Road test Skoda Karoq 2.0 TDI 4x4: balance in a flag

The SUV segment is booming, something reflected in every brand with its model ranges. However, at Highmotor we wanted to find out first-hand the reason for this resounding success, so we took the wheel of one of the SUVs of the moment, the Skoda Karoq. This mid-size SUV is presented as the second member of the Czech brand to represent this segment, and after living with it for a week, we were able to better understand the furore it is causing in today’s market.

Skoda wanted to venture even further into the world of SUVs with the Karoq, a model that offers a very attractive package and that can fit perfectly into many homes. Its sober yet appealing design, its generous range of engines and the presence of the latest technology in its cabin are three of the main features of the charm the Czech SUV is capable of producing, and to which we have succumbed.

An elegant design without fuss

The Czech brand has always known how to offer a truly balanced vehicle by resorting to a design that has allowed the Karoq to fully enter today’s market, using a fresh design language but without resorting to grand flourishes or exuberant lines. This is possible thanks to both a rear and a front end that exude sobriety and elegance, two components that make the Skoda SUV fit perfectly into an automotive world full of excessive lines.

At first glance we find an imposing front end, a description it earns due to its height and width. It is governed by the brand’s emblem and a black grille that seeks to contrast with the Magnetic Brown metallic tone our test unit featured. A prominent bumper also sits on the Czech SUV to further enhance the adventurous character the Karoq presents.

The side is accentuated by attractive 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome roof rails and a subtle, slim silhouette. Last but not least, we must highlight the rear, an area that is just as refined and clean as the rest of the vehicle. These features come through in two rear lights with sharp, crisp shapes and a bumper that does not show the exhaust outlet but at least does not try to simulate it.

A cabin with Simply Clever solutions

The interior of the Skoda Karoq is, in my eyes, like a welcoming place that invites you to invest a considerable number of hours in it. The Czech engineers have opted for a conservative design that does not aim to stand out with groundbreaking shapes or outlandish elements; but it is this simplicity that lets us enjoy a practical cabin, with good materials and the latest technology.

A three-spoke steering wheel, flattened at the bottom — a shape that makes some manoeuvres harder — greets us. The next thing that will catch our attention is the instrument panel with analogue instrumentation. Between the two dials sits a digital screen that provides all information related to the vehicle, but in my opinion it is a good choice to go for the Virtual Cockpit, an extra that will cost you 430 euros and that I strongly recommend you take.

The dashboard is governed by an 8-inch touchscreen with physical controls on the sides to manage different functions. It responds in an agile, fluid and intuitive way, and for customers who want a more exuberant infotainment system, they can opt for the 9.2-inch Columbus screen which, despite its larger size, does without certain physical buttons, something I see as a disadvantage when interacting with it.

However, and as a positive point, the Skoda Karoq generally has good finishes and, despite the presence of some plastics, it looks like it will stand the test of time well. But without a doubt we must highlight some solutions faithful to the Czech brand’s Simply Clever philosophy, such as a hook on the window for parking tickets or any kind of documentation, a bin in the passenger glovebox, hooks in the boot and the intelligent and useful Varioflex seats.

These last ones let us play as we wish with the second row of seats, which can slide longitudinally. At the same time, we can unhook them from their anchorage in a few simple steps, allowing us to enjoy more cargo space and even remove the centre seat, move the side seats and thus gain more comfort for passengers in the rear seats.

Last but not least I must highlight the boot of the Skoda SUV, which offers a storage capacity of 521 litres. Its almost flat loading lip and its reversible floor — with a plastic side and a fabric side — make it a very usable space, especially for customers who frequently need to carry a lot of objects.

At the wheel of the Skoda Karoq: smooth and capable

But now I must focus on one of the most important aspects not only of the Skoda Karoq, but of any vehicle: its behaviour. The unit I was able to test was equipped with the 2.0 TDI four-cylinder engine capable of generating 150 CV of power and 340 Nm of torque, figures managed by a six-speed manual gearbox and, in this case, by the all-wheel drive I will talk about later.

At first, the Skoda Karoq presents itself as a vehicle designed to cover kilometres without hesitation on the motorway, its main territory. But during the seven days of the test I also discovered a much more urban side of the Czech SUV, which showed me that despite its dimensions and SUV build it can become a strong ally for tackling the city.

