Skoda Karoq. Bright personality
Skoda Karoq is a compact front-wheel drive 5-door J-class crossover from the Czech automotive company Škoda Auto, produced since 2017. There are also all-wheel drive modifications. You could buy the first generation of the popular Skoda Karoq crossover in Israel in 2020.
The Skoda Karoq SUV replaced the Yeti model. At the same time, Karoq is not the second generation of the Yeti. This is a fundamentally new car based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform, which is much closer in design and characteristics to its ‘big brother’ Kodiaq rather than to the ‘Bigfoot’.
First generation
The first generation of the Skoda Karoq, which appeared at the end of 2017, was technically similar to the SEAT Ateca, with which it was produced at the same factory. And the closest relatives are the crossovers Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Audi Q3, built on the same platform from the Volkswagen Group and having a large number of identical components and assemblies. At the same time, the first Karoq is much larger than its predecessor Yeti and has one of the largest trunks in the class. It has a volume from 500 liters to 1630 liters.
Karoq is the second Skoda model after Kodiaq, the name of which is associated with the American Kodiak island. In the language of the local tribe, the word ‘KAA’ROQ’ means “car”, and the word “RUQ” is translated as “arrow” which is one of the central elements of the Skoda logo. The name Karoq was formed from a combination of these two words.
According to the Czech manufacturer, the new ‘Karoq’ is an exemplary model with an impressive personality. It has inherited all the traditional advantages of the Czech brand cars and demonstrates Skoda’s new emotional corporate identity in the compact SUV segment.
Exterior
Externally, 2017/2018 Karoq is a hybrid of the Seat Ateca and Skoda Kodiaq. When creating a new model, the team of Karl Neuhold (Skoda chief designer for exteriors) tried to make the car brutal and serious, not like a ‘toy’ and funny Yeti. At the same time, the crossover has compact dimensions and looks, perhaps, even more harmonious and proportional than its ‘older brother’ Kodiaq.
Interior
Karoq’s interior is Shkoda minimalist and practical, but quite high quality. Almost all elements, including the bottom of the center console and “dashboard”, are made of soft plastic, all parts are perfectly matched to each other. The driver’s landing in the Karoq crossover is classic and comfortable. Traditional ‘smart solutions’ and the already familiar 10-color LED atmospheric lighting are available.
The Skoda Karoq was named the ‘Most Beautiful Compact SUV of 2017’ by the Germans and was awarded the ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ award in the category ‘Best Compact SUV’ by Auto Bild magazine.
The Skoda Karoq 2020 crossover is equipped with a fully digital dashboard, which has already appeared in models of different brands of the VAG concern such as Audi, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen. The multimedia system with a large display (9.2 inches in the top-end configuration) is touch-sensitive, and some functions are controlled by gestures. But in cheaper versions, classic push-button control will be available.
The new Skoda Karoq has received acclaim from motorists, the Germans named it ‘the most beautiful compact SUV of 2017’ and the Auto Bild magazine awarded it the Golden Steering Wheel award in the category ‘Best Compact SUV’. Karoq also became the winner of the Car of the Year 2018 in the Czech Republic competition organized by the Czech Association of Car Importers. And the Skoda Karoq crossover has withstood all test drives and repeatedly defeated its direct competitors and received 5 stars out of 5 for safety from Euro NCAP.
