Skoda’s Karoq SUV teased

The Czech carmaker has released images of its new Karoq SUV. The car will make its public debut later this month.

The Karoq features an all-new design, advanced driver assistance technology and four new turbocharged engines. Skoda decided to ditch the unique exterior of the car’s its predecessor, the Yeti, and ended up using a more conventional SUV body style. It shares many elements with the bigger Kodiaq, which it is positioned below.

Built on the VW’s MQB platform, the Karoq comes with a choice of five turbocharged engines, four of which are new to Skoda. The cabin has space for five and the boot can hold up to 521 litres or 1,630 litres with the back seats folded down.

The new petrol motors include an entry-level 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder and a 1.5-litre TSI. There’s a new diesel 1.6-litre TDI and a new 2.0-litre TDI and these new units are joined by the familiar 2.0-litre TDI. The SUV will come in both two- and four-wheel-drive guises and with a choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

Higher trims of the car will feature Skoda’s Drive Mode Select system. The Driver assist systems include a radar-based adaptive cruise control, blind spot detect and front assist, which includes automatic city braking with a pedestrian braking system. There’s also hill hold control and emergency assistance (it can intervene if the driver becomes incapable of driving, and when adaptive cruise control and lane assist are on).

There’s gesture control for certain functions, wireless phone charging, as well as a mobile online connection that works with the infotainment. The infotainment system on higher trims features a 9.2-inch screen and three other displays, including a new digital instrument cluster.

So far, there is no news on whether the Karoq will come to India but the carmaker is readying the India-entry of its new flagship, the Kodiaq.