2024 Skoda Karoq Review

“Nothing is cheap, and everything good is expensive…”

That’s a line you’re likely to hear from your friendly neighbourhood salesman as you buy your next car. 

But what if something good is great value? That’s what Skoda thinks with their latest model of the Skoda Karoq, aptly named the Karoq, which is offered for just $39,990 driveaway.

So what’s the catch, if anything at all? Let’s talk about that in today’s review!

How much does the Skoda Karoq cost?

The Skoda Karoq is priced well in the compact SUV market, with a national drive-away price of $39,990 for the base model we’re testing today. 

This pricing approach is straightforward, offering potential buyers clarity by including all on-road costs in the initial price, which can simplify the decision-making process for consumers.

Skoda offers a finance option through its Skoda Choice program for the Karoq. This finance plan is structured with a weekly payment of $96 over a 60-month term, calculated at a 6.99% p.a. interest rate with a 20% deposit upfront requirement. 

An integral part of this finance package is the Guaranteed Future Value (GFV) of $15,857, which provides a pre-agreed price at which Skoda will buy back the vehicle at the end of the term, potentially offering some peace of mind regarding the car's depreciation.

The Karoq lineup includes several models, with the next step up from the base model being the Karoq Style, priced at $45,490 drive-away. The range tops out with the Karoq Sportline 4x4, which has a drive-away price of $52,490, reflecting its enhanced drive capabilities and additional features compared to the rest of the lineup.

2024 Skoda Karoq Price by Grade:

• 2024 Skoda Karoq: $39,990
• 2024 Skoda Karoq Style: $45,490
• 2024 Skoda Karoq Sportline 4x4: $52,490

Note: Prices are drive-away

What do you get?

Although you certainly lose some things with the new ‘base’ model, inclusions are still strong.

In terms of what is lost versus the Style grade above, the new base model loses the 10.25-inch digital instrument display, keyless entry, digital radio, hands-free power tailgate, wireless phone charging, VarioFlex removable rear seats, a double-sided luggage net and boot dividers, a bin in the driver’s door pocket, privacy glass, and a drive mode selector.

Frankly, things that really aren’t noticed much of the time.

Base Model Features:

• 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine with eight-speed auto, FWD
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Dusk-sensing LED headlights
• LED fog lights
• LED tail-lights with scrolling indicators
• 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 8.0-inch digital instrument display
• Rear-view camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Fabric seat upholstery
• Manually-adjustable front seats
• Push-button start
• Dual-zone climate-control air conditioning
• Eight-speaker sound system
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power-folding heated side mirrors with auto dimming on driver's side
• Safety features (bundled for brevity): Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, tyre pressure monitoring, seven airbags

Karoq Style (adds over base):

• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• Keyless entry (proximity key)
• Digital radio
• Hands-free power tailgate
• Wireless phone charging
• VarioFlex removable rear seats
• Double-sided luggage net and boot nets/cargo dividers
• Bin in driver's door pocket
• Privacy glass
• Drive mode selection

Karoq Sportline (adds over Style):

• 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with seven-speed dual-clutch auto, AWD
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Matrix LED headlights
• Gloss black exterior trim, badges, and roof rails
• Front sports seats with ThermoFlux upholstery and silver stitching
• Sports steering wheel with paddle shifters
• Black interior headlining
• Sportline door sill plates, exterior badges, and instrument cluster graphics
• Aluminium-finish pedals
• "Performance" driving mode selection

Optional Packages:

• Tech Pack (available on Style): Adds 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen with gesture control, satellite navigation, Matrix LED headlights, 360-degree camera, automatic park assist, lane centring assist, traffic jam assist, emergency assist, ambient interior lighting.
• Leather Seats Pack (available on Style and Sportline): Adds leather seat upholstery, power-adjustable front comfort seats with memory and lumbar support, auto-folding side mirrors with auto dimming, memory, and auto-tilt in reverse, ambient interior lighting (Style only), LED front and rear reading lights (Style only), interior footwell lighting (Style only).
• Premium Pack (available on Style and Sportline): Combines features of Tech and Leather Seats Packs where applicable, and adds adaptive suspension (Sportline only), heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel with paddle shifters, heat-insulating windscreen, headlight washers.

What is the interior like?

Arguably the worst part of the Skoda Karoq is its interior.

