Hyundai Santa Fe v Mazda CX-8 v Skoda Kodiaq 2018 Comparison

As Australian family transport needs evolve, so too have the cars that are designed to meet them – just look at the Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-8 and Skoda Kodiaq on test as prime examples.

From the days when local car-makers recognised that having a six-seat, full-size sedan on fleet was a prerequisite to sales success, we now find that requirement substituted by the need to have as many SUVs as possible in the range.

Who would have thought, a few decades ago, that the Australian market would have shaped itself into the SUV-centric form we see today?
And what, exactly, makes these cars so desirable that people can’t get enough of them?

With this vision in mind, we assembled three vehicles that are perfect reflections of where the family car market is at today. They are a far cry from the Kingswoods, Falcons and Valiants that once decorated suburban driveways, but they still have the same purpose: to fulfil the perceived (and real) needs of Australian families.

And, because the vehicles chosen are all crispy-fresh arrivals in the marketplace, they represent the cutting edge of what’s available in the sub-$70K large SUV segment.

The vehicles are Hyundai’s very latest Santa Fe, introduced in July 2018, the new Mazda CX-8, another 2018 arrival that sits a touch below big-brother CX-9 size-wise and price-wise, and Skoda’s first seven-seat SUV, the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace-based Kodiaq that launched in May 2017.

Apart from many other things, the big gain is that these are seven-seat passenger vehicles – seating one more than the old-school family sedans – while also offering station wagon-style versatility.

What we are on about here is establishing which of the three vehicles is fundamentally superior, especially in terms of packaging functionality, but also in terms of safety, quality and comfort. Because of a disparity in drivelines (2WD and AWD), the on-road dynamics – though considered – weren’t directly comparable.

Although all compete directly for a share of the sub-$70k Large SUV segment, the driveline disparities, and even the overall sizes, give each vehicle its own identity: The Hyundai Santa Fe, generally, is the biggest and heaviest, the Skoda Kodiaq the smallest (and possibly the smartest), while the long and skinny Mazda CX-8 sits somewhere in between.

There are also differences in model portfolios: Before considering on-road costs, the all-AWD Hyundai Santa Fe spans a price range from $43,000 for the base aspirated petrol Active to $60,500 for the turbo-diesel Highlander. The 2WD or AWD diesel-only Mazda CX-8 begins at $42,490 for the 2WD Sport variant tested here, and finishes at $61,490 for the AWD Asaki. The all-AWD Skoda Kodiaq range starts at $42,990 for the base turbo-petrol 132TSI and tops out at $52,990 for the Sportline 140TDI turbo-diesel featured here.

Our choice was to compare diesels, which we did, but availability limitations meant we drove entry-level Santa Fe and CX-8 models (meaning our Mazda was front-drive), where the top-spec Kodiaq Sportline was more complete, in terms of fit-out. A point of interest is that, even with the optional $3400 luxury pack (fitted to our test Kodiaq Sportline), its price still comes in well below the premium versions of Santa Fe and CX-8.

And, though baseline petrol Hyundai and Skoda are similarly priced, the step-up from petrol to diesel is $3000 in the Santa Fe and a steep $6000 in the Kodiaq. Mazda asks an extra $4000 to upgrade the CX-8 from 2WD to AWD.

Clearly all three are patently family vehicles. At a pinch, it would be possible to accommodate mum, dad and five kids – though you’d be needing a roof rack to tote the luggage.

And although all closely approximated each other in first and second-row legroom, there was a pecking order when it came to the third row: In terms of space, the Hyundai was marginally the best here with good legroom – a bit ahead of the Mazda which, in turn, was a bit better than the Skoda. Cabin width was comparable in all three, while toe-space was pretty equal between Hyundai and Skoda, and a bit tighter in the Mazda. The Hyundai’s headroom was the tightest, by a small but noticeable margin.

Accessing the nethermost regions was something else. Here the Santa Fe easily scored top marks with a single-button push that tipped-forward the centre-row backrest while simultaneously sliding the seat forward. The CX-8 and the Kodiaq required two movements: One to tip the centre-row backrest, then another to slide the whole seat forward. The Mazda was slightly smoother to operate than the Skoda.

As for first and second-row passengers, no car elicited any complaints. The 4.9m length of the Mazda (more than Hyundai and Skoda) didn’t bring any noticeable improvements in front-to-rear stretching space, but its skinny body did tend to eat into shoulder room, if not into luggage-area loading width.

A point that brings advantages and disadvantages is the Hyundai’s spare wheel. It might be a full-size alloy, but it drops down from the exposed underside. Mazda and Skoda bring their spare wheels inside – but they are both space-savers.

Towing? All three quote a braked capacity of 2000kg, which makes small caravans a comfortable possibility.

As detailed earlier, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mazda CX-8 and Skoda Kodiaq begin at roughly the same price, but are differently specified.

On this occasion the Mazda CX-8 Sport was the cheapest but still had AWD to come.

The $46,000 Hyundai Santa Fe Active diesel was pretty much the compete deal apart from a lack of sat-nav, LED headlights, powered seats and climate control. It was well-favoured with electronic safety aids including high and low-speed autonomous emergency braking (AEB) in forward and reverse, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with active assist and rear cross-traffic alert.

The front-wheel drive Mazda CX-8 Sport scored well for safety with high and low-speed AEB, and most of the Hyundai’s safety tech, apart from lane-keep assist and blind-spot active assist. But it did add active pedestrian avoidance. At this level it lacked powered and heated seats but did include sat-nav, LED headlights and climate-control, all missing in the base Hyundai.

