The Star: August 11, 2022

Fresh face for
Skoda Kodiaq
WHEN I’M booking
evaluation cars in my diary
I generally try to avoid an
overlap, one car at a time is
preferable.
However, that is not
always possible and after
a schedule change I didn’t
want to turn down the
chance to drive a high performance
sports car, so for
three days I had two cars in
my driveway.
While one of them was
spectacular in terms of
speed and handling, I
couldn’t help but be smitten
with the other – a sport utility
vehicle, a Skoda Kodaiq
to be exact, and it was the
go-to vehicle when I had SKODA KODIAQ STYLE: Fresh looks but with well
errands to run or for the proven driveline.
daily commute, driving my engine at 132kW and the dash panel readout was
wife to and from her place 320Nm. In true European listing a combined average
of work.
engine-building fashion, the of over 10l/100km which I
The Kodiaq equips itself turbocharged unit develops thought was satisfactory.
well in terms of occupant a lot of its power low in The suspension is a fully
comfort and engineering the rev band. Peak power independent mix of struts
prowess that is a perfect arrives all of the way from and multiple links with
blend of performance and 3900pm to 6000rpm, while spring and damper rates
economy.
maximum torque comes in well balanced for comfort
I guess that’s why it was at 1400rpm and meets the and the inevitable time
voted the New Zealand Motoring
Writer’s Guild Car of
to traverse undulating
point of peak power. the Kodiaq will be asked
the Year in 2017, a welldeserved
title if my memory Style TSi, $63,990
• Price – Skoda Kodiaq ground. While most fourwheel-drives
of this ilk
serves me well.
• Dimensions – Length,
can’t be considered genuine
The Kodiaq has just had
4699mm; width,
2087mm; height, off-roaders, the Kodiaq is
a facelift, and all that has
1685mm
a capable all-road vehicle,
done is make a good car • Configuration – Fourcylinder,
four-wheel-
journey I presented it
and the short shingle road
even better. Most of the
changes are cosmetic, while drive, 1984cc, 132kW, with served to prove how
the driveline and mechanicals
are largely as they were direct shift automatic environment.
320Nm, seven-speed tidy it is in a loose surface
when the model first landed • Performance –
In terms of on-board
here five years ago.
0-100km/h, 8.4sec
equipment and value
There are five models • Fuel usage –
fitment, the Kodiaq at
in the Kodiaq range, it
9.3/100km
$64k doesn’t miss out on
is extensive in terms of
much, the seats are leather
whether you want the highperforming
RS at $79,990 is a minuscule amount of stage heaters for the cold
That being the case, there trimmed and have three-
or want to ease yourself into power drop-off, the entire Canterbury mornings; the
the line-up at $48,990 for acceleration and transmission
process is seamless. heated at will. I particularly
steering wheel, too, can be
the 1.4-litre Ambition. The
evaluation car was the 2-litre
petrol-powered TSi Style direct shift automatic, and front door, complete with
The latter is a seven-speed like the umbrella tube in the
that lists at $63,990, bearing without the power-robbing umbrella, that has become
in mind that the Government
will want an extra converter the way the features such as those that
characteristics of a torque a Skoda hallmark. It’s small
$1093 to off-set carbon power process is developed show a lot of thought has
emissions. For my money I is simply extraordinary. gone into manufacture.
think I’d pay an extra $11k The Kodiaq Style is quick The Kodiaq’s seven-seat
and go diesel, but that’s not with an 8.4sec standstill to system is constructed
saying the petrol-powered 100km/h acceleration time, the way we expect of the
Style doesn’t impress. and it will scoot through a modern SUV. The rear row
All of the engines that highway overtake in 5.1sec of seats fold up from the
power the Kodaiq today – 80-120km/h. The feel floor, and even though they
are state-of-the-art, as from beneath the throttle is would only be suitable for
you would expect from a constantly entertaining and short trips for adults, for
Volkswagen-based source – encouraging.
youngsters and the slight
Czech Republic’s Skoda is in It is also built in the way of build the rear area is
partnership with VW and where fuel usage hasn’t been entirely practical.
the Kodiaq is based on the sacrificed. Skoda also rates Up front the driver has
Tiguan platform.
it with a 9.3-litre per 100km at his or her command a
While its seven seats offer
a point of difference to will sip fuel at 6.1l/100km high specification fitment.
combined cycle average. It wealth of functions and
other SUVs in the mid-size instantaneously at 100km/h The Kodiaq sits beside a
category, take into account with the engine turning host of other models in the
that there is also four-wheeldrive
in the Kodiaq, and 1800rpm.
