√2022 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style review

More technology, more safety, and fresh new looks improve a European quiet achiever of the popular medium SUV set.

How much does the Skoda Karoq cost in Australia?

Skoda’s rival to the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson and the 2022 Drive Car of the Year winning Kia Sportage has arrived in Australia. Bringing with it sharper new looks, performance enhancements, technology upgrades, and a stronger value proposition.

This facelifted five-seat, five-door 2022 Skoda Karoq SUV range was initially slated to arrive in March of this year; however, production and supply challenges pushed its arrival back to August.

The Karoq is Skoda’s second best-selling model globally and in Australia, where it finished 2021 behind the Kamiq small SUV and ahead of the Kodiaq large SUV.

The two-pronged 2022 Skoda Karoq range kicks off with the 110kW Style front-drive priced from $42,990 drive-away and tops out with the 140kW Sportline 4×4 priced at $49,990 drive-away.

Those prices represent a $4000 increase, but Skoda claims there’s at least $4500 worth of additional equipment on the 110kW Style and $4100 more equipment on the 140kW Sportline 4×4.

The front-drive Style variant’s new exterior equipment includes LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, front parking sensors, power-folding exterior mirrors, dynamic indicators, and a rear spoiler.

The two engines from the previous Karoq range – the 110kW 1.4-litre and 140kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol units – have been carried over unchanged.

Key details	2022 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style
Price	$42,990 drive-away
Colour of test car	Phoenix Orange Metallic
Options	Premium Pack – $10,900 – 9.2-inch touchscreen – satellite navigation with gesture control – matrix LED headlights – automatic parking assist – lane assist – surround-area-view camera – traffic jam assist – emergency assist – ambient lighting – leather upholstery – electric front seats with memory – heated front and outer rear seats, steering wheel – DSG paddles – heat-insulating windshield – headlight washers Metallic paint – $1100
Price as tested	$54,990 drive-away
Rivals	Honda CR-V \| Kia Sportage \| Toyota RAV4

How much space does the Skoda Karoq have inside?

The Karoq Style’s interior presents as a highly functional and premium place to be. Fabric is the standard covering for the seats and leather for the steering wheel, and there are two digital screens ahead of the driver – one for multimedia (8.0-inch standard or 9.2-inch optional) and the second in the driver’s instrument binnacle.

Leather seats that are electrically adjustable (front) and heated (front and rear) are part of a $10,900 Premium Pack that includes satellite navigation, matrix LED headlights with washers, a number of active safety systems (detailed above), ambient lighting and gearshift paddles.

Standard equipment sees the Karoq Style ship with cloth seat trim and manual adjustment for the front seats, while the Karoq Sportline offers sports front seats and contrast silver stitching for the fabric seats.

The Skoda Karoq is far from the biggest mid-size SUV externally – it’s 210mm shorter in length, 14mm narrower and 82mm shorter in height than the best-selling Toyota RAV4 five-door wagon – but it’s fair to say the Karoq delivers beyond expectation in interior space.

In terms of elbow room front and rear, and headroom front and rear, the Skoda Karoq is almost the equal of the bigger RAV4. Legroom for back-seat occupants is generous, as is underseat footroom.

The Karoq’s boot has a claimed 588L of space, which makes it bigger than the RAV4’s 542L when all seats are in position. The boot can be electrically opened via the key, via a button on the boot, and by kicking the ‘virtual pedal’ under the boot.

The Karoq’s clever VarioFlex seating system (Style 4×2 only) allows you to fold each of the three rear seats individually in two stages – backrest flat and then tumble both the backrest and base forward against the front seat – to provide a flat loading floor. Each seat can also be taken out altogether for longer loads to make the Karoq a two-seat panel van.

Or, and this is interesting, the middle rear seat can be removed completely, and the two outboard seats slid inboard a bit to make a very comfortable four-seater.

	2022 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style
Seats	Five
Boot volume	588L seats up 1605L seats folded 1810L seats removed
Length	4390mm
Width	1841mm
Height	1603mm
Wheelbase	2638mm

Does the Skoda Karoq have Apple CarPlay?

There are two digital screens ahead of the driver – one for multimedia and the second in the driver’s instrument binnacle. The graphics on these screens are top class, as you’d expect of Volkswagen Group hand-me-downs, and make their respective systems easy to use.

The central screen measures 8.0 inches as standard, which is the same as some rivals but smaller than the big 12.3-inch screens on others for the same price.

A 9.2-inch screen with gesture control and satellite navigation as fitted to our test car is optional (see pricing above).

Below the central screen sit the dual-zone climate system controls. Below that are two USB Type-C ports.

The Skoda Karoq’s interior equipment builds on the previous generation with digital radio, wireless phone charging, reading lights front and rear, and a cargo net in the boot.

