2.0 TDI 150ps SE L 4X4 5dr SUV

A shirker, just does the minimum required but thinks its the bees knees

Sorry but I cannot agree with all of the press reviews of the Karoq. I think of the Karoq as a shirker; it just manages to do the minimum it has to at all times, but thinks it’s better than it is. It may seem impressive on a test drive but you will soon lose the will to live. I get no enjoyment or satisfaction from owning it, but it does the job…just. From the outside it can’t be bothered to be fully streamlined, angular or curvaceous so it ends up looking bland. Inside it has all the knobs and dials and is well put together but it can’t be bothered to have any flourishes of colour or style; it’s a comfortable, but hollow place to be. Driving is the same; it’s smooth enough, powerful enough and handles well enough, but it also wallows around bends and feels more like a van than a well sorted large saloon, which say the CX5 manages to do. It is also just practical enough, but not as well thought out as the Yeti. Conversely the Yeti was a real team player and I felt as though it was always doing its upmost to do whatever I asked of it and for that, I loved it. Why Oh why Skoda dropped one of the best and most iconic cars of the last decade and replaced it with this lightweight I will never know. So why have I got a Karoq SE L? Because I love my wife who loves the Karoq and maybe you will too. But having purchased about twenty new cars in my lifetime, the Karoq stands out as a real stinker.

Pros
Well built.
Comfortable.
Very easy to drive.
Good cruiser on motorways.

Cons
Looks bland.
Good quality interior but without any flare or style.
OK to drive but not engaging like the yeti or CX5. Good grip and positive steering but wallows a bit and feels bulky or large to drive. Strangely the larger kodiaq feels smaller and more engaging to drive.
2 litre diesel pulls well but is noisy and rough which suited the yeti but not the more refined ride of the karoq.
Sport and off road driving modes are a bit pointless without the dynamic chassis control.
Differences between the karoq and its competitors don't seem large enough to make it stand out.
Uses the add blue solution to reduce emissions and this is a faff and is an additional cost.
Vario flex seats do not fold flat.
Boot lock is clunky and unreliable.
Position of infotainment touch screen is difficult to reach.
Sound system is average.

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