It’s Tuesday, January 20, 2026, and if you’ve been waiting for a reason to ditch the “boring” family SUV for something with actual teeth, Skoda just delivered. The big announcement today is the Kodiaq RS—the first time the “Rally Sport” badge is being slapped onto an SUV in India.
The thing is, we’ve known the second-gen Kodiaq was coming, but the confirmation of the RS variant for June 2026 is the “mic drop” moment for enthusiasts. It’s basically a track-day car disguised as a three-row school bus. Or nothing. Let’s be real, your kids will probably get to soccer practice a lot faster now. Those too.
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The “Kodiaq RS” Breakdown: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where performance is finally meeting practicality in the ₹50L+ bracket.
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The Heart of the Beast: The thing is, this isn’t just a body kit. It’s packing the 265hp 2.0-litre TSI engine—the same unit from the legendary Octavia RS. That’s a 60hp jump over the standard model.
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The Speed Stats: 0-100 kph in 6.3 seconds. Top speed of 231 kph. And here’s the kicker—it comes with AWD and a 7-speed DCT as standard. Those too.
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The “Blacked-Out” Vibe: Visually, it’s gone “stealth mode.” Blacked-out grille, mirrors, roof rails, and those massive 20-inch alloy wheels with bright red brake calipers. Or nothing.
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Cabin Culture: Inside, it’s all-black with red contrast stitching and “RS” embossed headrests. You get a massive 13-inch infotainment screen and those tactile “Smart Dials” that everyone loved in the global reveal.
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Skoda India 2026 Launchpad
| Feature | Kodiaq RS (June 2026) | Standard Kodiaq (2025) |
| Engine | 2.0L TSI (265hp / 400Nm) | 2.0L TSI (204hp / 320Nm) |
| 0-100 kph | 6.3 Seconds | 7.8 Seconds |
| Wheels | 20-inch RS Alloys | 18/19-inch Alloys |
| Expected Price | ₹55 Lakh – ₹60 Lakh | ₹40 Lakh – ₹46 Lakh |
| Market Status | CBU (Limited Units) | CKD (Local Assembly) |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The thing is, while the Kodiaq RS is the “halo” car, the actual news for most buyers happened today. Skoda officially unveiled the 2026 Kushaq Facelift this morning. It’s got a connected LED bar at the back and—wait for it—rear massaging seats. Let’s be real, a mass-market SUV with massagers? That’s an ongoing situation that’s going to rattle Hyundai and Kia. Those too.
One side comment—the Kodiaq RS is expected to come as a CBU (Completely Built Unit), meaning there will probably only be a few hundred units available. The thing is, if you want one, you probably need to be talking to your dealer yesterday.
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