Not because it’s wrong in anyway, instead it’s a bit uninspiring.

Soft touch materials are everywhere - which is great for reducing the NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) - and it is a relatively quiet cabin.

Although you miss out on the larger touchscreen found in the higher grades, the 8.0” infotainment display works great. It’s snappy and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, meaning although you miss out on in-built navigation and DAB+ Digital Radio, you can access both those functions through your smartphone.

The seats are wrapped in a ‘base model’ cloth, however, provide plenty of support and adjustment - including lumbar support, which is often forgotten at this price point.

The digital instrument cluster in front of the driver has also been downsized, but most functionality is retained, so it’s really no issue.

And touch points, namely the steering wheel and gear selector, remain a very pleasant leather.

Practicality is superb (pun intended), with some of the smartest packaging you’ll find in any mid-sized SUV. In fact, the Karoq is one of the smallest SUVs in the segment on the exterior, but one of the largest on the interior.

And it shows, with a large glovebox, centre-dash storage area, storage to the right of the driver, large door bins, and an adjusting soft-centre armrest with plenty of space within it as well.

Of course, you get two cupholders, a hidden storage nook for your phone (not wireless charging, sadly) though the 2xUSB-C Fast Chargers and 12v socket provide plenty of charging options.

So, apart from the uninspiring design, you certainly couldn’t accuse the Skoda Karoq of not having a totally functional and practical interior.

Let’s be honest, I think we’d all rather that.

What about the back seats?

One of the most significant cost savings in the latest iteration of the Skoda Karoq was the removal of the VarioFlex seats. 

However, based on conversations with current owners, many were unaware that their Karoq even featured this amenity, suggesting its absence might not be as significant a loss as some might anticipate.

These VarioFlex seats allow for a lot of customisation - including their total removal - which means you can turn your Karoq into a commercial-esque van.

Most people opt to keep their rear seats firmly locked in place, however.

At 5’11”, I have plenty of leg-room, head-room and toe-room behind my drivers position.

Again, the base model cloth is uninspiring, but the seats have plenty of support.

Amenities are okay, with a couple of airvents, a small storage area and a 12v socket - however, an adapter is required for the socket to be able to charge anything.

You also get a centre armrest, three top-tether child-seat anchors and two ISOFIX points

What about boot space?

The removal of the VarioFlex seating in the latest Skoda Karoq model affects its boot capacity, with the rear seats now fixed in place. This change sets the boot volume at 521 liters with the rear seats up, expanding to 1630 liters when they're folded down.

Despite this, the Karoq maintains practicality with features like luggage hooks, side cubbies for small items, and a notably rare inclusion for a European car—a full-size steel spare wheel under the floor.

When compared to larger rivals, the Karoq's boot space is slightly less, with competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage offering between 542 litres and 543 litres, respectively, with all seats in use. Yet, for its size, the Karoq's cargo area remains a competitive and practical choice for both daily errands and longer trips.

What’s under the bonnet?

Under the bonnet of the Skoda Karoq, both the base and Style models share the same powertrain, featuring a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. 

This engine delivers a power output of 110kW at 6000rpm and offers a torque rating of 250Nm across a broad range from 1500 to 3500rpm. 

Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, this setup drives the front wheels, ensuring that the Karoq remains agile and responsive in a variety of driving conditions.

Weighing in at a tare of 1510kg for the Style variant, the vehicle maintains a balanced fuel economy claim of 6.5L/100km, making it an efficient choice within its class. 

Despite its power output appearing modest when compared to some competitors, the Karoq's engine excels in delivering substantial torque, surpassing that of many 2.0-litre non-turbocharged rivals.

What’s under the bonnet?

There’s no doubt that you’ll get more standard equipment from some competitors for the same price, but what you won’t get is the fantastic euro drivetrain and driving experience.

The Skoda Karoq excels in its price bracket because of the way it drives.

A short stab of the accelerator and the torquey 4-cylinder provides almost instant shove meaning the Karoq never feels slow.

Although in Australia we receive a slightly older version of the 1.4L 4-cylinder - and subsequently get the 8-speed torque converter rather than the 7-speed dual-clutch and 1.5L found in Europe - the 8-speed is still smooth and refined, and best of all, you just don’t notice it.

That’s simply clever.

Ride comfort is mostly very good, though you can certainly feel some bumps and imperfections in the road.

