2020 Skoda Karoq Review

Still one of the best family cars you can buy
The Skoda Karoq might not be the newest compact crossover on sale in 2020, but it's without doubt still one of the very best. Rebecca Jackson explains why that is in this CarGurus UK review, in which she considers the Karoq's practicality, space and equipment before taking it out on the road for a test drive.
Written review: www.cargurus.co.uk/research/S...
Pros
A genuinely sporty SUV
The diesel is surprisingly economical
Superbly made cabin
Cons
Tight on rear-seat space
Petrol models are thirsty
You can buy more practical SUVs for less
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[@doncuadrado8489]

I have a low mileage 2018 version of this car and absolutely love it. I would never have considered a Skoda previously but now would have no hesitation in recommending it as a great cost effective family SUV.

[@roppa789]

I had a two year lease on a 1.5 petrol SEL. Truly great family car that I’ve recommended to all. Averaged 42mpg over 23000 miles with only one service needed costing £220.

[@Habs1967]

Never considered a Skoda, but the first drive had me amazed! So much Luxury for such a low price, well done skoda!

[@mladenstojanovic7748]

Hi Rebecca. I'm not from the UK, but never the less, let it be known that this video decisively contributed to my decision to buy a new Karoq. And all you presented here turned out to be realistic and grounded. I simply have nothing to add or to correct u in something. So thank you, you did a great job.

[@souravsen1962]

One of the best compact SUV; aspire to buy. Rebecca you did a good job - review was precise and informative.

[@TheExkiap]

We purchased the KAROQ 1.5L T/P 110TSI with DSG at the end of the 2020 financial year. BEST DECISION WE'VE EVER MADE. We're getting on a bit and decided that we needed our 'forever' car and decided to push the boat out and get all the bells and whistles. Another great decision. Took it on s shortish road trip and removed the center back seat and fitted a 26l car cooler perfectly between rear seats. Plugged into 12v outlet and kept all out supplies at 2 degrees in 35 degree days which went up to 50 degrees when not parked in the shade. The tinting works to keep the car cool but the front windscreen still adds to the temperature when parked with no shade. We decided not to get the Sport Line but did get the 19" wheels. Most underrated car on the market. We made a check list of 8 different vehicles to meet our needs (primary requirement was electric front seats with 2 or 3 driver positioning) and this has it, PLUS, PLUS, PLUS even down to a small plastic clip on the drivers side front windscreen that holds your parking ticket instead of just throwing it onto the dash!!!! We don't need to ICE SCRAPER here!!!! ;-) It's the small things that count. The removable seats, auto park, lane assist etc. are fabulous. We set our front sensing at MAX which maintains about 20m of clear road allowing for those drivers who insist in ducking in between you and the vehicle in front without cause high blood pressure. As I say it's a brilliant and most underrated car.

[@safetyguy2046]

Just sent one back from lease....loved it....highly recommended...

[@SafehandsChris]

Ultimately it is what you want in a car as to whether you think it is good or not. If you want a practical family car, the Karoq is perfect. We got our SEL 1.5 DSG in Sept 2020 and we love it. It doesn't have the torch in the boot anymore, but it has a massive boot (much bigger than a Qashqai) to fit a hefty buggy plus our weekly shop and is more comfortable than the Ateca and it rides the bumps really well. The trays on the rear seats are handy, if you have young kids too.

[@jvcex]

thanx for the review....Rebecca

[@paulacunliffe999]

I have a 2018 SEL KAROQ 1.6tdi bought from new. I sware it’s never missed a beat. 100% happy with it

[@nicknick4156]

Love Rebecca. Amazing at reviews and a feast for my eyes!

[@RadoslavKostov]

Owned one for almost an year. Great family car with a very few cons. Will replace it only for Enyaq, when it become more affordable and when we have enough charging options here in my country. 😉

[@buster76246]

Nothing wrong with the drivers seat, I find it very comfortable and relaxing, much better than the VW Touran.

