Skoda Karoq 2020 review: 110TSI

The Skoda Karoq I was supposed to talk about has been stolen. The police will say that these incidents are most often perpetrated by someone you know. And they are right, I know who took it - his name is Tom White. He is my colleague at CarsGuide.

Look, the new Karoq has just arrived and there are now two classes in the lineup. My original intention was to review the 140 TSI Sportline, a trendy, high-end luxury model with all-wheel drive, the most powerful engine, and $8 worth of options, probably including a built-in espresso machine. But a last-minute change of plan led Tom White to single out my car and me in his Karoq, an entry-level 110 TSI with no options and probably with milk crates instead of seats.

Anyway, I'm off to the road test.

Okay, I'm back now. I spent the day driving a Karoq like you could: commuting to school, rush hour traffic in the rain, trying to hit harder notes on Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark, then some back roads and highways...and I feel so much better . I also think the 110TSI is better. Better than I thought and better than Tom's 140TSI.

Well, maybe not in terms of driving, but definitely in terms of value for money and practicality… and by the way, this 110TSI has one more thing that you couldn’t get before – a new engine and transmission. I'm starting to think Tom might be the one who got robbed...

Skoda Karoq 2020: 110 TSI
Safety Rating
engine's type	1.4 L turbo
fuel type	Regular unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	6.6l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$22,700

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

Here's one of the main reasons I think the 110TSI is the class to get - the $32,990 list price. That's $7K less than the 140K Sportline Tom and it has just about everything you need.

The list price of the 110TSI is $32,990.

Proximity keying is becoming standard, which means you simply touch the doorknob to lock and unlock it; an eight-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android auto, a fully digital instrument display that can be reconfigured, and an eight-speaker stereo system, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, adaptive cruise control, automatic headlights and rain. sensor wipers.

Okay, there are a few things I could add to this list - LED headlights would be nice, as would heated leather seats, a cordless phone charger would be nice too. But you can choose those. In fact, the 110TSI has more options than the 140TSI, like a sunroof and leather seats. You can't have them on the 140TSI, Tom, no matter how much you want to.

The price of the Karoq 110TSI is also quite good compared to the competition. Compared to similarly sized SUVs like the Kia Seltos, it's more expensive but still more affordable than the most expensive Seltos. Compared to the larger Mazda CX-5, it sits at the less expensive end of this price list. So, a good middle ground between them.

Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10

The Karoq looks just like its older brother the Kodiaq, only smaller. It's a rugged-looking little SUV, full of sharp creases in the metal and small details throughout, like the taillights with their crystalline appearance. I think the Karoq could have been a little more adventurous in its styling - or maybe it just feels that way to me because the white paint my 110TSI wore looked a bit like an appliance.

It's a sturdy-looking little SUV, full of sharp creases in the metal and small details all over the place.

The 140TSI Sportline reviewed by my colleague Tom looks much better - I agree with him. The Sportline comes with polished black alloy wheels, a more aggressive front bumper, tinted windows, a blacked-out grille instead of my chrome, rear diffuser… Wait, what am I doing? I'm writing his review for him, you can go and read it for yourself.

So, is the Karoq a small SUV or a medium one? At 4382mm long, 1841mm wide and 1603mm high, the Karoq is smaller than midsize SUVs such as the Mazda CX-5 (168mm longer), Hyundai Tucson (98mm longer), and Kia Sportage (103 mm longer). ). And the Karoq looks small from the outside. The Karoq actually looks more like the Mazda CX-30, which is 4395mm long.

The white paint that my 110TSI was painted in looked a bit homey.

But, and that big but good packaging inside means the Karoq's interior is more spacious than those three big SUVs. This is perfect if, like me, you live on a street where residents fight every night for the last remaining tiny parking spaces, but you still have a growing family and therefore need something more than a unicycle.  

Inside, the 110TTSI feels like business class, but on a domestic route. Not that I drive like that, but I see the seats they sit in when I go to economy class. This is a serious, stylish and, above all, functional place with high-quality finishes for doors and center console. Then there's the multimedia display, and I have to admit that I'm a big fan of the all-digital instrument cluster. Only the seats could be a little more sophisticated. If it were me, I would choose leather; it is easier to keep clean and looks better. Also, did I mention that you can't opt ​​for leather seats on the top of the range 140TSI Sportline?

How practical is the interior space? 9/10

Do you know one more thing Tom can't do in his fancy Karoq 140TSI Sportline? Remove the rear seats, that's what. I'm serious - look at my photo I took. Yes, it is the rear left seat sitting in the middle seat and they can all be removed very easily to free up 1810 liters of cargo space. If you leave the seats in place and fold them down, you get 1605 liters, and the capacity of the trunk alone with all the seats will be 588 liters. That's more than the payload capacity of a CX-5, Tucson, or Sportage; not bad considering the Karoq is slightly smaller than these SUVs (see dimensions in the design section above).

The cabin is also impressively spacious for people. Up front, the flat dashboard and low center console create a spacious feel, with ample shoulder and elbow room even for me with my two-meter wingspan. With a height of 191 cm, I can sit behind my driver's seat without my knees touching the back of the seat. It's outstanding.

