It looks like a baby Kodiaq – no, not the bear, a baby Skoda Kodiaq SUV. Say hello to the new Skoda Karoq, which was unveiled in Stockholm on Thursday night. The Karoq will slot in below the Kodiaq at about the same price point as the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Hyundai Tucson.
The Skoda Karoq is a five-seater SUV that incorporate Skoda’s new design language that stresses on sharp, angular lines. It looks sharp and aggressive from all angles. The slim LED headlamps has thin LED daytime running lights below it that give it a menacing look.
The rear also gets angular wrap-around LED tail lamps. The model unveiled had 18-inch wheels with low-profile tyres. It measures 4,382 mm in length, so it’s not exactly a compact SUV. It has a 2,630 mm wheelbase and is a five-seater, which translates to a fairly spacious interior, along with 521 litres of boot space.
Like the Skoda Yeti, it has flexible rear seats that can be moved and fitted in various combinations. Folding down the seats frees up 1,800 litres of luggage space. It has a futuristic-looking cockpit with an all-digital instrument console.
The Skoda Karoq comes with a choice of four engines – 1-litre and 1.5-litre turbo-charged petrols and 1.6-litre and 2-litre diesel engines – with six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmissions. The 2-litre Karoq has an all-wheel drive system while the others are front-wheel drives.
In terms of features, the Karoq is well-equipped. It has a large touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Car Play and Android Auto that is like the one in the Skoda Superb. Other features include ambient lighting, reverse and front parking sensors, a reverse camera, multi-zone climate control and auto-dimming mirrors.
It also gets Skoda’s virtual pedal boot opening system, where a person with the key in his pocket can just wave his foot under the bumper to automatically open the boot – a feature that helps when a person’s hands are occupied with shopping bags and stuff.
It has a host of safety features too, such as disc brakes all around, multiple airbags, traction control, park assist, lane assist and blind spot detection.
Skoda hasn’t said when the Karoq will be launched in India, but it is likely to replace the Skoda Yeti. As Skoda is going to be focusing on the Kodiaq and the face-lifted Octavia this year, the Karoq is likely to come to India only by next summer.
Watch the unveiling here:
Skoda Karoq Dimensions:
Length: 4382 mm
Width: 1841 mm
Height: 1605 mm
Wheelbase: 2630 mm
Ground clearance: 180 mm
Boot space: 521 litres
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