Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker
Test Drive

Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker

When a crossover cannot do without footrests, where is it better to take a child seat, where to hide garbage in the car, how to protect the trunk and how to fit a coffee maker into a cup holder

For a person of average height, retrofitting a crossover with external sills can seem like an empty whim, especially if each of them costs almost $ 379. But this is just the case when it was impossible to do without them. Otherwise, an attempt to hoist a full-size bicycle could end in tears: it is almost impossible to lift a 15-kilogram equipment on outstretched arms while standing on the standard rapids.

Branded accessories are expensive, but trying to build your dream car can go a long way. Most recently, we tried a very expensive Skoda Kodiaq worth $ 43, and now we have at our disposal a more affordable car, which in fact turned out to be much more practical. This is a $ 228 Kodiaq all-wheel drive Hockey Edition 1,4 TSI motor that comes with nearly $ 27 more accessories and does a lot more.

Carry sports equipment

Kodiaq and without additional tweaks has an impressive luggage compartment with a volume of 650 liters (in a five-seater version), but this is not enough for the transportation of large-sized sports equipment. For example, you can place a ski bag in the cabin only by pulling it into the cabin through the hatch for long items, which may turn out to be inconvenient for passengers. And a bicycle cannot even fit into such a salon without partial disassembly and folding of the seats.

Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker

That is why in the list of branded accessories there is a special box with a volume of 380 liters and a carrying capacity of 75 kg, which can accommodate five pairs of skis up to 215 cm long or four snowboards. Such a box costs as much as $ 432, but it looks harmonious on the roof and does not spoil the aerodynamics of the car. One has only to bear in mind that due to the increase in overall height on toll roads, more can be written off from the transponder, as for a car of a different class. There is only one way out: drive up to the cashier and give the transponder to him for manual write-off.

Several bike racks can be installed next to or instead of the box. In our case, they are lockable. It is for the installation of the bike that footpegs are needed, because without them it will be very difficult to mount a heavy bike on the roof. The technology is as follows: the bicycle is lifted onto the roof by the frame and the front wheel, placed by the wheels on the platforms, captured by a lock at the bottom of the frame and special slings - by the wheels. Removing it is even easier: just loosen the slings, open the frame lock and pull the bike off the roof.

Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker

Each bike carrier will cost about $ 130. But it should be borne in mind that for bike racks and box installation, in addition to standard rails, you will also need transverse rails, the set of which will cost an extra $ 288. A complete set for transporting sports equipment costs at least $ 851 and here you will definitely need to add almost the same amount - on the footboards, without which it will be very uncomfortable to load the roof.

Monitor children

In the list of Skoda branded accessories there is a KIDFIX XP group 2-3 child seat (for children weighing from 15 to 36 kg) worth $ 458. It fits perfectly into the Isofix mounts in the rear or front Kodiaq passenger seats, has a headrest height adjustment, a seat belt pad, and an additional groin protection belt support.

Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker

However, this is not quite a branded product - the seats for Skoda are supplied by Britax Romer. According to the results of crash tests of the German company ADAC, this is indeed one of the best seats in group 2-3, but it makes sense to order it from a dealer only if you need to leave the passenger compartment with a seat. Exactly the same can be found in free sale at a price of about $ 261, and in specialized stores there will be more choice of colors and configurations.

For children, it is better to order original tablet holders from the dealer, which are attached to the bases of the front seat headrests. The holder costs a little less than $ 39. It is attached with almost one movement and moves apart to the size of the largest tablets. For the driver's peace of mind, you can take two of them at once, especially since when folded they almost do not take up space, for example, in door pockets.

Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker
Chill food and prepare coffee

The cost of a 20L portable refrigerator is $ 229 and also looks very overpriced, but at least it works fine, unlike unnamed Chinese counterparts. In addition, it has special straps for securing the seat belt to the seat, and this placement option is clearly better than a dangling box in the trunk.

When powered from a 12-volt network, the refrigerator is expected to be only able to maintain cooling, and it starts to cool more or less normally only when it is connected to a 230 V network - for example, to a household outlet of the same machine. There is also a more compact version with a volume of 15 liters, which stands exactly in the middle seat of the rear sofa, but it has only a 12-volt connection and non-outstanding power.

Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker

Perhaps the strangest "kitchen" accessory found in the crossover is a portable coffee machine. More precisely, a set that allows you to make a pretty decent espresso in three minutes when connected to a 12-volt network. The set includes a couple of cups and coffee capsules, and only a bottle of water is required from the driver. The device itself fits perfectly into a regular cup holder, but with a price of $ 216 it looks more like a cunning car toy than a useful gadget.

Fight dirt and sort trash

The stock bin that sits in the door pocket also seems a bit overpriced. For $ 23, the dealer will offer only a plastic frame with a lid, into which you need to install the packages yourself. The thing is that nothing more convenient for storing small garbage in the car has yet been invented, and there is definitely nothing on the market that matches the interior design so perfectly.

Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker

It's not a pity to pay even $ 124 for a folding double-sided trunk carpet, because this is perhaps the most convenient and simple way not to stain the trunk with dirty things or shoes. By default, the carpet is laid with a non-slip textile side up, to which Velcro sticks well. If you need to pack dirty things, the carpet is easy enough to open: two different-sized parts lean forward on the folded backs of the rear sofa, another - short - covers the edge of the trunk. All exposed surfaces of the carpet are covered with non-marking rubber.

Test drive Skoda Kodiaq: refrigerator, trash can, coffee maker
 

 

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