In this review
Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2
On the face of it, the Karoq appears more expensive than the Seat Ateca, but that’s because Skoda doesn’t offer an equivalent to Seat’s entry-level S trim. Compare their like-for-like trim levels and you’ll find that while the Karoq is slightly pricier, it comes with more equipment.
The Karoq’s running costs, such as insurance and servicing, are very much in line with the Seat, although predicted resale values infer that the Karoq will lose slightly less money in depreciation after three years. Monthly PCP finance rates are competitive, although the Mazda CX-30 is likely to cost a little less.
Despite the 1.5 TSI 150 being our favourite engine, it’s not as economical in the real world as the Ateca 1.4 TSI 150. In our True MPG tests, the Karoq managed a relatively disappointing combined 36.6mpg. It still has similar CO2 emissions comparable to the 2.0 TDI diesel and actually sits in a lower benefit-in-kind tax bracket – something for company car users to bear in mind. The best choice for low company car tax is the 1.0 TSI, however. Even so, rivals such as the Mazda CX-30 Skyactiv-X will cost company car users even less per month.
Equipment, options and extras
Entry-level SE trim is great value for money. It comes with those goodies that many take for granted, such as 17in alloy wheels, electric front and rear windows and cruise control, but also offers more sophisticated touches such as and dual-zone climate control and the excellent 8.0in touchscreen system we detailed in the infotainment section.
SE Drive is a trim level designed with company users in mind, adding convenient features that include adaptive cruise control and front and rear parking sensors. The only trouble is that you’re unlikely to find any manufacturer-supported finance deals on it. SE L is our pick, though. It has a few extra luxury touches such as heated front seats, keyless entry and 18in wheels, plus standard Varioflex rear seats.
With Scout and Sportline, you’re mainly paying for the unique look each has and neither seem worth the extra over SE L, even given their additional equipment. The Karoq Edition has tonnes of equipment, but is far too pricey to recommend.
Reliability
Skoda finished above average in the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey, placing a creditable 9th out of 31 manufactures surveyed. To put that into context, Seat and Volkswagen were 15th and 16th respectively, while Peugeot came in at 18th.
You get a bog-standard three-year/60,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty, which you can extend for a reasonable additional cost up to five years or 100,000 miles.
Safety and security
All Karoqs should keep you relatively safe, thanks to standard-fit automatic emergency braking (AEB) along with the usual selection of airbags and other electronic safety wizardry. This helps the Karoq achieve its five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, with good scores in the individual categories. Some points to note are that it markedly outscores the Peugeot 3008 for adult protection, but the 3008 and Seat Ateca turn the tables with better child protection ratings. However, it’s the Mazda CX-30 that is the safest of its immediate rivals
Options to consider are an additional Isofix point on the front passenger seat, and the pricey but fulsome Assistance Package 1. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane assist, blindspot detect, traffic jam assist and emergency assist, although it’s only available on cars with an automatic gearbox.
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