Skoda has increased equipment levels on all three versions of the recently facelifted Karoq. Comprising ‘SE Drive’, ‘SE L’ and ‘SportLine’, the range starts from £26,255 and rises to £37,725.
An 8-inch digital instrument binnacle is standard on all three models, and Skoda has updated its “value-packed option packages” so that they now feature a number of additional convenience features and technologies.
Meanwhile, a new ‘Travel Assist Package Plus’ includes adaptive cruise control, Front Assist with emergency braking, blind spot detection, Traffic Sign Recognition, Lane Assist and Traffic Jam Assist.
17-inch ‘Scutus’ alloy wheels and LED headlights and tail-lights, and rear parking sensors come as standard on ‘SE Drive’, with the 8-inch driver display joined by an 8-inch multimedia system and wireless Apple CarPlay.
Stepping up to ‘SE L’ adds 18-inch ‘Miran’ alloys, chrome roof rails and window surround, and an extended roof spoiler. These cars also get the ‘Winter Park’ that is made up of a heated steering wheel and front seats as well as heated windscreen washer nozzles and headlight washers.
The Czech company’s smart ‘VarioFlex’ seating is included on mid-level Karoqs along with keyless entry, a start/stop system and the ‘Parking Pack’ that includes a rear-view camera and front parking sensors.
Finally, ‘Sportline’ cars benefit from LED Matrix headlights with an adaptive front lighting system, 19-inch ‘Sagittarius’ wheels, a panoramic sunroof, an electrically-operated tail-gate and metallic paint. The ‘Winter Pack’ and ‘Parking Pack’ are also included in the price.
Skoda says all five engines that power the Karoq now “feature a number of engineering enhancements to further improve efficiency”. For diesel motors, weight-optimised crankshafts and extensive modifications to the exhaust gas routing result in lower fuel consumption, it says. In addition, the TDI-badged units are equipped with a further developed SCR exhaust gas treatment system and two catalytic converters.
The 1-litre and 1.5-litre TSI petrol engines feature “an innovative powder-coated layer measuring just 150 mm” that replaces cast-iron cylinder liners. Skoda claims this reduces internal friction, which lowers fuel consumption and emissions.
Equipped with Active Cylinder Technology, the larger of the two motors automatically shuts down two cylinders when engine load is low to reduce fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions.
Both the 2-litre petrol and higher-powered version of the 2-litre diesel can be had with a DSG automatic transmission and four-wheel-drive, the latter being something many rival manufacturers do not offer.
