Experience the Skoda Karoq, customers are introduced to a European model with German standards at a relatively affordable price. Let’s see what foreign experts say about this car.
First launched in 2017, the official “age” of the Skoda Karoq is not high compared to many other famous models. But perhaps for this reason, this European B-segment crossover is highly appreciated by a modern part of customers, thanks to its practical values.
As a replacement for the aging Yeti in terms of design, the Skoda Karoq is equipped with many worthy features, such as: the MQB chassis system – similar to the Polo or Jetta – inherited from the famous parent company Volkswagen; diverse engine options: 1.0L turbo, 1.4L, 1.5L or 2.0L petrol engine or 2.0L turbo diesel engine paired with VW’s DSG gearbox.
Also because it is a latecomer, the Skoda Karoq has a very impressive design, with many similarities to the luxury brand Audi, which is often referred to as their “cousin” in the Volkswagen family. On the Karoq, it is not difficult to spot square lines, showing a sturdy and robust look, but at the same time very youthful and modern.
The car grille is designed in a dark tone, square and the grid patterns run vertically. The intelligent LED headlight system is arranged in two layers and has a spherical shape to enhance lighting performance. The wheels are designed to be enclosed – providing a visually appealing effect and aerodynamic advantage, helping to save fuel.
The body is designed to be square and simple – quite similar to the style often seen on famous Q3 or Q5. Skoda Karoq has LED taillights with sharp lines and many cut lines that create a square feeling in the rear of the car. But all of these things are not enough to express the goodness of the Skoda Karoq. Let’s step inside the car to truly experience it.
The first thing that is most noticeable when sitting in a Karoq is the premium feel. Simply put, Skoda positions itself in the middle: above the mainstream brands but not yet “luxurious” like the German brands Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Audi. In reality, Skoda has a simple design that is different from the eye-catching style of many modern models.
The Czech brand explores user experience at a deeper level, namely materials and helps customers understand what “European standard model” really means. All materials around the dashboard, seats, door panels… are made of leather and soft plastic with precise assembly quality – sturdy and give a very friendly feeling when touched. The 9.2-inch screen is not large compared to many other names in the same segment today.
But in the Karoq, users enjoy a reasonable display area, all interfaces are made simple – easy to access and get used to, smooth operation without lag. In fact, this screen on the Karoq is also shared with other models such as the VW ID.3 or Golf. Physical buttons are still retained, especially the air conditioning system.
The Skoda Karoq steering wheel is flat-bottomed, three-spoke leather-wrapped, providing a very comfortable grip. On both sides of the steering wheel are fully equipped with convenient and safe driving support features. Behind the steering wheel is a visual and modern instrument cluster.
The car space gives a comfortable feeling with 5 adults. The size can’t be called spacious – as it is a B-segment crossover – but it is also not considered tight. Around both rows are arranged storage compartments for water and convenient storage trays. The rear seats still have full vents and charging ports.
If the stylish design and quality interior are still not persuasive enough for customers, then surely the driving experience will be what makes people decide to buy the Skoda Karoq. Sitting in the driver’s seat and experiencing it yourself is the only way for buyers to truly see the value of the money they spend.
First of all, the most impressive thing on the Skoda Karoq is probably its suspension system. Despite being equipped with 18-inch wheels, the car absorbs impact forces very well, making rough and bumpy roads much more friendly to passengers; without needing the rare version with an adaptive suspension system in the UK market.
In addition, the weight distribution ability of Skoda Karoq is also very impressive. All maneuvers in corners or lane changes at high speeds can be handled in a very neat, flexible, and sharp manner. Although it is still equipped with the McPherson front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension, the suspension system and “German standard” chassis from the VW parent company provide a completely different experience.
Furthermore, the sound insulation ability on the Skoda Karoq is also a big difference compared to other cheap mainstream models. The noise from the tires and the road hardly enter the cabin, the wind noise around the windows is also very limited. Only a very small volume of wind noise blows through the 2 side rearview mirrors.
In addition, the off-road capability of the Skoda Karoq is also very good compared to other models in the same segment, especially the 4×4 version. Even with the front-wheel-drive version (as in the Vietnamese market), Karoq still has 4 different driving modes, depending on specific operating conditions.
In conclusion, Skoda Karoq is clearly a premium B-segment crossover, with a youthful – classy – robust European design; spacious interior, full of utility, precise finishing quality, and especially impressive driving experience – thanks to the values inherited from the VW parent company.
With all these values, the Skoda Karoq is clearly “superior” compared to mainstream models, especially those from Asia. This is also shown very clearly in the pricing of the product by the distributor Thanh Cong. And will the Karoq help Skoda succeed in the Vietnamese market or not? – The answer will still be ahead when the production of arrowhead logo models from the factory of the company in Quang Ninh province starts in 2024.
Anh Phan (Tuoitrethudo)
Source: TopGear
