So what’s the Kodiaq Scout like to drive? Well, exactly like the regular Kodiaq. Its gets the same 2.0 litre four cylinder TDI engine that puts out 150 horsepower and 340 Nm of torque. Power delivery is linear and shifts from the 7-speed DSG gearbox are very smooth. Driving on the highway towards Pench was a breeze and you could go on forever without feeling fatigue. Power goes to all four wheels via a four-wheel drive system. Apart from the regular driving modes, the Scout gets an additional off-road mode, that works in tandem with the electronic aids and the Hill Descent Control to get you out of sticky situations. Information is also shown on the touchscreen. This mode works at speeds under 30kph. So for instance, if you are going down a slope, just press the Off-Road button and the Scout will descend slowly by itself and all you have to do is steer. It also gets the Rough Road Package that offers additional underbody protection for the engine bay, oil sump, gearbox, rear suspension, lateral arms, and brake hoses. Very much welcome considering the kind of roads we have.

The suspension setup is on the stiffer side and you will feel bumps at low speeds. That apart, the Skoda Kodiaq Scout will soak in all the road undulations at normal driving speeds. Body roll is well controlled despite being such a heavy SUV. Steering feedback is good too and weighs up well as you go faster. It also feels light at city speeds. Braking power is fantastic as I experienced with a couple of close calls with stray animals running across the road on the highway, a regular thing in these parts of the country. The safety feature kit includes 9 airbags, ABS with EBD, Hill Hold, ESP, ESC, ISOFIX, iBuzz Fatigue Alert etc.

The Skoda Kodiaq Scout retails at Rs. 33.99 lakh and that makes around Rs. 2.8 lakh cheaper than its range topping L&K sibling. While it does miss out on a couple of features from the latter, the price difference makes the Scout great value for what it offers. And while it is not a true blue off-roader, the off-road mode and the Rough Road Package will let you take your Kodiaq through the rural and rough road landscape without having to worry too much.

Skoda Kodiaq Scout photo gallery:

Also read:

Skoda Kodiaq L&K review