PRAGUE, May 23 — It’s not every day that an entirely new crossover SUV is revealed, but then it’s not every day a manufacturer drops an existing crossover that’s only been in production since 2009 either. We now have plenty of detail about the all-new Skoda Karoq, which is the direct replacement for Yeti that was actually one of the original small family SUVs when it was launched in 2009. This is an incredibly vibrant and growing segment of the market, so Skoda will be hoping it’s judged the mood right by replacing the Yeti with the new Karoq.
If cynics out there were thinking the Karoq was just going to be a refreshed Yeti with a new name, the images and details released by Skoda reaffirm the fact this is a completely new model. Although it still conforms to the accepted tall SUV silhouette, this is a bigger vehicle than the model it replaces, and there’s quite a distinct difference between the styling of the Yeti and the Karoq. The new model is 4,382mm long and 1,841mm wide, which is a fairly substantial 160mm longer and almost 50mm wider than its predecessor.
Once we get past the new styling and the larger proportions, it appears Skoda has put a lot of emphasis on technology and choice. There are no less than five different engines to choose between in the Karoq, with four of them being new. The new units will be 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI gasoline and 1.6 TDI and 2.0 TDI diesel, while the returning engine will be the 150PS 2.0 TDI.
Driver assistance features appear to be where Skoda has concentrated a lot of its effort with the new Karoq. The Karoq will therefore offer the likes of Park Assist, Lane Assist and Traffic Jam Assist for convenience, while safety will be assisted with features including, Blind Spot Detect, Front Assist with predictive pedestrian protection and Emergency Assist.
There will also be an available freely programmable digital instrument panel for the first time in any Skoda model, so the cockpit displays can be set to a driver’s specific needs and individual preferences.
The Skoda Karoq is expected to go on sale in January 2018, but expect to see and hear a lot more about it between now and then. — AFP-Relaxnews
