Test drive Skoda Karoq
Skoda has introduced a very striking crossover Karoq to the European market. A stylish novelty may appear in Russia, but first Skoda will have to change something in it
Why do they love compact crossovers in Europe? They are not cramped in narrow streets, and they burn fuel in moderation. In Russia, the priorities are different - here high ground clearance and a reasonable price come to the fore.
Europeans, who will be able to buy a Skoda Karoq in the coming days, will, of course, be delighted with the efficiency of three new diesels and small petrol turbo engines of 1 and 1,5 liters. They will also love the sensitivity of the suspension. Skoda's management is transparent and informative. In addition, if desired, almost all units and systems can be customized - the Karoq has a system for selecting driving modes that has become traditional for Skoda.
The responsive steering of the Karoq, keeping out even the smallest seams and joints, still doesn't feel overly stiff. In general, this is a calm car - Karoq knows how to drive with dignity. The pedals do not seem overly sensitive, with the dosage of effort, you can make mistakes quite calmly.
Karoq does not bother the average Russian sportsman on the go. At the same time, the car can drive fast. Let it roll as expected in turns, but it holds on tightly to the asphalt. A bag thrown into the back seat will fly away from its seat, but a car will not fly off the road. And this is the front wheel drive version! All-wheel drive with gasoline engines in Skoda has not yet become friends.
The off-road capabilities of the front-wheel drive Karoq are acceptable. Rather, they are limited to geometric flotation and toothless rubber. And if the rear overhang is short enough, the front overhang is still too big. Well, the ground clearance is far from a record 183 mm. At the same time, the car still does well on country lanes.
Small pits and ruts are not particularly scary for him, but, for example, on a muddy primer, front-wheel drive and a new 1,5-liter turbo engine with its maximum torque of 1500 Nm already available at 3500-250 rpm and a DSG “robot” is not the best combination. Such a Karoq, although it can climb a wet hillock, is not without difficulty. Naturally, on a diesel car with an all-wheel drive system, difficulties arise in such a situation.
The clutch does its job regularly not on the first Skoda, and there won't be any unpleasant surprises. But unlike the structurally very close Volkswagen Tiguan, the Karoq is a front-wheel drive car by default. All traction is transmitted to the front axle, and the rear wheels are connected when the driving wheels slip. While on the Tiguan, the clutch initially works with a slight preload, distributing the moment between the axles in a ratio of 80:20.
Karoq's driving skills are excellent, but it is still important for a Russian car owner that a lot of everyday belongings fit into his car. A trunk with a declared volume of 521 liters is cool even for larger crossovers. But here the compartment is also transformed.
The optional VarioFlex system allows the rear seats to be moved forward and folded. And not only backs, but also pillows, pressing them to the front seats. Moreover, the second row can generally be disconnected and pulled out of the car - then a huge space of 1810 liters is obtained. This is comparable to the volume of cargo compartments in commercial heels.
In terms of warmth and comfort, Karoq is also great. There are many interior finishing options, including a light range that visually makes the interior even more spacious. The Czechs could not do without proprietary "smart solutions": a trash box, a cup holder that allows you to open a bottle with one hand, an electric tailgate with a virtual pedal (I held my foot under the bumper - the lid opened), a nice pull-out curtain in the same trunk, and umbrella under the front seat.
In addition to "smart" hardware, Karoq is full of advanced software. The crossover got all the advanced electronic systems that we know from the restyled Octavia, flagship Superb and Kodiaq: adaptive cruise control, an assistant keeping the car in the lane, cross-traffic control when exiting a parking lot in reverse, road sign recognition, automatic braking in an emergency ... More importantly, the Karoq is the first Skoda to feature a virtual dashboard. There is a huge color screen instead of the traditional odometer and speedometer scales, the picture on which can also be customized.
Unlike the Europeans, all these charms should not be of particular interest to us now. It is still unclear whether Karoq will be brought to Russia at all or we will be left without it, as, for example, it was done with the new generation Fabia. All Czech managers, when asked about the supply of Karoq to Russia, answer that the decision has not yet been made. Moreover, every second person says that he personally is “for” with all his hands. What is stopping them then?
Imported Karoq will be very expensive. Perhaps even more expensive than the localized Kodiaq, which will go on sale next year. Making a small crossover so expensive is pointless.
There is also a second problem. The mainstream consumer does not trust small turbo engines. Traditions, fears, personal experience - it doesn't matter. On the Karoq, you need to install another engine, for example, an atmospheric 1,6 with 110 hp. And Czech engineers are seriously considering this possibility. But replacing the motor is also time and money. So the Czechs are weighing all the pros and cons, and cannot make a final decision.
| A type | ||
| Crossover | Crossover | Crossover |
| Dimensions (length / width / height), mm | ||
| 4382/1841/1603 | 4382/1841/1603 | 4382/1841/1607 |
| Wheelbase, mm | ||
| 2638 | 2638 | 2630 |
| Curb weight, kg | ||
| 1340 (MKP) 1361 (DSG) | 1378 (MKP) 1393 (DSG) | 1591 |
| engine's type | ||
| Petrol, L3, turbo | Petrol, L4, turbo | Diesel, L4, turbo |
| Working volume, cubic meters cm | ||
| 999 | 1498 | 1968 |
| Power, hp with. at rpm | ||
| 115 at 5000-5500 | 150 at 5000-6000 | 150 at 3500-4000 |
| Max. cool. moment, Nm at rpm | ||
| 200 at 2000-3500 | 250 at 1500-3500 | 340 at 1750-3000 |
| Трансмиссия | ||
| MKP-6 DSG7 | MKP-6 DSG7 | DSG7 |
| Maksim. speed, km / h | ||
| 187 (MKP) 186 (DSG) | 204 (MKP) 203 (DSG) | 195 |
| Acceleration to 100 km / h, c | ||
| 10,6 (MKP) 10,7 (DSG) | 8,4 (MKP) 8,6 (DSG) | 9,3 |
| Fuel consumption (city / highway / mixed), l | ||
| 6,2 / 4,6 / 5,2 (MKP) 5,7 / 4,7 / 5,1 (DSG) | 6,6 / 4,7 / 5,4 (MKP) 6,5 / 4,8 / 5,4 (DSG) | 5,7/4,9/5,2 |
| Cargo space, l | ||
| 521 (479-588 s VarioFlex system) | 521 (479-588 s VarioFlex system) | 521 (479-588 s VarioFlex system) |
| Price from, USD | ||
| Not announced | Not announced | Not announced |
