Škoda Karoq

The Škoda Karoq is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) designed and built by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto. Introduced in 2017, the vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform, and replaced the Škoda Yeti.[8] The car slots between the smaller Škoda Kamiq and the larger Škoda Kodiaq.

Škoda Karoq
Overview
ManufacturerŠkoda Auto
Production2017–present
AssemblyCzech Republic: Kvasiny;[1] Mladá Boleslav[2]
Germany: Osnabrück[3]
Slovakia: Bratislava (Volkswagen Bratislava Plant)[4]
Russia: Nizhny Novgorod (GAZ)[5]
China: Ningbo (SAIC-VW)[6]
Body and chassis
ClassCompact crossover SUV (C)
Body style5-door SUV
Layout
PlatformVolkswagen Group MQB A1
Related
Powertrain
Engine
  • Petrol:
  • 1.0 L TSI 115 I3
  • 1.2 L TSI 115 I4
  • 1.4 L TSI 150 I4
  • 1.5 L TSI 150 I4
  • 1.6 L MPI 110 I4
  • 2.0 L TSI 190 I4
  • Diesel:
  • 1.6 L TDI 115 I4
  • 2.0 L TDI 150 I4
  • 2.0 L TDI 190 I4
Transmission
  • 5-speed manual
  • 6-speed manual
  • 6-speed DSG
  • 7-speed DSG
  • 8-speed automatic Aisin
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,638 mm (103.9 in)[7]
2,688 mm (105.8 in) (China)
Length4,382 mm (172.5 in)[7]
4,432 mm (174.5 in) (China)
Width1,841 mm (72.5 in)[7]
Height1,603–1,614 mm (63.1–63.5 in)[7]
Chronology
PredecessorŠkoda Yeti

Overview

The car was officially introduced at a special event on 18 May 2017 in Stockholm, Sweden.[9] The car began to be produced at the turn of June and July 2017 in Kvasiny. The sales started in the autumn of 2017.[10] It is a sister model to the SEAT Ateca, sharing its chassis, roof stamping and side doors, although Volkswagen Group adopted extra measures to maximally differentiate their design by applying each brand's design language.[11]

Compared to its predecessor, the Škoda Yeti, the Karoq is significantly larger. It is 160 mm longer, 35 mm wider and 40 mm lower than the Yeti, and the wheelbase is 60 mm longer. It is not being marketed as the second generation Yeti to have a naming consistency with the Kamiq and Kodiaq. The new Karoq name is also adopted to boost the car's global appeal, since in China, one of the large market for the Karoq, the yeti association is seen as a negative and 'polarized', as referred by Škoda board member for sales and marketing Werner Eichhorn.[9]

The name Karoq comes just like the name Kodiaq from Aleuts, the native inhabitants of Alaskan island Kodiak. The name Karoq was created by a combination of Aleutian words Kaa'Raq and Ruq, a car and an arrow, which is the motive of the Škoda logo.[11]

The Karoq is available in two and four-wheel-drive configurations. Higher trim levels will come with a Driving Mode Select system with five modes, while an Off-Road mode featuring traction control and electronic differential lock is an option on four-wheel-drive models. The Karoq's suspension features a MacPherson-designed front axle with triangular wishbones, and a four-link rear axle. A Dynamic Chassis Control system on the 1.5-litre TSI and 2.0-litre TDI engines will offer three chassis modes which are Comfort, Standard and Sport with electrically operated valves adjusting based on road conditions.[9]

It is Skoda’s best-selling model in 2019, with global deliveries already exceeding 137,700 units in the first 11 months of the year. In 2018, the automaker delivered 115,700 units to customers worldwide, with the total number of units built since the model’s launch in October 2017 reaching the 250,000 mark in mid-September 2019.[5]

  • Škoda Karoq SE L (rear view)
  • Škoda Karoq SE
  • Škoda Karoq SE (rear view)
  • Interior

China

The Karoq for the Chinese market is produced by SAIC-Volkswagen, which is the sole manufacturer of Škoda vehicles in China. The vehicle made its domestic debut at the 2017 Guangzhou Auto Show with the Chinese name Ke Luoke (柯珞克).[12] Compared to the European model, the car is longer by 50 mm (2.0 in) and the wheelbase is increased by 50 mm (2.0 in).[13][14] It went on sale in January 2018.[15]

The vehicle is used as a basis for a Volkswagen-badged sister model called the Volkswagen Tharu.[16][17]

Russia

The Karoq entered production on 12 December 2019 at Volkswagen Group’s Nizhny Novgorod plant in Russia through CKD kits.[18] It went on sale in Russia from February 2020.[19] The standard engine choice is a 110 PS (108 hp; 81 kW) 1.6-litre MPI naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, while a 150 PS (148 hp; 110 kW) 1.4-litre TSI petrol is available for higher trims. The base engine comes with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, while the TSI is mated to either an 8-speed automatic and FWD or a 6-speed DSG transmission with AWD.[5]

  • Škoda Karoq (Russia)
  • Škoda Karoq (Russia)

Powertrain

The Škoda Karoq is available with several engines for different markets ranging from 1.0 to 2.0-litres, and a choice of front or all-wheel drive.[20][21]

