Sunday Drive Brief: Big-GTI Energy in a Skoda, Paris Teasers, and a Time‑Capsule BMW

I brewed a strong coffee, thumbed through today’s feeds, and found three stories that belong together like gears in a good five-speed: a hot-leaning family hauler that thinks it’s a hatch, a pair of retro-meets-future reveals lining up for Paris, and a perfectly preserved slice of 1977 Bavaria. Different eras, same itch: cars that make you want to take the long way home.

Skoda Kodiaq vRS: The “Big Golf GTI” You Can Pack a Life Into

Autocar’s Sunday-drive dispatch about a Kodiaq vRS hit me right in the enthusiast-parent cortex. It’s the familiar refrain: “big Golf GTI.” And honestly, that’s always been the Kodiaq vRS’s party trick. The last time I drove one on a battered B-road, it surprised me—neat body control for the size, quick steering that didn’t feel nervous, and that easy Volkswagen Group confidence when you lean on AWD out of a damp corner.

History check: earlier Kodiaq vRSes flirted with both torquey diesel and later turbo-petrol power. Either way, the recipe is consistent—useful pace without the shout, a cabin that doesn’t shout either, and “Simply Clever” bits that make daily life…less daily. I’ve shoved a stroller, a week’s groceries, and a folding bike back there and still had room for my dignity.

What stands out on the road

• Medium-firm ride with grown-up damping—keeps the big body tidy, doesn’t punish over expansion joints.
• Steering that’s light in town and reassuring at speed. Not telepathic, but predictable.
• AWD traction that makes wet roundabouts and alpine hairpins feel like the easy parts of the trip.
• Brakes that fade less than you’d expect on a long downhill if you’re smooth with them.

Everyday livability (the reason you buy it)

• Family logistics: available seven seats, square cargo area, low load height. It swallows ski bags, IKEA flat-packs, and the odd Labrador.
• Cabin sanity: big physical storage, the famous door-bin bottle holders, and that pop-out umbrella that’s saved me at least twice.
• Tech quirks: infotainment can be a touch laggy on cold starts, and some climate functions hide a tap or two too deep. You acclimate.

Hot hatch versus hot family bus: who’s it for?

Bottom line: if your weekends look like “kids, kit, and a winding detour,” the vRS nails the brief. It won’t talk your ear off like a GTI, but it’ll quietly get you there faster than the map suggests.

Paris Motor Show Teasers: A New 2CV and a New Smart

Autocar also teed up two crowd-pleasers slated for the Paris motor show: a reborn 2CV and a new Smart. That’s catnip to anyone who’s ever loved simplicity—or efficient city cars that don’t feel like compromises.

The 2CV bit is deliciously symbolic. The original was the world’s friendliest hammer: light, lanky suspension, seats like café chairs, and engineering so honest you could fix it with the tool roll and a baguette for morale. If the modern reboot channels even half of that minimalism—preferably with modest weight and smart packaging—it could be a rare EV (or hybrid) that feels joyful at 30 mph, not just fast at 60.

Smart, meanwhile, has been rebuilding itself as an all-electric urban brand. If the Paris-bound model leans smaller than the #1 and #3, we might finally get a city car that understands Europe’s old-town streets and modern charging realities. Two doors, four doors—doesn’t matter as much as clever space, intuitive tech, and durable materials that don’t mind daily scuffs.

What I’ll be looking for on the show floor

• Weight and packaging: light-by-design beats heavy-with-big-battery for urban range and fun.
• Charging honesty: realistic peak rates and usable 10–80% times matter more than headline kW.
• Ride quality: supple springs, tall sidewalls—Parisian cobbles remain undefeated.
• Character: modern safety, yes; but keep the 2CV’s smile and Smart’s park-anywhere superpower.

Retro is a tightrope. Do it right and you get timeless; do it wrong and you get cosplay. Paris will tell us which way the wind blows.

Time Capsule on Wheels: 1977 BMW E21 with 9,000 Miles

From Carscoops comes a rare treat: a 1977 BMW E21 3 Series—just 9K miles and apparently frozen in amber. The E21 is the hinge point between classic and modern BMW: slim pillars, a driver-angled dash, honest ergonomics, and that delightful “talk to me” front end on a country road.

I last hustled an E21 on a warm evening, windows down, the kind of road that demands momentum rather than muscle. That’s the secret: you don’t need triple-digit horsepower to feel alive. The steering’s unfiltered, the manual shifts with a clean, faintly mechanical notch, and the whole car seems to exhale when you stop over-driving it.

Why low miles matter—and when they don’t

• Preservation: original trim textures, switchgear feel, and period-correct details tell a cooler story than restorations ever do.
• Mechanical reality: long sleeps can dry out seals and bushings; plan a recommission with fluids, rubber, and fuel system checked.
• Driving payoff: keep the stock tire sizes and geometry—skinny rubber is half the charm.

Whether it ends up in a collection or used sparingly on Sunday mornings, a survivor E21 is a reminder that feedback, not outright speed, is the thing we miss most in modern cars.

Quick Takeaways

• Skoda’s Kodiaq vRS continues to make a strong case as the hot-hatch mindset for people with stuff and people to carry.
• Paris could be the show where “less but better” returns to small cars—watch the 2CV and Smart reveals for proof.
• A 9K-mile E21 is more than a museum piece; it’s a masterclass in why light, simple cars still tug at the heart.

Conclusion

From fast family haulers to featherweight icons—today’s mix proves enthusiasm wears many shapes. If the Kodiaq vRS is the car you take when life’s messy, the 2CV and Smart might be the cars that make city life simpler, and that E21? That’s the one that teaches you, all over again, how a steering wheel is supposed to feel.

FAQ

• Is the Skoda Kodiaq vRS a true performance SUV?
  It’s more “rapidly competent” than “track toy.” Think sure‑footed pace, tidy body control, and real-world speed, not lap times.
• Will the new 2CV be electric?
  Autocar’s teaser didn’t confirm specs. Given market trends in Europe, an electrified setup is likely, but details will have to wait for the Paris reveal.
• What should I check on a low-mile classic like a 1977 BMW E21?
  Rubber components (hoses, belts, bushings), fuel system varnish, brake hydraulics, and tires by age, not just tread. Budget for a thorough recommission.
• How does a Kodiaq vRS compare to a Golf GTI for daily use?
  The GTI is smaller and friskier; the Kodiaq vRS trades some cheekiness for space, AWD assurance, and long-trip ease.
• Are Smart’s new models all-electric now?
  Smart has transitioned to an EV-focused lineup in recent years. Expect the Paris-bound model to continue that direction, with specifics to be confirmed at the show.