Skoda Kodiaq VRS

Swiftest version of Skoda’s seven-seat SUV enters its second generation On sale Now Price from £53,690

- OLIVER YOUNG [e-mail]

WHETHER IT’S IN order to grab the best spot on the beach, or to get to Alton Towers before the admission queues build up, sometimes a family really needs to get a move on. And for those occasions when a large family is in a bit of a hurry, Skoda offers a very special version of its seven-seat Kodiaq SUV.

Now in its second generation, the Kodiaq vRS is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine related to that of the latest Volkswagen Golf GTI. With 261bhp (19bhp more than before), the vRS is much nippier than any other Kodiaq; 0-62mph in 6.4sec is pretty sprightly for a seven-seater, even if it doesn’t actually feel particularly quick.