However, the balance is excellent, as it means the body roll is minimised when giving the Karoq some sauce around some backroads, while comfort around town is totally adequate.

Steering is light but still direct, and at highway speeds, the Karoq soaks up the kilometres with ease

The car's turbocharged engine also provides great fuel economy (while many competitors remain naturally aspirated): I saw 7.1L/100km after some long stints of enthusiastic driving.

The thing I appreciated most about the Karoq driving experience was that it wasn’t totally soulless, as so many mid-size SUVs can feel.

It has some fun to it if you want it, but if you just want to drive in comfort, it’s very content to do that too.

Is the Skoda Karoq safe?

The Skoda Karoq is equipped with a range of safety features, affirmed by a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on Euro NCAP tests conducted in 2017. This rating applies to all variants of the Karoq, reflecting its performance in various safety categories.

Key Safety Features:

• Airbags: Includes seven airbags with a driver’s knee airbag.
• Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): Comes with pedestrian and cyclist detection.
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Assistance: Features lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist.
• Blind Spot Alert: Provides alert notifications only.
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert: Alert notifications only.
• Driver Attention Warning: Monitors for signs of fatigue.
• Parking Assistance: Equipped with front and rear sensors and a rear-view camera.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring: Alerts the driver to tyre pressure loss.

Additional Safety Considerations:

• Advanced features such as Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Lane Guidance, and Emergency Assist are available on higher trim levels through optional packages.
• The base model does not include lane-centring assist or the more advanced stop-and-go function for the adaptive cruise control, which are optional on higher trims.
• The Karoq lacks road sign recognition, a feature present in some competing vehicles. Additionally, its AEB system is limited to detecting pedestrians and cyclists, without coverage for motorcyclists or intersection support.
• The vehicle's safety systems have been evaluated to function as intended without excessive sensitivity.

How much does the Skoda Karoq cost to run?

The Skoda Karoq benefits from one of the most comprehensive warranty packages in the automotive sector, with a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre coverage. This warranty aligns with the best offerings in the industry and is notable for being the longest standard warranty offered by a European car manufacturer, on par with Kia's warranty terms.

Warranty and Coverage Details:

• Main Vehicle Warranty: Seven years, unlimited kilometres.
• Engine Starting Batteries: Seven years.
• Skoda Roadside Assist: Complimentary for the first year.
• Genuine Parts and Accessories: Two years.
• Paint Warranty: Three years.
• Corrosion Warranty: Twelve years.

Servicing Costs and Intervals:

• The Karoq requires scheduled maintenance every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.
• Over three years or 45,000km, the expected servicing cost totals approximately $1572.
• A five-year or 75,000km servicing period amounts to around $3067.
• Over seven years or 105,000km, servicing costs are estimated at $4213.

Skoda also offers a seven-year service pack for medium cars, including the Karoq, priced at $2750. This equates to an average annual cost of approximately $392.85 when opting for the prepaid service pack, presenting an alternative to traditional pay-as-you-go servicing plans.

Final thoughts - should you buy the Skoda Karoq?

The Skoda Karoq positions itself as an exceptional value proposition in the compact SUV market with a competitive drive-away price of $39,990 for the base model. It challenges the conventional wisdom that quality comes at a high price, backed by Skoda's straightforward finance options and an extensive warranty that rivals industry leaders.

In terms of features, the Karoq's base model, despite shedding some premium options like VarioFlex seating, delivers a solid suite of essentials. Its interior, while critiqued for a lack of flair, compensates with practicality, comfort, and advanced technology integration. The vehicle cleverly balances space utilization and comfort, offering a commendably spacious interior and boot space for its segment.

Under the hood, the 1.4-litre turbocharged engine strikes an efficient balance between performance and fuel economy, underscored by a five-star ANCAP safety rating and a broad range of safety features. The Karoq doesn't just meet the standard expectations for a vehicle in its class; it exceeds them with a driving experience that combines responsiveness, efficiency, and enjoyment.

Ownership costs are further softened by one of the most comprehensive warranty packages in the sector and manageable servicing costs, enhancing the Karoq's long-term value. The blend of practical features, safety, and an engaging driving experience, coupled with Skoda's competitive pricing and low running costs, makes the Karoq a great choice for buyers seeking a compact SUV that does not compromise too heavily despite its attractive price.