[@jefwisse1957]

I agree

[@jamesmasters4255]

I have this in silver she 1.0 TSI the engine is lovely and not underpowered at all. I am a guy about 12 stone had my two uncles in the car with two suitcases and it was no problem overtaking on motorway. More than enough power. Great car over all, plenty of space, practical, reliable. Just go right ahead and buy!

[@Miriamsbasteleck]

Same here. The 1.0 is an excellent engine. I had a bmw 318d touring before and the karoq accelerates better. Love it.

[@oopscanada]

Just beautiful review, as always.

[@Zonk2010]

Besides the gorgeous car I ordered back in July, still waiting though, I really like Rebecca's voice 😉

[@danielmangold3384]

I have ordered in may 😄

[@donovancattell6180]

I traded in an Octavia VRS for an 18 month old Karoq, which is a more practical car. Don't really miss the extra oomph, and the turbo on the Karoq is good at shifting the car quickly. Excellent allrounder.

[@philipharris946]

Had mine for two weeks now. Love it! 1.5 petrol DSG Edition, plus a few (not too expensive) extras. As good as my previous BMW X3 in terms of build quality and comfort, but more compact and a lot cheaper to buy and run. Don’t think I’ll miss the 4x4 👍

[@runawayronnie]

I agree with the seating position, it's something I find with all Skoda cars. The trick is buy a model ( or add the option ) of electric seats where you can angle the front of the seat base higher. You also get the added benefit of memory seats plus a lumbar support which moves both vertically as well as horizontally.

[@garethtalbot8950]

Nice review. Skoda have really set the bench mark over the last number of years on how to build a car while thinking of their customer from start to finish. Ticks a lot of boxes. Car reviewers all over seem to agree when it comes to Skoda.

[@vaishachr924]

I agree. My new Karoq is simply giving me vibes of my Old Q3 at a low cost. You can hardly tell the difference in terms of build quality and it has more practicality

[@jasonkaroq1138]

Spot on review. I have a new 2.0tsi sportline. Replaced a 1.4 Leon Fr. Karoq is a great driving car, comfortable. Relatively economical for 187bhp. 37 mpg. I would recommend the Karoq as great family transport and as a fun car to drive.

[@sidesey]

How do you get 37mpg? That in eco mode assume. Normally I get around 30 at best. Seats are so comfy agreed though and it’s almost as good to drive as my old golf.

[@jasonkaroq1138]

I've had a few long runs. Average 70 mph(eco) . Around town is 32mpg. Not great but not unexpected!

[@tinaloye2014]

How is the sat nav?

[@jasonkaroq1138]

@@tinaloye2014 Hello. Sat is ok. Abit slow on traffic updates. Ie you are already in the traffic and sat nav too slow to redirect you. Other than that the sat nav is good.

[@tinaloye2014]

@@jasonkaroq1138 thank you lots!!

[@analysethis6061]

Nice Review. Kindly could you advise me if this colour is candy white or moon white metalic ?

[@danjf]

We've got the 2019 Karoq Scout 4x4 DSG.... Excellent car, looks and drives great, always getting positive comments about it. Only thing with the Scout is that Skoda seen to have significantly increased the prices, mine was 27K and that was with a few extras, I think the model is now over 30k

[@wings9925]

That nav software is the same as in the Mk7.5 Golf. I owned one for 3 years and don't recognise the issues mentioned, at all. Having driven friends' Karoqs for several hours i never had any trouble with the driving position either. Its a great car!

[@rahimmalekshahi8750]

Hi, I am your big fan, thanks. Do you recommend this over Tiguan? Soy ou think the second row has enough space for adults 180cm behind a driver the same height?

[@JeffersMcJ]

Can you please review the facelift version 1.5 DSG.

[@adis5062]

How would you say does it compare to rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai regarding cabin noise? I am especially interested in the cabin noise level at motorway speeds. Thanks!

[@JackITG]

My new Karoq Sport Line 2.0 DSG 190bhp is simply flawless! I went from a 2011 BMW X5 xDrive40D M-sport and the Skoda is superior in just about every way. It handles better. The power delivery is better. The economy is a massive improvement. The gear changes, overall ride quality and comfort is so much better I was actually quite shocked. On paper the X5 was supposed to be the 'daddy' of SUVs, and class leading for handling; Well, maybe that was true in 2011 but not anymore. I recommend the winter pack (heated screen, wheel, nozzels) and adaptive cruise. A very, very nice vehicle.

