Friday December 8, 2017– ŠKODA'S ground breaking new SUV, the KODIAQ, has been awarded New Corporation's 2017 Car of the Year.
News Corporation's panel of six leading auto journalists unanimously judged ŠKODA's first seven seat capable SUV as the victor over a talented field of nine other new cars and SUVs.
The vehicle submitted for judging was the entry KODIAQ 132TSI 4x4.
The ŠKODA prevailed over an array of other SUVs (Audi Q5, Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5) plus cars as varied as Kia's Stinger and Picanto, Honda Civic Type R, Hyundai i30, Subaru Impreza and Suzuki Swift.
News Motoring Editor Richard Blackburn said that the judges were "impressed by the quality of cabin materials, the punchy turbocharged engine and the clever seven-seat layout".
"Most impressive, though, was the attention to detail and the thoughtful, family-focused touches in the cabin," Mr Blackburn said. "There are umbrellas stored in the front doors, iPad holders for the kids and a detachable torch in the rear load area. It even has two blankets."
Priced from $42,990 RRP, the KODIAQ 132TSI 4x4 comes with a formidable array of standard features and a factory backed five year warranty. This petrol variant has since been joined in showrooms by the formidable turbo diesel 140TDI.
The KODIAQ's victory is the culmination of what has been one of the European brand's most successful weeks in Australia since it entered the market in 2007.
Last Friday, it was confirmed that ŠKODA had sold a record 5026 vehicles up to November 30 – well up on the 4760 sold in the entirety of 2016.
This week has seen rave media reviews for the ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS 245 – the most powerful version to date of the award-winning midsize sedan and wagon.
Last month ŠKODA's SUPBERB 162TSI Wagon was awarded Drive's Best Family Car for the second year running and the FABIA won Carsales' Best First Car - its third successive victory in that category.
ŠKODA AUTO
- is one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company was founded in 1895 – during the pioneering days of the automobile. Today, the company's headquarters remain in Mladá Boleslav.
- currently offers the following models in the range: CITIGO, FABIA, RAPID, OCTAVIA, YETI, KODIAQ and SUPERB.
- in 2016 delivered more than 1 million vehicles to customers worldwide.
- has belonged to Volkswagen Group since 1991. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle manufacturers in the world. ŠKODA, in association with the Group, independently manufactures and develops vehicles, as well as components, engines and gear transmissions.
- operates at three locations in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia and India mainly through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners.
- employs over 30,000 people globally and is active in more than 100 markets.