Skoda Karoq
Our current favourite mid-size SUV puts up a strong challenge to any newcomer
MODELTESTED: Skoda Karoq 1.6 TDI 115 SE L PRICE: £25,575 ENGINE: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 113bhp
THE Skoda Karoq is our reigning mid-size SUV champ, having knocked the Peugeot off its perch. But can the Karoq remain king, or do the 3008 and revised Tucson have what it takes to reign supreme? We test a £25,575 1.6 TDI Karoq SE L to find out.
Design & engineering
MORE and more models from the VW Group (Skoda’s parent company) are based on the firm’s modular MQB platform, and the Karoq is no different. Like the Peugeot’s EMP2 architecture, this uses sections in its chassis that are standardised, so common parts can be used. In this case, the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel unit is a common part, as well as the gearbox that sends drive to the front wheels only in our test car.
This powertrain means there are Macpherson struts suspending the front end and a torsion beam at the rear on this two-wheel-drive model.
Four-wheel drive isn’t available with this 1.6 TDI, but a DSG dual-clutch auto is for £1,300 extra. You can go for Peugeot’s latest eight-speed auto on the 3008 for £1,300, but there’s no automatic gearbox available on the lower-powered 1.6 CRDI Tucson.
The Karoq gets a six-speed transmission to match its test rivals, and although our performance figures are for the DSG auto (as shown in our pictures), the manual offers easily the best gearchange of the trio.
The cabin beats the Tucson for visual appeal and quality, too, because the Skoda offers a slick, reserved functionality to its design, with solid but soft materials and excellent build. There’s a commensurate level of kit and tech, with an eight-inch infotainment unit featuring nav, DAB, Bluetooth, Apple Carplay and Android Auto, plus services such as live traffic info.
On top of this you also get Alcantara trim, cruise control, a rear-view camera that’s accompanied by front and rear parking sensors, heated seats, keyless operation and climate control.
Go for the manual and there’s just £230 difference between the Karoq and the Tucson in the Hyundai’s favour, but for this small amount extra you get much more equipment in a higher-quality environment in the Skoda. In fact, the level of kit on offer matches the Peugeot’s and highlights how affordable the Karoq is, because the 3008 costs £1,625 more.
Driving
THE Karoq is characterised by its sharper responses. Compared with the soft, lethargic-feeling Tucson, the Skoda seems alert and more alive. The steering is more accurate than the Hyundai’s and better weighted than the light set-up in the Peugeot. It’s matched by a chassis that delivers a greater level of agility, because the slightly firmer suspension than in both rivals means there’s less roll and more comfort in corners as a result, thanks to the chassis remaining flatter.
Despite the extra control to the damping, it doesn’t feel harsh or overly firm. In fact, the suspension doesn’t drop into big depressions harshly like the 3008 sometimes does. It’s a little less settled than the other cars on washboard-like undulations, but the control is still there and it doesn’t feel too stiff.
The engine is loud and less refined than the units in its rivals. However, performance is acceptable, even though the VW Group’s 1.6 TDI isn’t the best offering. Our performance figures are for a DSG model, and the 11.3-second 0-60mph time shows the Karoq is competitive. But while its in-gear times were comparable, this is a seven-speed model and the performance would be slightly more sluggish in the six-speed manual.
The car’s strengths lie in its balance of ride and handling rather than its engine, but this drawback isn’t too great to dent the appeal unduly.
Practicality
THE space and flexibility is a real strength of the Karoq. SE L trim gets flexible seating, so the rear seats slide forward or backward to prioritise luggage or legroom.
With the seats up the boot varies from a competitive 479 litres to an impressive 588 litres. Drop them down and there’s 1,810 litres of load volume, making this the biggest vehicle on test. It’s also the roomiest, with more leg and headroom than the 3008 in particular.
Skoda’s typically pragmatic approach to interior design means there are lots of storage areas and some clever touches that’ll make life with a Karoq easy. These include an umbrella under the passenger seat and an ice scraper in the fuel-filler flap that also now doubles as a tyre tread depth gauge.
Ownership
SKODA always does well in our Driver Power survey, and its sixth place result in 2018 proved this. Its dealer network’s result of eighth place beat those of Hyundai and Peugeot, which rated 12th and 17th respectively.
However, the three-year/60,000-mile warranty included on the Karoq and the 3008 isn’t as strong as Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-mileage package.
Safety is a match for its rivals’, with autonomous braking as standard helping the Skoda achieve a fivestar Euro NCAP rating. Go for the £850 option that adds lane keep assist and blind spot warning, and there’s even more protection available in this family SUV.
Running costs
THE Skoda’s strong predicted residual values mean cash buyers will lose less money on the Karoq. Our experts predict it’ll hold on to 51.3 per cent of its list price, or £13,123.
Then it’s the Peugeot, rated at a predicted 46.8 per cent retained value or £12,724. The Hyundai is by no means a bad performer, at 44.8 per cent residual value. It’s just that it can’t match the appeal of its rivals on the used market; this rating means it’ll only be worth £11,225 after three years/36,000 miles.