[@jamiep61]

I particularly like the style the best

[@neilrafferty2097]

Who amongst us would have thought that Skoda could produce a car that would kick Mercedes Benz into oblivion ?

[@myt3734]

Vw produces the car, skoda rebadges and changes bumpers and stickers

[@myt3734]

@jn!x23 lol, you learn first. Vw owns skoda, audi, porsche, seat. Karoq is based on tiguan , it shares the same mqb platform, engine, gearbox. You learn first and then question others . I have idea about what i am messaging

[@paulm2467]

@@myt3734 VW are the group owners but the car is not made in Germany, it used to be assembled in Osnabruck but is now principally made in the Czech Republic, it’s a very different car from the VWs and SEATs built on the common platform, most people consider it superior as it’s built on a later version of that platform. It isn’t a rebadged VW at all, although it shares components with all of the groups cars in that size class, Audis, Golfs, Leons and Octavias as well as the SUVs, it’s a different design with it’s own target audience, that’s the nature of multi National car companies nowadays.

[@myt3734]

@@paulm2467 i agree with you. Most money for development of car goes into engine, gearbox, chassis, internal components , which are designed by VW. Skoda, seat use them and modify, but core components remain same . Due part interchangebility it creates high profits for vw group .

[@michaelporter4050]

Adjustable suspension? That’s not mentioned in the spec on the Skoda website. If it doesn’t make much difference it must be fairly rudimentary in design. Does anybody know anything about it?

[@AVGNfan01]

The adjustable suspension is only a gimmick when you never take it off road. Lumbering along the countryside or a busy street, both with paved roads, won't do it justice. On a trackday, on a mountainclimb, or off camping in the woods, variable suspension does really make a huge difference on comfort while driving on inconsistent terrain.

[@reapertheunique]

I was very close to choosing this Karoq Sportline full-option over the X1 full-option at the end of last year (it was already the facelifted one you see here). But there were just a few quirks that were too annoying for me to fully enjoy the car. The infotainment system was a bit illogical in some places, some surfaces were clearly lower quality and driving experience was a bit less. Overall, a very great value but t just fell short in a few too many places to convince me. I do have to say, the sportline does look very nice in real life, some colleagues of mine have it and, damn, the black details and interior look good.

[@lhunkit]

The only criticism I have is that the sun visors/shields are too short/shallow and do not provide adequate shade.

[@metalshifter727]

Thanks for pointing out the "never quite comfortable" driving position. That is exactly how I felt when trying out the Kamiq and the Karoq. In the end the Kadjar was cheaper, lots more standard equipment and more comfortable.

[@AnkitSharma-iy9md]

I really want to drive it for a long distance to make the decision on it . Plus want to know how safe it is for physically Challenged people ? Especially who are orthopedically challenged !! Car 🚗 Guru please confirm it from SKODA the main house 🏠 as production plot in Germany 🇩🇪 as we all know about it . Waiting for your reply Eagerly. Thank you 😊👈🏻🙀😸

[@ConstantineKostas]

Isn't there going to be a facelift in early 2021?

[@brihtl]

I own Karoq 2.0 TDI 4x4 (2019) for a year now and i love it. I just dont like the transmition (6 speed manual), it does not shift smoth in second gear anyone else with the same problems? The second car VW Touran is 7 years old and shifts like a dream.

[@billalbion]

Biggest ratio gap is between 1st and 2cnd gear, wait half a second before engaging second .

[@cabottaxi]

Think the Sportline model with the standard glass roof looks a better buy. Makes the interior feel much lighter

[@rhcpmorley]

I have a Karoq..v pleased with it. My wife has an Audi (Q2). So many of the parts (steering wheel, electric hand brake, display, infotainment, doors...etc on and on) are clearly straight out of the same parts bin. 'Cept you pay less for the Skoda.