Smartphone mirroring and vehicle information functions are standard on the Karoq Style, as is a tyre pressure monitor – although it does not report on individual tyres. Satellite navigation is part of a $5900 Tech Pack that includes a number of active safety features (see pricing above).

Is the Skoda Karoq a safe car?

Yes, but its safety classification is dated. The Skoda Karoq was awarded a five-star safety rating by ANCAP in 2017 – and it’s worth pointing out that ANCAP stepped up its testing protocols in 2018 and again in 2020.

The Karoq’s adult occupant protection was rated 93 per cent, child occupant protection 79 per cent, pedestrian protection 73 per cent, and safety assist systems 53 per cent.

Part of that low final number was because the Karoq tested in 2017 had no active lane-keeping systems. This latest generation offers lane assist, automatic parking assist, surround area view, traffic jam assist and emergency assist, although these are all part of either the optional $5900 Tech Pack that includes satellite navigation or the more comprehensive Premium Pack.

Volkswagen Group’s Travel Assist driving system, which basically combines lane assist and active cruise control, is capable of accelerating, braking and steering the Karoq within its lane at freeway speeds.

Autonomous emergency braking has been enhanced to include pedestrian awareness when reversing. Skoda says the car’s traffic sign recognition has also been improved.

Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are also optional on the Karoq Sportline only, at a cost of $1250.

	2022 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style
ANCAP rating	Five stars (tested 2017)
Safety report	Link to ANCAP report

How much does the Skoda Karoq cost to maintain?

The Skoda brand may not be as well known as brands like Toyota and Mazda, but its reputation for high quality, reliable vehicles is reflected in the Karoq’s strong 78 per cent resale value after three years.

All Skoda models come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Pre-paid servicing packs can be purchased along with the car for $1550 (five years) and $2400 (seven years). These figures are competitive.

Alternately, buyers can ‘subscribe’ to servicing instead and pay anything from $39.50 to $54.50 per month from purchase depending on the annual distance travelled. These plans cover not only the cost of regular services, but also the replacement of perishables such as windscreen wiper blades and tyres.

As for comprehensive car insurance, the Karoq 110TSI’s quote of $948 is one of the cheapest we’ve seen for a mid-size SUV. For comparison purposes, a $40,000 Hyundai Tucson costs $1209 and a $44,000 Ford Escape costs $1260. These are based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

At a glance	2022 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style
Warranty	Five years, unlimited km
Service intervals	12 months or 15,000km
Servicing costs	$1550 (5 years) $2400 (7 years)

Is the Skoda Karoq fuel-efficient?

Skoda claims the Karoq 110TSI will use an average of 6.5L/100km in combined city/country driving. During our 100km launch drive from Sydney to the Blue Mountains we averaged 5.8L/100km, which is excellent – but remember that the Karoq requires 95RON premium unleaded petrol.

Fuel Useage	Fuel Stats
Fuel cons. (claimed)	6.5L/100km
Fuel cons. (on test)	5.8L/100km
Fuel type	95-octane premium unleaded
Fuel tank size	50L

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What is the Skoda Karoq like to drive?

To some, the Skoda Karoq’s 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine may sound undersized for this class of car, but this little engine is a real performer. It’s never going to win traffic light drag races, but with a claimed 0–100km/h time of nine seconds, neither is it glacially slow.

In fact, this engine is a great example of how the Skoda Karoq fulfils its duty as a smaller medium SUV. Unassuming but not underwhelming, eminently capable and with a few welcome surprises.

The Karoq is a quiet and comfortable car to drive. Everything from the driving position to the way it handles rougher roads is uncomplicated and competent.

The engine’s power and torque put it at the lower end of the competitor set, but they combine with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic to give the Karoq decent performance when you need it.

About the only caveat is a strange hesitation off the mark, which combined with the slow but smooth stop-start system can feel like ages as the traffic around you moves off.

All-round vision is excellent through big windows, which in turn aids manoeuvrability and parking in tight spaces.

Key details	2022 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style
Engine	1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power	110kW @ 6000rpm
Torque	250Nm @ 1500–3500rpm
Drive type	Front-wheel drive
Transmission	Eight-speed torque converter automatic
Power to weight ratio	79kW/t
Weight (tare)	1400kg
Spare tyre type	Space-saver
Tow rating	1500kg braked 750kg unbraked
Turning circle	10.9m

Should I buy a Skoda Karoq?

The Skoda Karoq is a quiet achiever with plenty of appeal. At $42,990 drive-away, this impressive five-door SUV represents very good value in base form – a hallmark of the Skoda brand.

The options packs do add to the cost, but most of the equipment in them is nice but not necessary.

Skoda’s decision to park some safety systems in the options list is the only real blemish on an otherwise attractive alternative to the ubiquitous Toyota RAV4s and Mazda CX-5s dominating our roads.

Editor’s Note: Due to the short launch drive, we’re holding off scoring this vehicle until it comes in for a more comprehensive seven-day road test.