Skoda Karoq Review (2017-present)
Skoda Karoq cars for sale
5.0
Expert review
Pros
Very roomy and practical
Pleasant interior
Comfortable on the road
Cons
Slightly bland styling
Some issues with 1.5 petrol engine
Some rivals are more fun
The CarGurus verdict
It's a shame about the issue with the 1.5-litre engine, as otherwise there is very little to put anyone off buying a Skoda Karoq.
A Seat Ateca may be sharper to drive, and the Volkswagen T-Roc may attract more envious looks on the school run. But as an all-rounder, the Karoq is about as good as family SUVs get.
It's good value, whether you are buying new or used. The Skoda drives well, too, with neat handling and a composed ride.
The cabin is extremely well made, so much so that the finish puts the more expensive T-Roc to shame. Practicality is excellent, with plenty of storage and lots of head- and legroom. Even tall adults can travel in the back with room to spare.
Most cars come with the Varioflex seating system, which makes it easy to make the most of all the cabin space, whether your priority is passenger or luggage space. With or without Varioflex, the large boot is very practical.
The Karoq may not be the most exciting car to look at, but it's a great car to live with.
What is the Skoda Karoq?
Skoda launched the Karoq SUV in 2017. It plugged the gap in the range left when the Yeti was discontinued, but the new car was too big to be considered a direct replacement.
In the Skoda range, then, the Karoq fits between the smaller Kamiq and the larger Kodiaq – all three of them SUVs. It offers the raised driving position that SUV buyers enjoy, as well as lots of features to boost practicality.
How practical is it?
The Czech car maker has put the extra length and width to good use. There's lots of space inside, with excellent headroom and legroom in the front seats and in the back as well. Adults can fit in the back with room to spare, even if there's somebody tall sat in front of them.
In entry-level cars, the rear seats split and fold much as you'd expect of a regular hatchback's. As an option on the SE and SE Drive models, and standard on the SE L specification and above (except for the Sportline), the Karoq has Varioflex rear seats. These are three individual rear seats rather than a bench, and each side slides, folds or can be removed completely to give a huge 1810 litres of luggage space.
Boot space is generous with the seats in place, too, with 479-588 litres of room, depending on the position of the Varioflex rear seats. In Karoqs with fixed rear seats, the boot capacity is 521 litres. Those figures compare very well with a Nissan Qashqai's 430 litres of luggage room.
What's it like to drive?
Practicality is certainly a strong point, and the Skoda makes a very good family car. The Karoq is good to drive, too, especially if you choose one of the 4x4 versions. Not only do these have extra traction thanks to being all-wheel drive, they also have more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension which improves the Karoq's ride and handling. On bumpy roads, two-wheel-drive cars don't feel as taut or controlled at the rear, but they still ride well by class standards.
If you are looking for fun, though, you're better off with the Mazda CX-5 or Seat Ateca, which have been set up for a more sporty drive. The Karoq majors on quiet and comfort rather than entertainment.
There's a choice of petrol and diesel engines. The entry-level petrol is a 113bhp 1.0-litre TSI. Don't be put off by the modest power output, because it's surprisingly lively. However, for regular long journeys the 148bhp 1.5 TSI petrol is better. For near hot-hatch performance, there's the 187bhp 2.0-litre TSI with 4x4 and the DSG auto.
There are three diesels, with a 113bhp 1.6-litre TDI for the best mpg figures and a 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel for better performance and the option of four-wheel drive. The most powerful diesel is the 187bhp 2.0-litre TDI, which is always matched to a 4x4 drivetrain.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
Most Karoq engines are available with a choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The exceptions are the most powerful petrol and diesel engines, which always have the DSG auto 'box.
Every engine and specification comes with a long list of safety equipment, contributing to a five-star rating from the safety gurus at Euro NCAP. Driver aids such as Lane Assist and Blind Spot Detection are options on some spec levels, and standard on others, while automatic emergency braking is standard across the board.
Skoda has included lots of connectivity features in the Karoq. The top-spec Columbus sat nav and infotainment system can be ordered with an LTE module to allow high-speed internet access within the car. As well as online access through the touchscreen, with the optional WLAN hotspot passengers can access the web through their tablets and smartphones. That's not the only party trick if you specify Columbus infotainment. Gesture control allows drivers to move between menu pages using a right-to-left swiping motion without pressing the touchscreen.
Whether you are thinking of a new Skoda Karoq or a used example, Skoda's five-seat SUV makes a great buy.
Skoda Karoq running costs
Diesels may not be as popular as they were, but in the absence of a hybrid or plug-in hybrid version, the TDI engines are the ones to choose if fuel economy is your priority.
Tested to the WLTP standard, which gives more realistic fuel economy figures than the old NEDC protocol, the 113bhp 1.6 TDI manual achieves 47.1-52.3mpg. With the DSG auto, it can return 44.8-47.9mpg.
