I am fairly sure that Skoda is copying Peugeot’s design language because the new generation Kodiaq looks “un peu” Français. Following the initial launch — the date which I don’t recall — Skoda has now released the PHEV variant. PHEVs are bought by cowards: the type of people who run over their next-door neighbours’ constantly fouling cat while simultaneously watching cat videos on TikTok and donating to donkey sanctuary charities.

PHEVs are purchased by people who lack commitment, those who are not yet willing to go fully electric, preferring to cling to the comfort blanket of two colliding worlds: a gasoline-powered car with an integrated electric powertrain. The Kodiaq PHEV can cover 75 miles on electric power before switching back to the safety of its 4-cylinder engine.

And here’s the other problem with PHEVs: over the years, manufacturers have increased the electric range not by finding efficiency gains, but by simply increasing the battery size. The Skoda Kodiaq PHEV has a battery capacity equivalent to two Tesla Powerwalls, adding over 120kg of extra weight.

In total, the combined weight of the 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine, the battery, and the 85kW electric motor tips the Skoda Kodiaq PHEV kerb weight to over 2 tonnes. You know what I’m going to say now, don’t you? Yep, you may as well go fully electric if you only ever cover the mythical 50 miles of driving every day.

You may as well avoid the Skoda Kodiaq PHEV and opt for a Tesla Model Y, which is offered at a similar price point, is faster, and offers 300 miles of range and Tesla even throws in 15,000 miles of free supercharging. But if you’re still not convinced about EVs, you may as well go for hybrids such as the Toyota RAV4 or Honda HR-V which are more efficient than bloated PHEVs.

Or just buy a ‘normal’ Kodiaq

The bottom line is, you have to be simply stupid to consider buying a Kodiaq PHEV. Anyway, the Daily Car Blog—always first for reliable consumer news.