When the Skoda Karoq was launched, it filled a sweet spot in the carmaker’s model lineup, replacing the Yeti and slotting in below the Kodiaq. What sounded like a perfect recipe – the looks of a Kodiaq and the dimensions of a Yeti, was not received with great enthusiasm however. Given Skoda’s recent success with models like the Kushaq, the Karoq has been given a facelift globally, and is likely to come to India as well.
You’ll find this example used pretty often, but if the earlier Karoq looked like a shrunken-down Kodiaq, the newer Karoq looks like a grown-up version of the popular Kushaq. When viewed head on, especially in this orange shade, the Karoq is a dead-ringer for its smaller sibling, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The bumper has been reprofiled, the grille is now a hexagonal shape, and the Karoq features LED Matrix headlamps for the first time, with the tail lamps being reworked as well.
Apart from the nose, the design of the Karoq is identical to the car it replaces, albeit with a more contemporary approach.
The Karoq now gets a Sportline variant as well, which features blacked-out exterior elements as well as 20-inch alloy wheels.
Step inside the Karoq and the cabin is familiar to the outgoing car with a few crucial updates. The most noticeable of these is the steering wheel, now a two-spoke unit as we’ve seen on the newer Skodas like the Kushaq and the Slavia. Interestingly, the Sportline variant continues to offer a conventional three-spoke sports steering wheel. The basic interior layout continues to remain unchanged, featuring a beige and black colour scheme. However, the newer Karoq makes use of sustainable materials in its cabin.
The Karoq also features an 8-inch screen for the digital instruments as standard, with a 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit being an optional extra. A touchscreen is also present for the infotainment system, with the size varying from 8 inches to 9.2-inches, depending on the variant. You also get car connectivity functions in the higher trims, along with the Laura digital assistant, which can understand a total of fifteen languages.
Globally the Skoda Karoq is offered with a choice of five engines, three petrols and two diesels. In the Indian context, the Karoq will likely be offered with the 1-litre and 1.5-TSI petrol engines. There is also a larger 2-litre TSI petrol which will be offered with the Sportline variant exclusively. These engines can be had with the choice of either a manual or a DSG gearbox, although the larger 2-litre TSI can be had only with the DSG. Globally, the Karoq also gets four-wheel-drive, though it is unlikely to be offered on the India-spec car.
While Skoda hasn’t officially confirmed whether the Karoq is India-bound, it is likely that the SUV will make its way to our shores next year. The Karoq will lock horns with its traditional rival, the Volkswagen T-Roc, along with rivals such as the Hyundai Tucson and the Jeep Compass.