BHPian r.joshi recently shared this with other enthusiasts: When the Skoda thread first popped up, I almost scrolled past, thinking it was going to be the usual brand showcase. But then came the twist – this wasn’t just any promo drive, it was an exclusive BHPians-only event with a proper Sunday convoy and brunch at Neemrana. That instantly changed the vibe and I signed up right away.Meet and greet at The WestinI reached The Westin Gurgaon around 7 a.m., and things were already in full swing. Registration was quick – wristbands, name tags, a short briefing – and plenty of tea, coffee, and snacks to keep the chatter going. Soon, Omkar, Aditya and the Skoda team gathered everyone, walked us through the convoy plan, and reminded us that we’d be swapping seats so everyone could get some proper wheel time. I ended up in a white L&K Kodiaq with gyanbaba and Omkar – easily the best company I could’ve asked for. Within minutes, gyanbaba and I were deep in conversation about his garage, which ranges from Renault and Mahindra all the way to a Porsches. Hearing him talk through his cars and the stories behind them set the perfect tone for the day ahead. The driveOnce on NH-48, the convoy settled into a rhythm. The 2.0 TSI + DSG combo is honestly the star here – quick on its feet, linear power, never left us wanting on overtakes. Steering? Light, but precise. Suspension? Absorbed Gurgaon’s bumps like a champ. Cabin? Whisper-quiet even at three-digit speeds. The only real reality check for me was the air-conditioning. Up front it felt okay, but you could tell it was working extra hard in the September heat. As for the massage seats, they were fun to play around with, but maybe not really for me. It’s the kind of feature that makes you smile when you first try it, though I’d probably switch it off on a longer drive. The Kodiaq really impressed me with how manageable it felt in Neemrana’s congested streets. For a big SUV, it never felt out of place. Light steering, a brilliant 360-degree camera, and well-tuned sensors gave me the confidence to edge past traffic with millimetre precision. What looked like a nightmare lane from the outside turned into a smooth crawl from behind the wheel. Skoda has moved the gear shifter to the steering column instead of the usual spot on the centre console. For a first-timer, it’s honestly a bit confusing – your hand instinctively reaches down to the console out of habit, only to find nothing there. The little stalk on the right side of the wheel feels unconventional at first, and I had to double-check myself a couple of times in the beginning. But once you get used to it, it works well and actually frees up useful space between the seats. The Kodiaq does come fitted with the hardware for ADAS features – you can clearly see the sensors and cameras in place. However, these systems aren’t activated for the Indian market. While the car drives beautifully without them, it does feel like a missed opportunity at this price point. Knowing the tech is already there but not functional leaves you wishing Skoda would enable at least some of these driver-assist features in future updates. Yes, Kodaiq is E20 compatible. While Skoda claims the wheel covers improve aerodynamics and efficiency, they don’t really appeal to me visually.The fort stop, Drive back & wrap-upSkoda put together a nice brunch along with a short presentation. The food was perfect, the Q&A session kept things engaging, and the memento – a powerbank shaped like a retro video game console – was a quirky little surprise (my fiance loved it and promptly claimed it for herself). The return leg was a lot calmer. I switched to the passenger seat up front while Omkar took the wheel, and it was a surprisingly comfortable place to be – great visibility and a relaxed ride. As the sun dipped and the convoy rolled back towards Gurgaon, it really hit me that what made the day memorable wasn’t just the car, but the company. Laughing with gyanbaba and Omkar, swapping stories along the way, and watching a stream of white, black, and blue Kodiaqs snake down NH-48 is the kind of memory that stays with you.Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