There are a lot of fresh
over quite relaxed at just Skoda line-up.
drive modes that encourage Most of my driving with and exciting models arriving
at the moment and
the odd excursion into the the test car was at city
high-country back roads speeds, and even though Skoda will lure buyers with
and trails.
that doesn’t present the competitive prices and
Skoda rates the 1984cc best fuel economy result, quality built product.
Thursday August 11 2022 The Star 29
Further Update on China’s
Position on Nancy Pelosi’s
Visit to Taiwan
On Aug.2, Speaker of the U.S.
House of Representatives Nancy
Pelosi, in total disregard of the
firm opposition and repeated
representations of the Chinese
side and with the condonement
and even arrangement of the U.S.
government, went ahead with the
visit to China’s Taiwan region.
Furthermore, the U.S. even began
to spread disinformation and
falsehoods, accusing China of
changing the status quo and fueling
the tension in the Taiwan Strait.
I would like to further share with
our New Zealand friends China’s
position on this question.
First, the reckless visit by the
U.S. seriously interfered in
China’s internal affairs, seriously
undermined China’s sovereignty,
and seriously jeopardized peace
and stability across the Taiwan
Strait. It is only natural that China
makes a firm response. China’s
military exercises are open,
transparent and professional.
They are consistent with domestic
and international laws, as well as
international practices. They are
aimed at sending a warning to the
perpetrator and punishing the
“Taiwan independence” forces.
We will firmly safeguard China’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity
and uphold the international law
and the basic norms governing
international relations, particularly
the principle of non-interference
in other countries’ internal affairs.
More than 170 countries and
international organizations have
so far spoken out, reaffirming their
firm commitment to the one-China
policy.
Secondly, Taiwan has never been
a country. There is only one China
in the world and both sides of
the Taiwan Strait belong to one
and the same China. This has
been the status quo of Taiwan
since ancient times. The China-
U.S. Joint Communiqué on the
Establishment of Diplomatic
Relations in 1978 clearly
underlined that the government
of the People’s Republic of China
is the sole legal government
representing the whole of China,
and Taiwan is a part of China.
This has been the status quo of
the Taiwan Strait for decades.
However, this status quo has been
broken by the United States and
the separatist forces in Taiwan.
Since 2000, the United States put
the so-called “Taiwan Relations
Act” it unilaterally concocted
before the three China-U.S. joint
communiqués and took out
the once-secretive so-called Six
Assurances to Taiwan and made
that part of its one-China policy.
Isn’t this blatantly changing the
status quo? Since the Democratic
Progressive Party took office
in Taiwan region, it has been
pushing for “incremental
Taiwan independence” and
“de-sinicization”, and trying to
create the false impression of
“two Chinas” or “one China, one
Taiwan” on various occasions. Isn’t
this blatantly changing the status
quo?
Thirdly, after serious disrupting
peace and stability in the Asia-
Pacific region, U.S. has begun to
expand its military deployment
in the region. The typical U.S.
playbook is to create a problem
first, and then use that problem
to achieve its own objective. All
parties should stay highly vigilant
against this. China will continue
to work with all regional partners
to safeguard peace and stability in
the Asia-Pacific region and jointly
oppose the US from creating
tensions and conflicts in our
common home.
The principle of non-interference
in other countries’ internal affairs
is the “golden rule” in international
relations. We appreciate all
countries’ understanding and
support of China’s position. At a
time when unilateral bullying is
rampant from time to time, the
international community should
form a clearer consensus and
make a stronger voice to jointly
uphold the basic norms governing
international relations and
international law, and safeguard
the legitimate rights and interests
of every country.
He Ying
Consul General of the People’s
Republic of China in Christchurch
This advertisement is paid for by the Chinese Consulate