Skoda Karoq will replace the Yeti in India and will compete with the upcoming next generation Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson and upcoming Volkswagen Tiguan.
Czech auto maker Skoda has revealed its latest SUV, the Karoq globally in Sweden. It will sit below the Kodiaq SUV and comes with a 5-seater layout. The Skoda Karoq is based on the MQB platform that also underpins other Volkswagen Group cars like the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Seat Ateca. While the bigger Skoda Kodiaq will be hitting the Indian market very soon, expect the Karoq to make a India premiere at the 2018 Delhi Auto Expo with a launch scheduled sometime after that. In terms of design, the Karoq follows the rules set by the bigger Kodiaq with a sharp but elegant design language.
The interiors of the Skoda Karoq look very premium with the centre console dominated by the large touchscreen infotainment system and controls for the HVAC system. There is a new slimmer multifunction steering wheel while the dashboard theme is all black. Although you can expect Skoda India to offer a dual tone theme on the insides as well. The Skoda Karoq will be powered by a 1.4-litre TSI and a 2.0-litre diesel engine in India. The petrol engine develops 150 HP while the diesel engine will be offered in the 143 HP state of tune.
Gearbox options will include a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed automatic and a 7-speed automatic too. The Skoda Karoq will be offered with a 4×4 system just like the Yeti in India. Higher variants will also get Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) with various drive modes namely Comfort, Standard and Sport. The Yeti was always a practical choice in its segment and the Skoda Karoq builds over it by offering a boot space of 521 litres that can be further extended to 1,630 litres by folding the rear seat down.