Our Kodiaq’s luxury pack added – to the standard low-speed AEB and adaptive cruise control – lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, as well as a long list of extra creature comforts such as power front seats, all-round seat heating and 360 degree parking camera. LED headlights and self-parking were included too.

Just as we were putting this comparison test to bed, Mazda sprung a surprise by announcing a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty that lifted it into equality with its competitors.

The servicing deals are pretty similar too: According to our research, all three will cost between $1000 and $1400 for three years of servicing. Mazda is cheapest at just over $1000, Skoda is dearest at $1400 and the Hyundai sits almost smack-dab in the middle.

If size is your thing, the Hyundai Santa Fe offers the best deal. It’s marginally better than Mazda and Skoda in cabin width and the luggage area tends to be wider and higher too.

The quoted, all-seats-up boot space of 547 litres betters Mazda (209 litres) and Skoda (270 litres) although, at a claimed 2005 litres, the Skoda has the best maximum load-toting, with the Santa Fe and CX-8 following at 1625 litres and 742 litres respectively (see our video for more info).

The punchiness of the Santa Fe’s 147kW/440Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is quite remarkable, more than the specifications suggest, and the eight-speed automatic means there’s rarely a problem finding the appropriate ratio for the occasion.

The Mazda CX-8 might come with expectations that it’s going to feel like a slightly-scaled-down CX-9 on the road: The reality is that its reduced width and bulk liken it more to a scaled-up CX-5, with which it shares an awful lot.

It’s the best of the three over bumpy roads, but is noticeably compromised by its front-drive configuration on this test. The 140kW/450Nm 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel is the quietest though, and the six-speed automatic transmission an efficient, smooth shifter, snappy through the changes.

At 5.7L/100km and 150g/km respectively, it also quotes superior fuel economy and CO2 emissions figures. The official figures for the Hyundai are 7.5L/100km and 198g/km, while the Skoda quotes 5.9L/100km and 157g/km.

Typically Mazda, the CX-8, even the base Sport version, presents a quality-feel interior with plenty of soft-touch surfaces, intuitive sat-nav and infotainment connectivity controls, a neat USB set-up in the rear centre armrest and comfortable, supportive seats.

Similar to the Hyundai, the Mazda CX-8, even at base level, responsibly addresses safety and gets a five-star ANCAP safety rating: As mentioned, it comes with standard AEB, in forward (high and low-speed) and reverse, as well as pedestrian avoidance, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, rear cross-
traffic alert and adaptive cruise control.

The unquestionably-Euro Skoda Kodiaq, true to the company’s “Simply Clever” maxim, is replete with smart ideas including the pop-out protectors that activate as the doors are opened, umbrellas stored in the front-door armrests, an in-built rubbish bag attached to the front passenger storage bin, an LED torch in the boot and the second-row headrest “wings” that can be adjusted to provide extra lateral head support.

The Kodiaq has a calm, composed manner on the road too. The 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre Volkswagen group four-cylinder turbo-diesel, though a little laggy off the mark, delivers adequate power through the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and there’s a nice air of refinement in the way it drives; it handles in an assuring way, with excellent body control and strong road grip. It’s quiet inside and, with the inclusion of Skoda’s voice enhancement system, conversations can be had comfortably, even at cruising speeds.

Even though Hyundai has taken positive steps to upgrade perceived quality across most of its range, with particular reference to the interiors, there’s still an – arguably subtle – air of sub-par about the Santa Fe.

The use of some cheap-looking plastic trim, particularly in the dash, and the prevalence of hard, easily-scuffed surfaces in the load area is disappointing. And, even though the previous Santa Fe rated five safety stars previously, we’ll have to wait for the ANCAP scores on the new one.

Mazda’s CX-8 will appeal to those who want a large, turbo-diesel Mazda SUV, but it is dynamically compromised, in base form, by being a front-driver. The step up to AWD does bring added all-round security but it is expensive, adds weight and doesn’t help fuel consumption or emissions.

Surprisingly, the Skoda Kodiaq’s cleverness also compromises it in some ways. One example is the complexity of unveiling the (space-saver) spare and the stashed-away roller-blind luggage cover in the boot through layers of often peculiarly-shaped, hard plastic panels. It’s as annoying as that hard-to-access third-row seat and the lack (like the Mazda) of venting to third-row passengers, who are properly considered in the Hyundai.

If there was ever a difficult decision to make in a three-car comparison, this one rates near the top of the list.

We were left admiring the internal packaging of the Hyundai Sana Fe, its performance and its on-road composure, while the neatly-contrived Mazda CX-8 impressed with its cosy, ergonomic interior and its quiet, punchy and economical turbo-diesel engine.

The unarguably clever, impeccably-mannered Skoda Kodiaq does everything well too, from the driving experience to the way its designers clearly think about the little things that seem to escape other car-makers.

In the end though it was the intelligently matured, fourth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe that won our vote. It scored at or near the top in every important consideration. Although there would be no shame having any of these new-generation budget-priced family cars parked in your driveway, it’s the commodious, capable and responsible Hyundai Santa Fe that makes most sense.

How much does a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Active CRDi AWD cost?
Price: $46,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 147kW/440Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 198g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: See text

How much does a 2018 Mazda CX-8 Sport SKYACTIV-D FWD cost?
Price: $42,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/450Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 5.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 150g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

How much does a 2018 Skoda Kodiaq 140TDI Sportline 4x4 cost?
Price: $52,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/400Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 5.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 157g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star-star ANCAP