Skoda Kodiaq RS first batch gone in six minutes: scarcity, not value
Skoda has confirmed that the first allocation of 50 units of the Kodiaq RS in India was sold out in six minutes after bookings opened on June 22. Pricing has not been announced, but the performance flagship is expected to land around Rs 60 lakh ex-showroom when deliveries begin.
What was announced
Skoda India opened bookings for the Kodiaq RS on June 22, 2026, and claims the initial allocation of 50 units was fully booked within six minutes. The company has not yet announced an official ex-showroom price; industry expectation places it near Rs 60 lakh, ex-showroom. This is the performance variant of Skoda's flagship three-row SUV in India.
Fifty units cleared in six minutes is a supply story, not a demand story. Skoda kept the allocation deliberately tight.
The India-spec Kodiaq RS uses a retuned 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol producing 265hp and 400Nm, an increase of 61hp and 80Nm over the standard Kodiaq. Power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Skoda claims 0-100kph in 6.3 seconds. The SUV also gets Dynamic Chassis Control Plus adaptive dampers.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L TSI turbo-petrol, retuned |
| Power / Torque | 265hp / 400Nm |
| Gearbox | 7-speed DCT |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive |
| 0-100kph | 6.3 seconds (claimed) |
| Colours | Moon White, Steel Grey, Velvet Red, Magic Black |
| Expected price | Around Rs 60 lakh, ex-showroom |
Equipment includes twin screens, three-zone climate control, a 13-speaker audio system and powered rear sunshades. Safety kit covers nine airbags, TPMS, a full ADAS suite and a 360-degree camera.
The Car Jury verdict
Six minutes to clear 50 units tells you nothing about the Kodiaq RS as a product; it tells you Skoda kept the allocation deliberately small. At an expected Rs 60 lakh ex-showroom, this is GLC and X3 money for a Czech three-row that shares its bones with the regular Kushaq-era VW Group toolkit. The 265hp tune and 6.3sec to 100kph are genuine, but the buyer here is paying for a badge and a queue, not a rational performance bargain.
Faisal Khan of FasBeam has noted Skoda's sharper pricing instincts on the Slavia, saying the brand had "nailed it with the pricing." The Kodiaq RS is the opposite move: a halo trickle, priced to stay rare. If you missed this batch, wait for the next allocation or look at a proper performance SUV in this bracket. Don't pay a premium over MRP on the resale grey market.
