The police Skoda Kodiaq has more interesting equipment than just the front frame. We went through the car and we know why it has four belts on the back seats

The Škoda Kodiaq is not new to the police, but it is the first police SUV to receive a special front protective frame, which finds its use every time a so-called PIT maneuver needs to be performed, i.e. to stop a speeding vehicle.

However, this model is not intended only for PIT, as its primary purpose is for so-called first-line patrols (and to a lesser extent also for traffic patrols), which are usually the first at the places of necessary intervention. In addition to regular patrol activities and vigilance over traffic safety, these trained first-line police officers intervene in extraordinary events such as a shooter in a cafe, a fight in front of a pub or even a terrorist attack.

From the outside, in addition to the front frame, the basic LED lights also attract attention, thanks to which the car crew can see better, especially at night. This is not standard on the Kodiaq, however, for the needs of the police, the daytime running lights were equipped with a switch, which will allow the patrol to stand with the car and the engine running without shining for miles.

The police special with tinted rear windows is also dotted with beacons, which can be found near the mask, on the fenders, behind the windshield, on the roof and at the back. The roof ramp even has side lights, which comes in handy when searching for different people.

In addition, using the remote control, the car crew can not only change the beacon mode to day/night or light up the STOP sign, for example, but can also use the built-in megaphone, thanks to which loud instructions can be given from the car to the outside – e.g. stop the vehicle, hands up, move apart, don’t crowd.

In the back, parking sensors and additional powerful lighting that can be switched on from the cabin still have their place. Whether for backing up or visual inspection of the rear while one policeman is waiting in the car and his colleague is dealing with a stopped person.

If we slip inside, we will find equipment corresponding to the basic Active specification of the time, so no luxury. On the other hand, there are already ergonomic seats equipped with a protective cover, the instrument panel is digital, the multimedia system supports mobile connectivity, the air conditioning offers manual control, the engine starts with a button and there is no lack of cruise control or rubber carpets.

But that’s about all that’s interesting from the factory equipment. Do not look for seat heating, digital climate control, armrests, windshield heating or other comfort elements here.

Among the police equipment in the interior, the car boasts a front and rear camera, a trunk divider and four belts at the back. This is due to the ability to strap a person in the back without the officer having to lean over the person, which could be dangerous in certain situations.

Furthermore, inside there is an additional rear-view mirror for checking people sitting in the back, a hammer for breaking windows, 12-volt and USB sockets, a 230-volt converter and additional independent lighting.

In the case of top-of-the-range Kodiaqs, the trunk is quite essential, where we can find the most interesting hardware. The contents of the trunk start with a safe for long weapons, because with a classic pistol you are practically powerless at longer distances.

Other equipment includes a fire extinguisher, an automatic defibrillator, a portable system for reading license plates using a camera and the subsequent lustration of vehicles (searches, lost TK, etc.), stop belt, ballistic vests, ballistic protectors including helmets, ballistic shield, criminal case for basic documentation at the crime scene and various documentation. It must be added that the contents of the trunk may differ for individual patrols.

No less interesting is the driving heart of the model, which is a two-liter turbo petrol with an output of 180 kW (245 hp) paired with a seven-speed automatic, which was otherwise reserved for the civilian Kodiaq RS model. There are also RS brakes, adaptive suspension or four-wheel drive, which, by the way, are ordinary steel discs with decorative covers.

Due to the possible operation in demanding conditions, the vehicles received additional protection of the chassis and drive train.

The police special Škoda Kodiaq can be described as a relatively decent vehicle, even if it is equipped with only basic elements, but compared to previous years, it is a leap forward in terms of police technology. On the other hand, it is actually still a serial car with retrofitted accessories, which in the end makes it more expensive. In the future, it would be interesting if police officers could use the program of various car companies (especially in the USA), which build police specials from the bare skeleton of the body.

We thank the Regional Directorate of the Police of the Hradec Králové Region and the policemen from Dvor Králové nad Labem for their cooperation, without whom this article would not have been created.