The result right away: E-car wins against Plug-in hybrid and petrol engine. And before you bang on the table and complain: “You can’t really compare them!”, we’ll tell you: Yes, you can. And we can explain everything to you.
Selected products in tabular overview
Kia Sportage 1.6 T-GDI Plug-in Hybrid
RRP from EUR 44,390, savings of up to EUR 13,109
Skoda Kodiaq RS 2.0 TSI 4×4
RRP from EUR 51,100, savings of up to EUR 8,464
The editors-in-chief of the European AUTO BILD partner magazines meet at the tire manufacturer’s test site Bridgestone south of Rome – and we at AUTO BILD Germany put Genesis GV60, Kia Sportage PHEV and Skoda Kodiaq RS out for them, distribute the sheets of our seven-chapter rating and say: your points, please!
At 2.90 meters, the GV60 has the longest wheelbase, and you can cross your legs at the back. But at the top it gets tight from 1.90 meters.
First to the cars. The electrician is the brand new Genesis GV60, here it is Prototype with the foil in Black and white on rocker panels and bumpers. The GV60 is available in two versions, always with four wheel drivei.e. electric motors at the front and rear: as a sport with 318 hp for 56,370 euros and as Sport Plus with a ten-second boost and a whopping 490 hp for 71,010 euros. They gave us the latter for the test.
70 kilometers of electric driving in the Kia
Group sister Kia drives up the compact SUV Sportage, which measures 4.52 meters just like the Genesis and also has a socket. as He has a plug-in hybrid in addition to a 1.6 turbo petrol engine with 180 hp an electric motor and a system output of 265 hp. So this car refuels both super and electricity, and is supposed to drive up to 70 kilometers purely electrically.
Plug-in hybrid: The Sportage can travel 70 kilometers with a full battery before the combustion engine switches on.
Price? It starts at 44,390 euros, and like the Genesis, there is still the environmental bonus; at the plug-in hybrid 7177.50 euros, with the electrician from Genesis 7975 euros (including tax).
The third party drives up without any state subsidies. In 2021, after four years, Skoda renovated the Kodiaq and no longer installed the two-liter diesel in the sporty RS, but the 2.0 TSI from the Golf GTI. In any case, the high-seat GTI is the longest in this test at 4.70 meters and is in the middle at 51,100 euros, so it is almost 14,000 euros more expensive than Kia and 12,000 euros cheaper than Genesis if we include the subsidy.
Sporty: The 2021 renovated Skoda Kodiaq RS features the 2.0 TSI from the Golf GTI.
Skoda offers an outstanding sense of space
We take a closer look at the three types with our colleagues from Europe, and Błażej Buliński from AUTO ŚWIAT Poland has the first comment: “The sense of space in the Kodiaq is outstanding!” We say: not only that, but the seating position at the back is great. Only in the Kodiaq are the thighs on the seat, only here the legs do not have to be bent. As with the other two, the rear seat backrest is adjustable on the Skoda.
Engine type/cylinder
installation position
valves/camshafts
camshaft drive
displacement
kW (HP) at 1/min
max. torque at 1/min
0-100km/h
V max
transmission
drive
test car tires
Exhaust gas CO2*
Consumption*
Tank capacity/battery capacity
fuel type
curb weight
payload
trailer load used/unused
trunk volume
Length Width Height
wheelbase
turning circle
basic price
432-1550 l + front trunk 20 l
Four-cylinder turbo petrol engine + electric motor
1.1 l S and 16.9 kWh/100 km
4515/1865-2080**/1650mm
Four-cylinder turbo petrol engine
Seven-speed double clutch
4699/1882-2087**/1686mm
And because it’s 18 centimeters longer and the rear isn’t that flat, it has even more advantages: with 835 liters (without spare wheel), the largest trunk, which is also completely lined with felt. Although we would have already uncovered the weaknesses of the two Korea SUVs.
Yes, 432 liters in the Genesis and 540 in the Kia are still okay, but not overwhelmingly much for a holiday trip. And no, the fact that the trunk side panels are lined with plastic on both is not okay. After the third visit to the beverage store or the first bicycle transport, we will discover ugly scratches here – want to bet?
At the top, the Genesis is tight
So, close the lid and open the door. Colleague Sean Carson from AUTO EXPRESS Great Britain sits in the Genesis and enthuses: “So much space!” The electrician has the longest wheelbase at 2.90 meters, you can cross your legs, but you shouldn’t be a giant seat. Our test car has the panoramic roof for 1320 euros, which costs interior height. Let’s put it this way: From 1.90 meters it gets tight.
body
Points
drive
Points
driving dynamics
Points
connected car
Points
environment
Points
Comfort
Points
Costs
Points
Editor-in-Chief Test Score
sloping roofline,
nothing in the back for giant seats.
2.90 meter wheelbase,
therefore plenty of legroom.
435 HP immediately from the start
available, for ten
Seconds 55 hp additional. Really strong!
Deep focus through
Batteries in the ground, agile
and tightly sprung. Makes
Fun!
Touch navigation also via
language and controllers
operable. Is in the
Price included and good.
19 kWh/100 km possible in mixed operation, not on the motorway. Locally no emissions.
This calm! And the window even goes up in front of the tunnel. But plastic in the trunk!
With 71,010 euros in one
other league. Also
if still environmental bonus
goes: expensive!
4.52 meter SUV with
enough space,
trunk because of
Battery slightly smaller.
Good interaction
between turbo petrol engines
and electric machine
no turbo lag!
Perfect all-rounder
with good comfort.
steering is synthetic
road noise!
comparable to multimedia
with Genesis, responds to
touch and word,
free of charge.
Drives 70 km electrically,
therefore 1.1 liters according to WLTP.
But it doesn’t work
on the long haul!
engine under full load very
present, fine workmanship
front, in the trunk
hard plastic.
The price breaker! Of
44,390 euros is still possible
the environmental bonus.
A lot of car for the money!
At 4.70 meters am
longest, a box with
right amount of space, too
rear. Very convenient!
245 hp from the Gulf
GTI do the Kodiaq
good, good power distribution
thanks DSG.
Can do anything from comfort
to sports, balanced
Chassis, great steering. Mature!
Large navigation system in a package for
2290 euros. Installed too deep, voice control not up-to-date.
8.6 liters super after
WLTP measured at
weight, size and
Performance decent!
best space,
best seating position
rear, good materials,
door edge protection.
51,100 euros is reasonable for size and performance. Already a lot in series.
Before we board the driver’s seat, quickly into the Kia. And here’s an old problem again: If the front seat is set too low, the feet of the person behind won’t fit under it (incidentally, this also applies to the Genesis), but because the rear seat is too low (bend your legs!), he has a lot of headroom, and we’re happy us via USB-C ports in both front seats and heated seats in the back too, what a luxury! More details about the test can be found in the picture gallery.
