Buying a used Skoda Kodiaq? Have it inspected first

Our inspection of the Skoda Kodiaq covers the safety-critical systems - brakes, tyres, suspension, steering and structure - and flags anything that needs attention before the car is driven with confidence. We'll tell you clearly whether something must be fixed now or simply watched. Your safety is the first thing the report addresses, not an afterthought.

Yes. On an electric or hybrid Skoda Kodiaq we read the battery state-of-health data, test charging and inspect the high-voltage system, so you understand the most expensive component before you buy. Battery condition does more to set an EV's real value than mileage does. We also check the 12-volt battery and the cooling, which are easy to overlook but matter.

We cross-check the Skoda Kodiaq's service records against visible wear, fluid condition and the diagnostic data. Inconsistencies - like a low odometer paired with a heavily worn interior - are exactly what an inspection is meant to catch. A genuine, well-documented history is one of the strongest signs of a car worth buying.

The honest answer is that it depends on the individual car, but there are well-known places on a Skoda Kodiaq we always look at closely. For a hybrid we check how cleanly it switches between electric and petrol power, the high-voltage battery's remaining capacity, and the brakes, which wear unusually because of regeneration. Diesel models reward a careful look at smoke under load, cold starting and turbo response, alongside the DPF and EGR condition that most often turn a cheap diesel into an expensive one. Being a bigger crossover, it tends to go through brakes, bushes and tyres faster, and where four-wheel drive is fitted we check that the system and its fluids have been looked after. On Volkswagen Group cars like this the familiar points are the timing components, the DSG dual-clutch gearbox where fitted, and the water pump and thermostat - otherwise the mechanicals are generally sound when serviced. On the day we confirm which of these apply to your specific car and put each finding, with its severity, into your English report.

You send us the listing and the car's location in Budapest. We arrange a time with the seller, and an English-speaking car inspector comes to the car to carry out a full pre purchase inspection - engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, electronics, body and a road test where possible. The whole check usually takes 60 to 90 minutes. You then receive the findings in clear English, either in person or by email.

Both - and either way you've found the right service. We run an independent Skoda Kodiaq check in Budapest, in English, whatever you typed into the search box. on spot mechanic and vehicle inspection before buying a car are just different words buyers use for the same careful inspection. The result is one clear verdict you can act on.