By Ian Strachan
Time was when you could expect an SUV to have a big, meaty engine under the bonnet with enough grunt to get a half-decent performance from a big car, writes motoring editor Ian Strachan.
Not any more. Skoda’s new mid-size SUV – the Karoq – is powered by a one litre petrol engine – the size you might have associated with superminis and city cars. Of course you can have a Karoq with a bigger diesel engine if you want to, but with diesels being the new spawn of the devil according to environmentalists, a small petrol engine might be a more pragmatic option.
And size isn’t everything as this Karoq proves. Despite only being one litre, this unit gives you 115 ps of horsepower, has a top speed of 116 mph and will get you from 0-60 in a little over 10 seconds.
I tested the Karoq 1.0 TSI in SE specification. The name, incidentally, means “arrow car” when loosely translated from indigenous native Alaskan. This gives it a certain symmetry with Skoda’s other larger SUV, the Kodiaq.
Like most Skodas the Karoq is very competitive. Pitched into one of the most intensely fought sectors against some well-established competition, the range starts at not much more than £20,000. But despite its price it has high build quality, good interior trim materials, high levels of safety with a Euro NCAP five-star rating, a high specification and a very roomy interior.
The Koroq has a quality feel to it inside and out – more so than the Yeti which it replaces. And it is certainly a good looker. It has a strong side-on presence, with a gently sloping roofline and black roof rails, big windows, a high waist and neatly sculpted side panels. Handsome 17 inch alloys add to its side-on style. It also looks sharp and purposeful from the front.
Inside the car has a lot of class about it. My test vehicle had black upholstery of a surprisingly high quality. The dash is simple and attractive, with a central touchscreen satellite navigation system which also controls the eight-speaker DAB radio and media system, with controls mounted on the leather steering wheel.
Interior space is very good with plenty of cargo space. Interior specification on the SE spec which I tested includes rear parking sensors with visual display, dual-zone climate control, automatic headlight control, heated front seats and of course, Skoda’s trademark umbrella under the passenger seat. There’s also an ice scraper and an LED torch secreted around the vehicle.
Other standard features include all-round airbags, cruise control, electrically adjustable folding door mirrors, large bottle holders in the door panels, electronic park brake and hill hold, forward radar with automatic braking, light and rain sensors and tyre pressure monitoring system.
I drove the 1.0 litre TSI 115 PS petrol-powered version Linked to a smooth six-speed manual gearbox, this is a surprisingly good unit, offering plenty of power with little noise or fuss. Acceleration is pleasingly brisk for a vehicle of this size.
Fuel consumption is respectable at 53.3 miles to the gallon, with CO2 at 119g/km. This specification comes at £20,875 on the road, which is very competitive for such a high spec. You get a lot of car for your money. My test car also had touchscreen satnav at £400, a full size spare wheel (£150) and metallic paint (£575).
It’s difficult to fault this offering from Skoda which is winning awards and deservedly so. It’s an improvement on the popular Yeti, and with a very keen price which will keep other manufacturers on their toes.
