The new Skoda Karoq: next-level company car thinking

In the five years since it made its debut, the Skoda Karoq has quickly become a mainstay of Skoda’s company car line-up, thanks to its standout SUV style, its spacious and adaptable family-friendly interior, and its impressive tech. 

Over 500,000 examples have rolled off production lines, making it Skoda’s best-selling SUV and the Czech brand’s second highest-selling model after the Skoda Octavia. It’s also highly acclaimed, winning a wealth of awards – including our 2021 What Car? Best Family SUV for practicality and a five-star What Car? review. 

Now, there’s a new Skoda Karoq for 2022. So, how does it improve on what would already appear to be the perfect package and elevate a winning formula to whole other level – especially for company car drivers? Let’s find out…

Learn more about the new Skoda Karoq

Style with substance

The Skoda Karoq has always been admired for its striking sporty style: blending compact dimensions that make this mid-size SUV ideal for urban environments, with increased ground clearance that’s perfect for when work or play take you off-road.

Thanks to a design refresh, the new Skoda Karoq boasts an even more rugged standout look. At the front, there’s a wider grille, which amps up Skoda’s signature hexagonal grille motif, and acts as a bold counterpoint to the significantly slimmer headlights – now available for the first time with Skoda’s distinctive four-light cluster full-LED Matrix technology as standard on the Skoda Karoq Sportline. 

Along the side, new aerodynamically optimised alloy wheel designs, a wealth of subtle air curtains and finlets and a new rear body-coloured spoiler reduce the Skoda Karoq’s drag by 9%. As a result, with a drag-coefficient (Cd) of just 0.30, it’s one of the most aerodynamically efficient SUVs in its segment – working with Skoda’s advanced EVO engines (see below) to further enhance its already impressive fuel efficiency and further reduce its CO2 emissions.

At the rear, the new, slimmer LED tail-lights – a fresh take on Skoda’s signature C-shaped light cluster – feature dynamic indicators and a friendly welcome animation. The wide choice of paint colours included two new additions to the Skoda Karoq range – a head-turning Phoenix Orange and a stylish Graphite Grey.

A choice of efficient engines

For its UK launch, the new Skoda Karoq will be available with a range of engines: all from Skoda’s new advanced EVO line-up. On the petrol front, there’s the 110PS 1.0-litre TSI and 150PS 1.5-litre TSI (available with a seven-speed DSG automatic), as well as a 190PS 2.0-litre TSI 4x4 DSG. They use a blend of 350 bar high-pressure fuel injection and active cylinder technology – which automatically shuts down two of the engine’s four cylinders when engine load is low – to further enhance their long-distance fuel efficiency. 

The new Skoda Karoq’s diesel engines benefit from a ‘twin dosing’ exhaust gas treatment – which injects AdBlue in front of the two Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) catalytic converters to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions far below the required standards. You can choose from a 116PS or 150PS 2.0-litre TDI – both of which can be specified with all-wheel drive, with the 150PS 2.0-litre TDI also available with a seven-speed DSG automatic.

With petrol models offering benefit-in-kind (BIK) as low as 31%, a company car driver could get behind the wheel of the new Skoda Karoq for as little as £1,404 per year (£114pm) on a 20% tax bracket, or £2,902 per year (£242pm) for someone in the 40% tax bracket. Diesel models also offer a BIK rate as low as 30%, meaning that a 20% tax payer could drive the new Skoda Karoq for just £1,559 (£130pm), while someone in the 40% tax bracket would pay £3,117 (£260pm).

Comfortable, spacious and versatile

Inside, the new Skoda Karoq offers even more style, thanks to enhanced LED ambient lighting, new decorative trim strips, and an optional panoramic sunroof that comes as standard on the Skoda Karoq Sportline. Crucially, the new Skoda Karoq’s interior also ups the game for sustainability. The Eco pack features upholstery made of vegan-friendly leather-like materials and Suedia microsuedes, as well as recycled and reclaimed materials, such as disposed PET bottles. 

In the rear, there’s between 521 litres and 1,630 litres of luggage space with the standard-fit seats. It’s all easily accessed with the optional electrically operated boot with a virtual pedal, which comes as standard on the Skoda Karoq Sportline.

You can also opt for Skoda’s incredibly adaptable VarioFlex rear seats, which come as standard on the Skoda Karoq SE L. These can be divided in a 40:20:40 configuration that can slide backwards and forwards and split and fold individually, or even be removed. With Varioflex, the Skoda Karoq’s luggage volume is enhanced to 588 litres as standard or up to 1,810 litres with the rear seats removed entirely.

Packed with tech that keeps you connected

The new Skoda Karoq comes with a wealth of in-car technology that helps you stay connected to work and home – including an optional 10.25-inch ‘Virtual Cockpit’ display, which is available on all trims.

Thanks to the built-in e-SIM on the 8-inch screen of the Amundsen infotainment or the optional 9.2-inch Columbus system you’re always online, which gives you access to ‘over the air’ map updates, the latest weather information and news, as well as bolstering the in-built digital DAB radio with a wide choice of web radio stations.

Wireless SmartLink technology offers seamless smartphone connectivity for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, while the Amundsen or Columbus Plus packages offer wireless inductive charging. Wonderfully, it’s all controlled your way: with a choice of touchscreen commands, quick-hit buttons on the multi-function steering wheel and Laura digital voice assistant. You can even control certain elements of your car remotely on your smartphone through the MySKODA app – including locking and unlocking your car.

Driving aids that make every trip easier and safer

Finally, the new Skoda Karoq is available with a wealth of driving assist and safety technology that adds confidence and lends a helping hand on every journey – whether it’s a short inner-city commute, a long-distance sales pitch, or even a weekend away with family or friends.

The full-LED Matrix technology headlights – which come fitted as standard on the Skoda Karoq Sportline – use an adaptive front light system that blends two LED modules (one above the other) to provide a more powerful low beam and high beam, while Front Assist with Predictive Pedestrian Protection and City Emergency Brake adds an extra set of eyes for upcoming hazards.

The new Skoda Karoq’s more advanced cameras – part of the optional Travel Assist pack – deliver an enhanced Traffic Sign Recognition system and an Adaptive Lane Assist that is now able to identify all road markings and even road works, while the Predictive Cruise Control uses images from the front camera and data from the navigation system to anticipate the road ahead.

The new Skoda Karoq’s Parking pack – which comes as standard on the Skoda Karoq SE L and Sportline – blends front and rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera to help you make short work of tight car parks, while the Winter pack (which comes as standard on SE L and Sportline models) helps you stay warm when it’s frosty outside by adding a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, heated windscreen washer nozzles and headlight washers for an even clearer view ahead when things get grimy. 

Finally, if the worst should happen, the new Skoda Karoq boasts up to nine airbags, with an optional Crew Protect Assist that automatically closes open windows and (if fitted) the panoramic roof, while simultaneously activating the hazard lights and pre-tensioning the front seat belts. Following any collision, the Multi-Collision Brake prevents the vehicle from rolling further in an uncontrolled manner.

Learn more about the new Skoda Karoq