Finding a seven-seat SUV that genuinely offers value is harder than it sounds. As our sister title What Car? knows better than anyone, value isn't simply about being the least expensive car in the class – it's about delivering the most car for your money. And that's precisely the case the Škoda Kodiaq made at the 2026 What Car? Awards, where it was named Best 7-Seat SUV for Value, beating both cheaper rivals and far pricier premium alternatives to claim the prize.
It wasn't the Kodiaq's only recent win, either. Škoda's flagship SUV also scooped What Car?'s Tow Car of the Year 2025 gong, a double that underlines just how capable and all-round impressive this car really is. So what exactly won over the What Car? judges? Here are the five big reasons.
Test drive the award-winning Škoda Kodiaq
#1 Upmarket interior
Walk up to the Kodiaq for the first time and it's immediately clear this is a car that punches well above its price point. Step inside, and that impression is reinforced from every angle. The dashboard is clean, modern and thoughtfully laid out – and a genuinely welcome change from the touchscreen-only approach that's becoming increasingly common in this class.
In a world where rivals like the Peugeot 5008 and Volkswagen Tayron have swept physical controls away in favour of glass-covered dashboards, the What Car? team gave the Kodiaq particular praise for bucking the trend. As its reviewers pointed out: "the Kodiaq's dashboard has actual physical buttons," with most functions managed through three large, intuitive knobs on the centre console – a refreshingly easy-to-use arrangement that makes adjusting the climate control a simple matter of reaching out and turning a dial, whether you're stationary or on the move.
The driving position is just as pleasing. Entry-level SE trim comes with manual seat adjustment including lumbar support – something that isn't available on an entry-level Peugeot 5008 – while SE L adds full electric seat adjustment. The seats themselves are supportive and comfortable, and the commanding SUV driving position gives excellent all-round visibility.
Škoda's ‘Smart, Spacious and Stylish' philosophy runs through every corner of the cabin, too, with thoughtful touches – such as felt-lined door pockets to stop items rattling and a well-integrated 13.0in infotainment touchscreen that “responds quickly to all of your prods” – making daily life that little bit easier.
#2 Heaps of space
The Kodiaq takes its name from the Kodiak bear – one of the largest species of brown bear on the planet – and it lives up to the name when it comes to interior space. This is a genuinely large family SUV, with an optional third row of seats and an enormous boot that puts many class rivals to shame.
Front and middle-row passengers are very well served. There's a generous abundance of head and legroom, and the middle row of seats slides independently, so second-row passengers can stretch out properly rather than perching with their knees up against the seatbacks. When it comes to the third row, “It’s quite tight climbing into the seats, but once in, there’s enough space for teenagers and adults to have reasonable leg room if the second-row seats are slid forward,” What Car? said.
It's the boot figures, though, that really illustrate the Kodiaq's class-leading practicality. With the optional third row stowed and five seats in use, the Kodiaq offers a massive 845 litres of luggage space – comfortably ahead of the Nissan X-Trail (565 litres) and matching the Land Rover Discovery Sport (840 litres). Fold everything away in a five-seat model and that rises to 910 litres. Even with all seven seats in use, there's still 340 litres of boot space – roughly the same as a Volkswagen Golf offers.