Go for the 148bhp 2.0 TDI manual with two-wheel drive, and the official figures suggest an economy of 47.1-52.3mpg, so there's no difference between the 113 and 148bhp engines. Things are different if you pick the 4x4 DSG, which returns 39.8-43.5mpg. The 187bhp diesel is slightly less economical, with an official combined figure of 39.8-41.5mpg.
The most economical petrol is the basic 1.0 TSI manual, which can achieve 39.8-44.8mpg. However, its advantage over the 1.5 TSI manual is tiny, since this can return 39.2-44.8mpg.
Unsurprisingly, the powerful 2.0 TSI 4x4 DSG is the thirstiest Karoq, with an official combined figure of 32.1-33.2mpg.
The Skoda Karoq's service intervals are once a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes sooner. Interim services and major services alternate.
By the standards of Skoda's parent company, the Volkswagen Group, prices for servicing and maintenance are pretty reasonable. At the time of writing (autumn 2020) Skoda is offering 0% finance to help spread the cost of servicing.
Even so, you can expect to save money by having services carried out at an independent garage.
Skoda Karoq reliability
Strong showings in recent reliability studies suggest the Karoq should be a pretty dependable choice. It came 9th out of 28 family SUVs included in the What Car? Reliability Survey with an impressive 96.5 per cent, and came 18th overall in the Auto Express Driver Power study scoring 89.6 per cent.
The biggest concern is that a number of owners have complained that the 1.5-litre petrol isn't as smooth as it should be at low speeds, particularly when matched to the manual gearbox. The car can 'kangaroo' rather than building speed cleanly, especially when the engine is cold. A software update was released in the spring of 2020 to fix the problem. However, some owners remain unhappy with the car even after the 'fix' has been applied.
Otherwise it seems there's very little to worry about. Most problems that do occur are minor and can be fixed quickly and should be covered under warranty for the first three years/60,000 miles.
There have been a handful of recalls. One relates to a possible defect in the driver's airbag housing, which may prevent the airbag from inflating in an accident. This applies to cars made between January and August 2018.
Another concerns the development of cracks in the driver's seat mounting. Models affected by this recall were made in January 2019.
To check if any used Karoq you are thinking of buying has any outstanding recall work, just go to the recall checker on the gov.uk website and enter the car's reg number.
- The Skoda Karoq Scout is a more rugged looking version of the Karoq, with some purposeful bumpers, chunkier wheel arches, and other styling changes for those who find the standard car's styling a bit too bland. Every Scout is a true 4x4, and there's the choice of the 148bhp or 187bhp 2.0 TDI engines. If you want a Karoq with the off-road capability to go with the looks, the off-road package includes an engine guard and stone guard. Inside, Skoda has fitted LED ambient lighting, aluminium pedals, and seats with the Scout logo embroidered in the fabric.
- In 2022, the Karoq had a minor facelift. Styling tweaks were minimal, but improved aerodynamics led to increased fuel economy. At the same time as the facelift was introduced, Skoda eliminated the slow-selling SE version from the range, as well as the 187bhp petrol and diesel versions.
- The 1.5-litre TSI engine uses Active Cylinder Technology. This cuts out two- of the four cylinders under light loads. It works at engine speeds of 1,400-4,000rpm and at speeds of up to 70mph. As the engine doesn't cut out completely it's hard to notice when driving, and the engine seamlessly returns to four-cylinder running when needed. Skoda says the system can save up to 0.5 litres of fuel per 100km of driving, which is equivalent to around 1/9 of a gallon every 62.15 miles. The exact fuel saving will vary depending on the road conditions and driving style.
- If you want a sporty Karoq: Choose the 2.0 TSI DSG 4x4 Sportline. While you can have the Sportline trim with a variety of engines, the most powerful petrol gives it the bite to go with the bark. With a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds, it's the fastest accelerating Karoq. Sportline trim comes with black styling details, a three-spoke steering wheel, sports seats, and 19-inch anthracite alloy wheels.
- If you want the best all-rounder: Choose the 148bhp 2.0 TDI. This is the sweet spot in the range, with punchy performance and good economy, all at a reasonable price. For most drivers, the front-wheel-drive version is all you really need and more economical than the all-wheel-drive version, but the 4x4 is better to drive and makes a fine car for towing a caravan or trailer.
- If you mostly drive around town: There's no need to look beyond the entry-level 113bhp 1.0 TSI SE. The 1.0-litre petrol is a very willing and characterful engine, and it doesn't feel overstretched when powering the Karoq. For a petrol engine it's very economical, and although better suited to an urban environment than the open road, it's not out of its depth on A-roads and motorways. SE trim may be the most basic of the trim levels, but it comes with cruise control, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
- If you prefer petrol to diesel: Pick the 1.5 TSI. The cylinder deactivation system means it's only a little thirstier than the 1.0 TSI, but it's considerably quicker. There's enough punch for relaxed overtaking. Although it can't match the 2.0 TDI for fuel economy, it's capable of respectable MPG figures, especially when driven gently.