Petrol engines
Model Displacement Power Torque Transmission Markets
1.0 TSI 115 999 cc I3 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) 200 N⋅m (148 lb⋅ft) 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG Europe
1.2 TSI 115 1,197 cc I4 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) 185 N⋅m (136 lb⋅ft) 6-speed manual or 7-speed automatic China[22]
1.4 TSI 150 1,395 cc I4 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) 250 N⋅m (184 lb⋅ft) 6-speed manual or 7/8-speed automatic China, Russia, and Australia[23]
1.5 TSI 150 1,498 cc I4 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) 250 N⋅m (184 lb⋅ft) 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG Europe
1.6 MPI 110 1,598 cc I4 110 PS (81 kW; 108 hp) 155 N⋅m (114 lb⋅ft) 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic Russia
2.0 TSI 190 4Motion 1,984 cc I4 190 PS (140 kW; 187 hp) 320 N⋅m (236 lb⋅ft) 7-speed DSG Europe
Diesel engines
1.6 TDI 115 1,598 cc I4 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) 250 N⋅m (184 lb⋅ft) 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG Europe
2.0 TDI 150 SCR 4Motion 1,968 cc I4 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) 320 N⋅m (236 lb⋅ft) 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG Europe
2.0 TDI 190 SCR 4Motion 1,968 cc I4 190 PS (140 kW; 187 hp) 400 N⋅m (295 lb⋅ft) 7-speed DSG Europe

Awards

In the German reading poll Autonis 2017, Auto motor und sport readers voted Karoq the most beautiful car in the class of compact SUV.[24] The German car magazines Auto Bild and Bild am Sonntag have awarded Karoq with the Golden Steering Wheel 2017.[25] The Škoda Karoq won the title Car of the Year 2018 in the Czech Republic in January 2018.[26]

Sales and production figures

Strong demand for the Karoq forced Volkswagen Group to assemble the car in two additional plants, in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic from January 2018 and in Volkswagen plant in Osnabrück, Germany from the end of 2018.[27] In April 2018, Škoda CEO Bernhard Maier said during Skoda's annual results conference that customers in several markets had to wait for up to 10 months for their car to be delivered.[3] It was also started to be manufactured in Bratislava, Slovakia in October 2020.[18][28]

Year Sales Production
Europe[29] China[15]
2017 5,981
2018 78,842 31,071 173,816[30]
2019 105,041 38,026 203,688[31]
2020 82,121 22,536

References
  1. "Kvasiny plant production record". www.skoda-auto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  2. Karoq, Skoda. "Due To Popular Demand, Skoda Assembling Karoq At A Second Factory". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  3. "German-built Skoda Karoq to hit market while brand upgrades Czech plant". Autocar. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  4. "Škoda Karoq begins production in Slovakia. Capacity reasons". World Today News. 2020-10-25. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  5. Mihalascu, Dan (2019-12-14). "Skoda Starts Karoq Production In Russia, Will Build It In Slovakia Too From 2020". Carscoops. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  6. "Production milestone: SKODA AUTO manufactures three millionth car in China - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  7. "KAROQ - Dimensions". www.skoda.ie. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  8. "New Skoda Karoq revealed". What Car?. Haymarket Media Group. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  9. "New Skoda Karoq SUV priced from £20,875". Autocar. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  10. "Škoda Karoq už trénuje na českých silnicích". iDNES.cz. 12 April 2017.
  11. "Škoda Karoq startuje prodej s prázdninami. Už jsme v ní jeli". iDNES.cz. 28 April 2017.
  12. "Skoda KAROQ makes debut with Chinese name". autonews.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  13. "Skoda has introduced an updated Skoda Karoq crossover for China". Car catalog of the world - all makes of cars, models and generations in the site directory 1cars.org (in Russian). 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  14. "ŠKODA KAMIQ in China". www.skoda-auto.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  15. "Skoda Karoq China auto sales figures". carsalesbase.com. 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  16. "New Tharu SUV Is A Skoda Karoq With A Volkswagen Atlas Face For China". Carscoops. 2018-05-17. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  17. autotimesnews (2018-10-01). "Analogue Skoda Karoq from VW: a more powerful engine and four-wheel drive. |". Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  18. "ŠKODA KAROQ now also produced in Nizhny Novgorod and as of autumn 2020 in Bratislava". ŠKODA Storyboard. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  19. "Skoda Karoq starts in the Russian market". eng.autostat.ru. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
  20. "Karoq-Technology". Škoda-auto.com.
  21. "Škoda Karoq-Motory". Škoda-auto.cz (in Czech).
  22. "ŠKODA SUV Quartet for China". ŠKODA Storyboard. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  23. "Продажи нового кроссовера Skoda стартовали в России". Wroom.ru (in Russian). 14 February 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  24. "Die schönsten Autos 2017: Skoda Karoq ist schönster Kompakt-SUV". Auto Motor und Sport (in German). 27 September 2017.
  25. "New Škoda Karoq wins Golden Steering Wheel". Škoda Storyboard. 7 November 2017.
  26. "Autem roku 2018 v ČR se stala Škoda Karoq". Novinky.cz (in Czech). 5 January 2018.
  27. "Production line for the ŠKODA KAROQ opened also at the main plant in Mladá Boleslav". ŠKODA Storyboard. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  28. "Production of the Škoda Karoq also began in Bratislava". Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  29. "Skoda Karoq European sales figures". carsalesbase.com. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  30. "Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  31. "Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-03-17.
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