However, it was on our usual Madrid–Vigo route where I got to know the true character of the Karoq. The first thing that caught my attention was its ride comfort, achieved thanks to a soft suspension able to absorb any road imperfection without the driver perceiving them; that said, we must bear in mind that this comfort somewhat compromises the Karoq’s dynamic behaviour when we ask for a sportier drive, although that is not its purpose either.

Despite the noisiness of the 2.0 TDI when cold or at low revs, we find good acoustic insulation on long journeys, which enhances its comfort. The engine is characterised by delivering torque from very low down — available from just 1,750 rpm — which provides a forceful push that makes the Karoq move with ease and eagerness. The 150 CV arrive from 3,500 rpm, offering a final boost that helps quite a bit, although we must bear in mind the rev range in which the engine feels comfortable, since it runs out of steam early.

The 150 CV of power are more than enough for the Karoq to get going without struggling and let us overtake with some ease. During the test, the Skoda SUV recorded an average consumption of 6.4 litres in mixed use, a figure we consider somewhat high and which can be partly blamed on the 18-inch wheels fitted to the test unit.

Overall, we are looking at a car that prioritises ride comfort, that can serve us perfectly well for getting around the city and that presents itself as an ideal companion for long journeys as it has an approximate range of 800 kilometres. Its steering is somewhat soft, but thanks to the different driving modes we can adjust the firmness and increase the communication between the wheels and the driver. Its behaviour through very tight bends is hampered by some body roll but, as mentioned, it is not a vehicle designed to fulfil that task.

Can an SUV like the Skoda Karoq take on the countryside? Yes, and it surprises

“SUV” and “off-road driving” are two concepts that purist off-roading enthusiasts have never quite accepted, but since the Skoda Karoq was in my hands for a week I wanted to check for myself whether this type of vehicle can really cope when the tarmac disappears. To do so, I drove the Czech SUV to a dirt track, where various potholes, bridge crossings and gradients were among the area’s challenges.

Before anything else we must bear in mind one aspect of the Karoq that may be a drawback for anyone considering off-road driving, and that is that its design is not the most suitable for that task. With this in mind, we can expect its underbody and bumpers to scrape in certain spots, although it is true that Skoda lets you add certain protections as an option to avoid damage.

Thanks to the all-wheel drive and the Off-Road mode included in the test unit, we were able to bring out the more rugged side of the Skoda Karoq. With this mode we get a faster and more effective response from the electronic differential lock. The traction control also allows more wheelspin, and this is something we noticed clearly on the Skoda SUV, as it barely lost grip with the ground during the test.

However, the lack of a low-range transfer case and the manual gearbox mean that it is easy to notice the clutch suffering when we push it too hard, so it may be better to opt for the DSG if you are planning to spend a lot of time off-road. On the other hand, the Karoq comes with other systems such as hill descent control, which makes it easier to go down very steep slopes as the car itself brakes progressively.

In short, the Skoda Karoq presents itself as an SUV ready to tackle off-road driving more effectively than one might imagine beforehand. Thanks to its almost constant traction and the electronic differential, we can enjoy off-tarmac capabilities that few vehicles in its segment offer and, although the weather conditions did not allow us to test it, I could sense that its behaviour on snow may be quite good.

Conclusion

The Skoda Karoq is, without doubt, one of the most interesting options in the SUV segment. If you are looking for a vehicle with a sober yet elegant look, a cabin with the latest technology and practical, intelligent solutions, and more than decent behaviour on long journeys, the Czech brand’s SUV may be the ideal candidate.

Its 2.0 TDI engine performs more than adequately and is a very suitable companion for moving the Karoq along with ease, although its low rev range means the band in which it feels comfortable is narrow . It is true that the city is not the ideal terrain for getting around in an SUV, but its good manoeuvrability and general comfort let us enjoy the Skoda Karoq within the urban environment.

With a starting price of 19,300 euros, the Czech SUV sits in the mid-value zone of its segment and, although our unit exceeded 30,000 euros on the configurator, we can benefit from significant discounts that help bring the final price down to a very competitive level, making the Karoq an ideal candidate for families who need generous space and a vehicle suited to covering long distances.

Technical specifications of this car

CrossoverSkoda Karoq15 versions · from 34,900 €