New SUVs Push 'clever' Skoda To Next Level
Ahhh family. They can be the greatest blessing. And sometimes the greatest curse. Just ask Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. And while you might get to pick your friends, there's no such choice with your rellies. Still, if you did get to pick which automotive family you belonged to, the giant Volkswagen group would probably be high on the list. Porsche, Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini make a nice bunch of cousins. And, of course, Volkswagen itself has some endearing family traits. Such is the lot of Skoda, once a motoring punchline from the Czech Republic, but today one of the fastest-rising brands on the market. And family ties have a lot to do with that transformation. Take this car, for instance - Skoda's new, compact SUV, the Karoq. If it looks suspiciously like VW's much celebrated Tiguan, it should. The cars have a lot in common, despite their distinctive styling points and, of course, the badge. Skoda has built a solid following in Australia with its Octavia mid-sizer and the very impressive, and impressively-named, Superb. But the arrival of two new SUVs - this one and the seven-seat Kodiaq - might push Skoda to the next level.
The Karoq essentially replaces another small SUV - the Yeti - in the Skoda line-up. But don't worry, the two cars are poles apart and the Karoq is a big improvement on its oddly-named, oddly-styled predecessor.. Which is where that family influence comes in. You'll find all manner of technology and features on this affordable, attractive-looking little soft-roader that have been cherry-picked straight from the VW catalogue. It also enjoys VW-sourced technology like the dual video screens that underpin the Karoq's excellent multimedia system, as well as its all-digital instrument panel - yes, just like you'll find in a VW. But that blessing can also be a bit of a curse. After all, when you share so many components with one of the world's best-known brands, finding some points of difference can be tricky. Skoda has done that by fully embracing its "simply clever" marketing slogan. The Karoq has all manner of simple but clever little additions that set it apart from its corporate cousin. These start with the superbly flexible seating system, called VarioFlex (a hangover from the Yeti).
You can transform the car from comfortable five-seater to capacious, two-seat load-lugger by sliding, tilting, folding or even removing the back seats - stretching cargo capacity from a standard 479 litres right up to 1801 litres with rear seats removed. There are equally thoughtful, if less obvious touches - like the boot liner that can be flipped over (carpet on one side, plastic on the other) for accommodating muddy items. Or the moveable hooks to tether your shopping bags in the back (or the three cargo nets to stop bigger loads from shifting). Skoda even provides an LED torch, and an umbrella, as part of the standard kit. We also liked the little brackets on the back of the driver's and passenger's seats to allow iPads and the like to be mounted, aircraft-style, to keep rear-seat passengers quiet on longer journeys. The Skoda's next-level touchscreen handles a wide variety of tasks - from satellite navigation and audio controls to choosing the car's drive mode (economy, sport etc). So comprehensive is the system that Skoda has, rather thoughtfully, incorporated a "configuration wizard" to help new owners set up and navigate their way around the tech device.
As their slogan says, Simply Clever. Happily, climate controls remain in the more conventional style, part of a handful of dials and buttons that still adorn the centre stack. Mechanically, the Karoq will initially be offered in only a single format - with a 1.5-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine matched to seven-speed DSG or six-speed manual transmission, driving the front wheels only. With 110kW and 250Nm, it's a competent drive-train if not breathtaking - but delivers economy figures of 5.8L/100km, which is excellent. Safety features extend to autonomous emergency braking, as well as reversing camera and adaptive cruise control, plus options like blind-spot monitors. Importantly, the Karoq feels sturdy and well-grounded and provides a comfortable, quiet and reassuring ride. Like a Golf, you might say. Either way, it's one family decision where you do get some choice. While technically it fits into the compact SUV category, its flexible seating and generous interior space will allow it to challenge the next category up. Not particularly - with modest performance from its 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. A diesel is rumoured to be on the horizon, which should bring extra power. Its official consumption of 5.8L/100km is very good for any vehicle with so much space and practicality. 29,990 plus on-road costs.
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