SPORTY ALL-ROUNDER
Skoda adds an SUV with hot-hatch credentials to the fleet
Skoda’s new Karoq Sportline is made for the couple that’s starting a family but not quite ready to settle down.
They may have reluctantly decided to trade in the hot hatch but they’re not willing to settle for bland family transport.
It’s a similar formula to Volkswagen’s new TRoc. Under the bonnet is an engine with enough power to have once qualified as a hot hatch, while the cabin has enough luxury and technology to impress the neighbours.
As a bonus, it comes in a practical, spacious package that performs family-freighting duties better than most rivals. It also has all-wheel drive for tackling dirt roads and beach trails.
Priced at a whisker under $40,000, the
Karoq Sportline isn’t cheap, and if you want all the goodies, the outlay will be more than $50,000 once you get it on the road.
For that you get a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo that delivers a healthy 140kW and 320Nm, enough to propel the SUV to 100km/h in about seven seconds.
Visually differentiating it from the cheaper 110TSI model are LED headlights, 19-inch black alloy wheels, unique front and rear bumpers, badges and tinted windows. The grille, side mirrors and roof rails are finished in black.
Inside, the Sportline oozes quality, from the crystal clear centre screen to the digital readout in front of the driver that can be configured to individual tastes.
Toggle through the menu and you’ll find gsensor and power readouts, as well as a lap-timer for the weekend track warriors. If four-wheeldriving is more your style there are off-road specific displays in a separate menu, while trick electronics allow the Karoq to shift drive between front and rear axles as well as individual wheels to give you maximum traction.
Sporty touches include a flat-bottomed, perforated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, snug cloth sports seats, stainless steel pedals and a splash of carbon fibre trim.
Satnav, a premium sound system, digital radio and wireless charging are available in the $4100 tech pack.
The Sportline also has different drive modes, allowing the driver to select more aggressive, steering, throttle and gear change settings. Adaptive suspension is bundled in the $2600 travel pack along with blind-spot detection, lane assist and other driver assistance tech. You can choose between comfort, normal and sport or mix and match settings.
On a test run up a winding mountain pass laced with tight hairpins, the Sportline displayed tenacious grip and impressive poise. The steering is well weighted and responsive, the suspension does a great job of ironing out road wrinkles and the low-down torque, combined with the traction of all-wheel-drive, allows you to punch out of corners quickly and cleanly.
Skoda has added a sound generator to amplify engine noise in the cabin but, save for the occasional throttle blip on downshifts, it doesn’t sound particularly menacing. Some may even find it irritating. If they do, it can be turned off.
Despite its performance the Sportline is respectably frugal. The fuel use claim is 6.9L/100km and we saw mid 7s on a combination of city, freeway and back road driving.
Around town, the Sportline is relatively easy to live with, soaking up most bumps and road imperfections without fuss. The only real gripe is the twin-clutch auto’s tendency to hesitate if you’re off and on the throttle quickly.