Overhead rear is great too. Abraham Lincoln wouldn't even have to take off his hat thanks to such a high flat roof. 

Ahead, a flat dashboard and low center console create a spacious feel.

The big, tall doors meant it was easy for a five-year-old to strap into a car seat, and the car wasn't too far off the ground for him to climb into.

Stowage is excellent, with large door pockets, six cup holders (three in the front and three in the back), a covered center console with more storage than a bento box, a huge dash box with sunroof, phone and tablet holders. on the front headrests there are trash cans, cargo nets, hooks, elastic cords with Velcro at the ends for attaching things. Then there's a flashlight in the trunk and an umbrella under the driver's seat waiting for you to lose them the first time you get them.

There is a USB port on the front for charging devices and media. There are also two 12V sockets (front and back).

There are no shutters for the rear side windows or USB ports in the back.

Rear seat passengers also have directional air vents.

The only thing keeping this car from getting a 10 is that it doesn't have blinds for the rear side windows or USB ports in the back.  

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10

The Karoq 110TSI used to have a 1.5-litre engine and a dual-clutch automatic transmission, but has now been replaced in this update by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with the same 110kW and 250Nm output and an eight-speed gearbox. an automatic transmission (traditional torque converter too) transfers drive to the front wheels.

Sure, it's not all-wheel drive like Tom's 140TSI, and it doesn't have the seven-speed dual clutch like this car has, but 250Nm of torque isn't bad at all.

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What is it like to drive? 8/10

I just jumped out of a Karoq 110TSI after a day of crazy weather on city and suburban streets. I even managed to avoid it all and find a few country roads and highways.

Driving is easy with light steering and a quiet and comfortable ride.

The first thing you need to know is the ease of piloting. Visibility through that expansive windshield is excellent, and even better thanks to the driver's high seating position - the hood drops down to make it look like it's not there, and at times it made it feel like driving a bus. It's a bit like a bus with that upright front seat and their graffiti-inhibiting jazz fabric pattern, but they're comfortable, supportive, and big, which I'm fine with because I'm all that too.

 The light steering as well as the quiet and comfortable ride also make it easy to drive. This made it ideal for where I live in the central part of the city, where traffic at peak times seems to be 24/XNUMX and potholes are littered everywhere.

This new engine is quiet, and the conventional automatic transmission delivers much smoother performance than the dual clutch that replaced it.

The conventional automatic transmission provides much smoother operation than the dual clutch that replaced it.

Exploding through the bushes on big winding roads left me wishing for two things - better steering feel and more grunt. Traction, even in the wet, was impressive, but there were times when I wished for more dynamism and more connection to the road through the handlebars. Oh, and paddle shifters — my fingers were always reaching for them, but the 110TSI doesn’t have them. In his review, Tom will probably gloat over the grumbling of his 140TSI, all-wheel drive and plenty of paddle shifters.

On the motorway, the Karoq is serene with a quiet cabin and a gearbox that shifts quickly to eighth for comfortable long-distance travel. The volume is more than enough to quickly overtake and merge if necessary.  

How much fuel does it consume? 8/10

In my fuel test, I filled the tank completely and drove 140.7 km on city streets, country roads and highways, then refueled again - for this I needed 10.11 liters, which is 7.2 l / 100 km. The trip computer showed the same mileage. Skoda says that ideally the 110TSI engine should consume 6.6 l/100 km. Either way, the 110TSI is pretty darn economical for a midsize SUV.

In addition, you will need premium unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of at least 95 RON.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 7/10

The Karoq received the highest five-star ANCAP rating when tested in 2017.

The Karoq received the highest five-star ANCAP rating when tested in 2017.

Standard equipment includes seven airbags, AEB (urban braking), rear parking sensors with auto-stop, rearview camera, multi-collision braking system and driver fatigue detection. I gave it a lower score here because there's a safety kit that comes standard on competitors these days.

For child seats, you'll find three top cable attachment points and two ISOFIX anchorages on the second row.

There is a compact spare wheel under the boot floor.

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10

The Karoq is backed by a five-year Skoda unlimited mileage warranty. Service is recommended every 12 months or 15,000km, and if you want to pay up front, there's a $900 three-year package and a $1700 five-year plan that includes roadside assistance and map updates and is fully transferrable.

The Karoq is backed by a five-year Skoda unlimited mileage warranty.

Verdict

Okay, I changed my mind - Tom was stolen from the best, in my opinion, Karok. Of course, I have yet to drive his Sportline 140TSI, but the 110TSI is cheaper and better, with more options, plus it's more practical and versatile with a removable rear row. Sure, the 110 TSI doesn't have fancy wheels and paddle shifters or a more powerful engine, but if you're going to use it for everyday tasks like me in traffic, then the 110TSI is better.

Compared to its competitors, the Karoq 110 TSI is also better - better in terms of interior space and practicality, better in terms of cabin technology, with a fully digital display on the dashboard, and now, with a new engine and transmission, it is better to drive, than many of them. too much.