Why the Skoda Kodiaq Is the Best Value 7-Seat Family SUV You Can Buy Right Now
Shopping for a seven-seat family SUV is one of those purchases that feels deceptively straightforward — until you actually start doing it. Budget-friendly options often cut too many corners, while premium alternatives demand a price that's hard to justify. That's exactly the gap the Skoda Kodiaq has quietly, brilliantly filled. At the 2026 What Car? Awards, it walked away with the title of Best 7-Seat SUV for Value, beating out cheaper rivals and far more expensive premium contenders in one fell swoop.
And that wasn't even its only recent trophy. The Kodiaq also claimed What Car?'s Tow Car of the Year 2025, a remarkable double that signals something important: this isn't a car that wins on price alone. It wins because it genuinely delivers more of what families need, across more situations, than almost anything else in its class. Let's break down exactly how it does it.
1. An Upmarket Interior That Punches Above Its Price Tag
Step inside the Skoda Kodiaq and the first thing you'll notice is that it doesn't feel like a value car — and that's very much the point. The cabin is thoughtfully designed, with high-quality materials throughout the dashboard and door panels that wouldn't look out of place in a vehicle costing significantly more. Soft-touch surfaces, clean lines, and a modern infotainment setup create an environment that feels genuinely premium.
For families, this matters beyond mere aesthetics. A well-built interior holds up better to the daily punishment of school runs, road trips, and muddy boots. The Kodiaq's interior is designed to be both attractive and durable — a combination that's harder to achieve than it sounds at this price point. When you consider how many hours a typical family spends inside their car each week, investing in a comfortable, quality cabin is one of the most practical decisions you can make.
2. A Genuinely Practical Seven-Seat Layout
Many cars claim to offer seven seats, but the reality is often a cramped third row that's only suitable for small children on short journeys. The Kodiaq takes a different approach. Its third-row seats are genuinely usable for adults on reasonable trips, making it one of the few vehicles in this class that can live up to its seven-seat promise in everyday family life.
Beyond the seating itself, the Kodiaq's overall layout is engineered around practicality. Boot space is generous even with all seats in use, and the middle row can be adjusted to balance legroom against luggage capacity depending on your needs. Thoughtful storage pockets, ample USB charging points, and clever little touches throughout the cabin mean that the whole family — not just the driver — benefits from the car's design philosophy.
3. Impressive Towing Capability
Winning What Car?'s Tow Car of the Year 2025 is no small achievement, and it tells you a great deal about what the Kodiaq can do beyond the school run. Whether you're towing a caravan for a summer holiday, hauling a trailer, or pulling a horsebox, the Kodiaq handles towing duties with a composure and confidence that many similarly sized SUVs simply can't match.
For families who own a caravan or boat, or who regularly need to tow for work or leisure, this capability transforms the Kodiaq from a good all-rounder into an essential tool. The fact that it delivers this level of towing performance without sacrificing everyday comfort or fuel efficiency makes it a uniquely well-rounded proposition in its segment.
4. Advanced Technology and Safety Features as Standard
One of the most frustrating aspects of buying a family car is discovering that the safety and technology features you actually want are locked behind expensive optional extras. The Kodiaq takes a more straightforward approach, offering a strong suite of driver assistance systems, connectivity features, and safety technology as part of its standard specification.
- Adaptive cruise control helps reduce fatigue on longer motorway journeys — a genuine quality-of-life improvement for families who travel regularly.
- Lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking provide an extra layer of safety, particularly valuable when the car is full of passengers.
- A large infotainment touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration keeps drivers connected without distraction.
- Rear parking sensors and a reversing camera make navigating tight school car parks and supermarket spaces considerably less stressful.
When you add up the value of these features versus what competitors charge to include them, the Kodiaq's pricing starts to look even more compelling.
5. Outstanding All-Round Value That Goes Beyond the Sticker Price
Here is where the Kodiaq's award win makes the most sense. Value, as What Car? has always argued, isn't simply about finding the cheapest option. It's about what you get for every pound you spend. Judged on those terms, the Kodiaq is exceptional. It delivers a premium-feeling interior, genuine seven-seat practicality, class-leading towing ability, and a strong technology package — all at a price point that undercuts many of its direct premium rivals by a considerable margin.
Running costs also factor into the value equation. The Kodiaq is available with efficient petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains, giving families the option to manage their fuel costs in a way that suits their lifestyle. Residual values are strong too, which means that when the time comes to move on, the Kodiaq holds its worth better than many alternatives.
The Verdict: A Family SUV That Gets the Fundamentals Right
The Skoda Kodiaq's double award success at What Car? isn't a fluke or a result of clever marketing. It's a reflection of a car that has been engineered with a clear understanding of what families actually need from a large SUV — space, quality, safety, versatility, and a price that doesn't require a second mortgage. Whether you're upgrading from a smaller family hatchback or looking for a more affordable alternative to a premium German SUV, the Kodiaq deserves a place at the very top of your shortlist.
If you want to experience it for yourself, Skoda dealers across the UK are offering test drives. Getting behind the wheel is the fastest way to understand why the judges were so impressed — and why so many families are making the Kodiaq their next car.