2021 Skoda Kodiaq Facelift Accurately Rendered With Octavia Grille

Test prototypes of the Kodiaq were spotted this summer, but those didn't sport many cosmetic changes. A couple of days ago, the new Kodiaq model was filmed on its home roads, hiding a pair of new headlights (see video below).

Based on that car, Russian website Kolesa was quick to give us this set of renderings, which we consider to be accurate. The changes aren't major, but after taking a second look, many fans of the Skoda brand might be able to spot them.

The front end looks a bit more upright, not because they lifted it, but due to the shape of the fascia. The main grille is now a kind of hexagon instead of the rectangle we saw before. It's the exact same design as on the all-new Mk4 Octavia, which admittedly looks more handsome than its predecessor. New headlights have also been installed, appearing narrower than before.

At the back, the rendering suggests fresh LED graphics and a chrome strip down the middle. Unless we're mistaken, the 2021 Octavia has dynamic lights, which pulsate when you indicate or lock/unlock. We should see that tech here as well, considering how popular (and profitable) the Kodiaq has been.

But we actually think some of the best improvements will be on the inside. Features like the two-spoke steering wheel and new infotainment could be borrowed from the Octavia 4 to make the Kodiaq more premium-feeling. Meanwhile, the model lineup might be reduced, since it currently includes seven trim levels - Active, Ambition, Style, Clever, Sportline, Scout, and L&K.

As for the engines, some new ones appear to have already been installed. For example, the top-end 2.0 TDI has 197 hp (200 PS), the same as the one you find in the 2021 Octavia RS TDI. There are less powerful versions of that TDI available, along with a 1.5 and 2.0 TSI.