[@myt3734]

Alll parts are from vw, audi, skoda , seat, use them as all of them are owned by vw

[@Tonxey]

Out-of-date by a couple of months. The Karoqs rolling off the production line now have a different steering wheel and don't have the torch in the boot. There are other differences too, but nothing that conflicts with this review.

[@tinaloye2014]

How is the sat nav? Would it be easier to just use google maps or wade?

[@oraclemedia1258]

Rebecca you're the best

[@martinboth4514]

I like the guy claiming to be disappointed with the 2012 model....the car was released in 2017.....😂

[@jefwisse1957]

I understand his frustration about the 2012 model. It was probably only available on paper.

[@stephandolby]

The comment I made in your last Skoda vid? I take it back. You just had to mention the umbrella, scraper, etc at some point., didn't you? :) The boot (to the parcel shelf, anyway) is actually slightly smaller than a Peugeot 308's, let alone an Octavia's. Also, small and medium VAG crossovers don't really stand out from each other too much. Despite these issues, even if you don't restrict yourself to it and its stablemates, Skoda is still a fine choice.

[@j1bc]

why would you want it to be noisy?

[@steveh2432]

Would the 1 litre petrol SE L be a good buy?

[@Alishaan2002]

Apparently its a decent enough engine for your everyday city driving and the occasional motorway trip, I'm getting one soon, taking about 3 months to build it.

[@4figgis957]

Economy?

[@vallanceellis7569]

Did this lovely lady work for what car?

[@neilbissett1240]

Thought they had issues with the 1.5 engine

[@garethtalbot8950]

Correct. Turbo lag. See Bob Flavin channel skoda scala review. He first picked it up in reviews . Recall in place for it now. Software issue more so than physical fault. Newer release shouldn't have it.

[@runawayronnie]

Yes, they HAD issues, but that was corrected last year with a software update. No such issues with our 1.5 which was registered Nov 19.

[@bluehorizon5149]

Yet in her video for 'What Car' this same woman says the driver's seating position is a lot different, in a real good way ???

[@TITANICO41]

The worts engine...gots allots of problems whits shooting at low rpm

[@Finalisem]

Does it have a reverse camera?😀

[@robcarew5686]

Yes but without moving guidelines on the 110 version.

[@michaelanthonytollan]

Got mine in Jan 2020, and lovin it always a pleasure to drive it , only regret I have ,I wish I went for the automatic lol , yeah Rebecca have a nice voice . but she forgot to show the tables in back seat ,like you have in the airplanes great for the kids or anyone really ,it really is inb the name Skoda simply CLEAVER

[@finbarcrowley7134]

Handbrake or press button?

[@SafehandsChris]

It is an auto handbrake so you don't have to do anything.

[@colin_a]

I think it is because the roads are so bad... Where I live its a nightmare and everyone has a 4x4

[@joe80ss]

The Ateca looks better but both are top of the class in family size suv.

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

Agreed up the karoq interior is better if quality.

[@shawnniadi4193]

Wonder explanation and what beautiful voice diction you have. Lovely you are to my company come to CANADA

[@FLOWMATIC86]

nice car, mom movil!

[@jefwisse1957]

How does a Skoda Karoq perform with its smallest available engine?

[@IrishRanger2452]

I have the 1.0 manual SEL version. Power wise, its absolutely fine as it has a turbo fitted so performs like a much more powerful car. I have had no issues whatsoever with the car which I bought used, 1 year old and nearly 6 grand cheaper. In all honesty, I should have bought the 1.5 however thats just because I cant get my head around the 1 litre engine.

[@jefwisse1957]

@@IrishRanger2452 I decided to go for the 1.5. The main reason is that it has a ACT engine which runs on the cylinders if you stay below 60 if you drive alone. If you drive with a heavier load you can drive up to 50 on two cylinders. So far I managed to keep the fuel consumption around 40 mpg but I have only driven a little over a 1000 miles. I think the fuel consumption will be a bit less if the motor has run for another 1000 miles. So far I like the car. Its very comfortable, has a Lott of booth space and drives very smooth. Although I don't understand why they removed the torch in the booth. There is also a strap mounted in the booth which I don't understand because it has no purpose what so ever. The other thing that bothered me was that the netting with is supplied have no hooks so they can't be attached to the mounted metal features.

