What are the buttons inside the Kodiaq?

[CassidyRose]

Center console buttons: 1. Electronic Stability Program (ESP): Effectively prevents body skidding, fishtailing, and other loss-of-control situations. It is generally not recommended for drivers to manually turn it off. 2. Parking radar: This button activates the panoramic camera and radar function, providing audible alerts and visual feedback to help the driver detect surrounding obstacles. 3. Auto Hold: At traffic lights, this feature relieves foot fatigue by automatically locking the wheels with the brake calipers. Pressing the accelerator triggers the wheel unlock, allowing the vehicle to continue moving. 4. Auto Start-Stop: During brief stops, the engine will shut off. Releasing the brake pedal allows the vehicle to move forward again. 5. Recirculation/Fresh Air: The difference between recirculation and fresh air modes is that recirculation uses air from inside the vehicle, while fresh air mode brings in outside air to replace the existing cabin air. Use recirculation in heavy traffic or poor air quality environments. On highways, switch to fresh air mode every hour or so to replenish oxygen levels inside the cabin. 6. Temperature Zone Sync: With this feature enabled, adjusting the driver's side temperature will automatically adjust all other zones to the same setting. Disabling this allows each zone to be set individually, catering to the preferences of passengers in different seats.

[BrynleeRose]

Sitting in the Kodiaq's driver seat, the first thing you notice is the densely packed buttons on the steering wheel. On the left are the cruise control buttons for adjusting speed and following distance, which also integrate volume controls. The right side houses the multimedia control area, allowing easy access to track skipping and phone calls. Below the central touchscreen, the climate control panel features physical knobs for adjusting temperature and fan speed—super convenient, even when wearing gloves in winter, with front/rear defroster buttons nearby. The gearshift area is even busier, hosting the electronic parking brake, auto hold (AUTOHOLD), engine start-stop, and drive mode selection. Overhead, the sunroof control panel includes reading light switches and an emergency SOS button. The door panel contains side mirror adjustment/folding knobs, window locks, and a hidden power tailgate release button in the storage compartment—all daily essentials.

[MacKate]

The button layout of the Kodiaq is quite well-designed. Behind the steering wheel, there are hidden paddle shifters—just flick them when you want to drive in manual mode. The most prominent feature on the center console is the hazard warning triangle button, which you can press immediately in case of an emergency. On the air conditioning panel, there's a SYNC button that synchronizes the dual-zone temperature, so the passenger doesn’t need to adjust it separately. To the right of the gear lever area, you’ll find buttons for hill descent control and automatic parking, which are very practical for beginners. Notice the headlight height adjustment roller and the ESC off button (don’t press this randomly) at the lower left of the instrument panel. The door handle has a keyless entry button inside, and the glove compartment even has a cooling function knob—a thoughtful touch for enjoying cold drinks in summer.

[LincolnLee]

Familiarizing yourself with the buttons before driving the Kodiaq is essential. The left stalk on the steering wheel controls the wipers: push forward to spray washer fluid, pull backward to adjust speed. The right stalk manages turn signals and front/rear fog lights. Two rows of buttons below the center screen handle seat heating/ventilation and steering wheel heating—winter must-haves. The gearshift area has driving assist system switches for one-touch activation of radar and camera monitoring. Adjustable cup holders and a 12V power outlet are hidden in front of the armrest. Small knobs near the B-pillar air vents let you adjust rear temperature—easier than reaching for the screen. The mirrors auto-tilt when reversing (set via the center screen). If the buttons seem overwhelming, just memorize the frequently used ones.

[MorganAnn]

The buttons in the Kodiaq are like musical instrument keys, each with its own function. The star button at the bottom right of the steering wheel is a customizable function key, which I set to quickly launch navigation. The most noticeable red start-stop button on the center console allows you to turn off the engine directly in traffic for a more comfortable ride without vibrations. The CLEAN AIR button in the air conditioning area is worth pressing, as it reduces the PM2.5 level inside the car within minutes. The electronic parking brake button should be engaged when the engine is off, and it automatically releases when you press the accelerator to start. There's a key sensing area in the small storage compartment next to the gear lever, allowing the car to start even if the key is out of battery. The panoramic sunroof button: push it all the way forward to tilt the rear of the sunroof for ventilation, and pull it backward to open it completely. Remember to close the inner sunshade during heavy rain.

[MacRylee]

After using the Kodiaq for half a year, I found these buttons are frequently used: The four window control buttons on the driver's door panel are essential; long-pressing the voice button on the steering wheel with the left thumb can call up the car assistant; the REAR button in the air conditioning area controls the independent rear air conditioning switch; flipping down the sun visor side warning light provides face lighting for makeup touch-ups; the left scroll wheel behind the steering wheel adjusts the dashboard brightness; the right mirror's downward tilt function when reversing requires setting the angle while in reverse gear and saving it. The USB port is located in the lower part of the center console, and connecting to CarPlay for navigation is more user-friendly than the car's native system. The tailgate sensor area is under the rear bumper for kick-to-open, which is especially handy when your hands are full with groceries.