kodiaq, we reasonably appreciated the torquey oil-burner, so the brand new petrol engine has one thing to show.
The Kodiaq vRS stays an uncommon providing in that it’s considered one of only a few seven-seat SUVs to return with an overtly sporting by-product. If you would like a efficiency SUV, you usually must both go together with one thing smaller just like the Cupra Formentor or Hyundai Kona N, or pay much more for a six-cylinder BMW X3 or Mercedes GLC.