[@Miriamsbasteleck]

Excellent. Acceleration is better than im my bmw 318d I had before and that car had a 2L motor with 122hp compared to the karoqs 1.0L 115hp motor.

[@hungbuiduy7080]

Love you

[@babsschloss]

Who would have thought the phrase 'Grippy Bottom Bottle Holder' could be so hot? I could listed to Rebecca talk all day.

[@morgankarlsson3526]

😍👍🙏🇸🇪

[@jamesmasters4255]

I could watch Rebecca any day over Matt.

[@briancrone939]

I don’t agree with the comment “ it comes from a brand with great customer service” My experience regarding Skoda customer service has been dreadful, to the point that I would never buy another Skoda.

[@ryanthompson8029]

You are the very few people, but then again probably one of these who just like to whinge about everything..get a life

[@whu58]

Apart from the Karoq, Rebecca is a babe.

[@gusprotheroe7045]

Too much vocal fry.

[@Sathishdonothateanyone]

I think you re very much biased with skoda

[@englishman831]

What a lovely, attractive girl!

[@cabottaxi]

She's married with kid

[@PorkyPig-lb4je]

@@cabottaxi doesn't mean she still cant get some😉

[@jezstokes8592]

As sponsored by Skoda..

[@kevingrainger2530]

Why would you unscrew a cap from a bottle whilst driving,? It is a Criminal Offence to Drink and Drive in the UK, Europe, North America ETC. It is not nor should it be a selling point but this presenter has drawn attention to this feature. It make you wonder on the intelligence of some folk, including those people at Skoda. I suppose it beats using your teeth for those caps that are really tight.

[@geoffhiggins742]

It is not a criminal offence to drink whilst driving in the UK. You are wrong.

[@kevingrainger2530]

@@geoffhiggins742 Sir, It is a criminal offence to drink and drive or attempting to drive in the UK. You are not in charge of your vehicle. Drive past a patrol car whilst drinking a non acholic drink and the Police will stop you and can issue proceedings against you. I hope you don't live anywhere near me if you are drinking and driving.

[@ryanthompson8029]

@@kevingrainger2530 I can assure youn100 percent it is not, My brother has been in thr force 17 year, he assured me it is not a criminal offence to have a drink out of a non alcoholic drink while driving. Maybe best you do your homework before leaving stupid comments you know nothing about.

[@newbeginnings8566]

Skoda no more reliable than any other VW product so that is to say - not very reliable... Fine for those lease rental types but don't place your money in their products..

[@kennyscouse3388]

Absolute bullshit fella.🙄

[@DjNikGnashers]

Why does it need to be so tall, and massive ? It looks hideous, has no more interior room than a normal saloon car, yet you can't park it anywhere because it's so massive. Pointless, expensive, and horrible.

[@DjNikGnashers]

@Brian Bickle I won't. Doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on them, does it.

[@rw80]

A Karoq is actually a small car. My Mercedes A-class is longer.

[@philg6613]

It's actually has the same wheelbase as a VW Golf and is only slightly longer and wider., and therefore easy to live with in town. A point Rebecca makes.

[@DjNikGnashers]

@@philg6613 It's wider, longer, and much taller than a Golf. Yet I bet the golf has just the same room inside, maybe even more. The Golf will handle better, probably be just as fuel efficient, if not more efficient, and cost the same. A point I am making.

[@dutoitm1]

@@DjNikGnashers Massively incorrect. A golf has 380L with seats up and 1270L with seats down. Karoq has about 500L with seats up and about 1600L with seats down (depending on how the rear bench is situated as it can be moved back and forth). Also, you can remove the seats in the Karoq which results in 1810L of space. That's a huge amount more space for only slightly bigger dimensions, don't you think?

[@john11883]

I have a 2012 Skoda karoq se l 1.5 tsi its literally the worst and most pointless car I have ever owned it's currently 3 weeks old and I'm desperate to get rid of it. DONT BUY THIS CAR

[@stephenholland5930]

You have a 3 week old car from 2012? Wow.