Skoda Karoq review

The Skoda Karoq is a top-drawer family SUV, offering comfort and superb practicality for a competitive price

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RRP £30,960

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Skoda Karoq interior front seats

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Skoda Karoq infotainment touchscreen

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Skoda Karoq interior detail

Skoda Karoq interior detail

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Skoda Karoq rear cornering

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Skoda Karoq right driving

Skoda Karoq front cornering

Skoda Karoq rear cornering

Skoda Karoq front right static

Skoda Karoq grille detail

Skoda Karoq alloy wheel detail

Skoda Karoq roof bars detail

Skoda Karoq rear lights detail

Skoda Karoq interior front seats

Skoda Karoq interior back seats

Skoda Karoq interior detail

Skoda Karoq infotainment touchscreen

Skoda Karoq interior air-con controls

Skoda Karoq interior detail

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Skoda Karoq rear cornering

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From £238

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What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

Skoda Karoq

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £237.62 Initial payment £2,851.44

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.

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£3,096 total upfront (£2,851 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months

Power

148 bhp

0-62 mph

9 s

Efficiency

46.3 mpg

Figures for 1.5 TSI ACT SE L Edition DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

5-Star

Cars with four wheel drive

Low insurance

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Buying & owning

Dan Jones

Dan Jones

Updated: 28 August 2025

How we test cars

Have you noticed how Skoda names its SUVs with the same first and last letters to group them into a family? As part of that theme, we’ve got the Skoda Karoq – which sits between the Kamiq and the Kodiaq in the Czech brand’s line-up.

The Karoq is Skoda’s small SUV so it's in the same class as the ever-popular Nissan Qashqai. On the outside, it looks every inch the modern Skoda, but under the skin it’s similar to the Seat Ateca and VW Tiguan – both of which are made by brands that, like Skoda, are part of the VW Group.

New car deals

Best price from £24,999

A circular icon with a £ sign at the centre.

What is What Car? best price?

The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.

Available now from: £24,999

RRP from: £30,960

Available now

From £24,999

Leasing deals

From £238

About our price indicator

What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

Skoda Karoq

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £237.62 Initial payment £2,851.44

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.

In partnership with

AutoTrader logo

£3,096 total upfront (£2,851 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months

To make sure the Karoq doesn’t tread on any of its cousins' toes, it’s slightly smaller than the Tiguan, and is designed to be less sporty but more comfortable and practical than the Ateca, creating its own unique identity and place in the world.

Is that enough to keep it competitive with the best small SUVs? Read on to find out how we rate the Skoda Karoq in all the important areas...

The 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey is live, tell us about your car now

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What’s new?
October 2024: Skoda updates Karoq once more, and adds more kit to each trim level
February 2022: Karoq undergoes major facelift, which incorporates fresh styling and more standard equipment
September 2021: Karoq named What Car? Best Used Family SUV
June 2020: Karoq upgraded with Skoda’s latest infotainment system, which includes the ‘Hey Laura’ voice assistant, internet radio and wireless smartphone charging
August 2018: Karoq range expands with new off-road-focused model, called the Karoq Scout, with four-wheel drive and a rough-terrain package
May 2017: Skoda reveals full details of its new compact SUV to replace the popular Yeti, the Karoq
 

Verdict

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The Skoda Karoq is a top-drawer small SUV, perfectly mixing an impressive interior, good driving characteristics, a comfortable ride, a big boot and plenty of space for passengers. We’d go for the mid-spec SE L Edition trim and the 1.5 TSI 150 engine.

Best buy

1.5 TSI ACT SE L Edition SUV 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) review

1.5 TSI ACT SE L Edition SUV 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) review

RRP £35,760

Pros

Cons

Best buy

1.5 TSI ACT SE L Edition SUV 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) review

1.5 TSI ACT SE L Edition SUV 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) review

RRP £35,760

New car deals

Available now

Leasing deals

Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

Skoda Karoq rear cornering

Strengths

Weaknesses

Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox

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The Skoda Karoq's entry-level 1.0 TSI 116 petrol engine has decent low-rev shove and is fine if you spend most of your time in town. Even so, we’d go for the more powerful 148bhp 1.5 TSI 150 because it’s more responsive and has greater low-rev urgency, officially sprinting from 0-62mph in just under 9.0 seconds.

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At the top of the range is the 2.0 TSI 190 petrol, which gets four-wheel drive and is available only in Sportline Edition trim. It's easily the fastest Karoq, with 0-62mph taking just 7.0 seconds, but it's rather pricey compared with our favourite Karoq.

If you want a diesel, the 2.0 TDI 150 is your only option. Like the most powerful petrol engine, it comes with four-wheel drive and it gives you plenty of oomph at low revs and up to motorway speeds. Indeed, its official 0-62mph of 8.7 seconds makes it the second fastest Karoq in the range.

Suspension and ride comfort

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The Karoq comes up trumps when it comes to smoothing the harsh edges off ruts and bumps around town. The ride gets even better on motorways, making it a soothing companion on long journeys.

Like the similarly plush Kia Sportage it upstages the firmer-riding Seat Ateca and the bouncier Peugeot 3008 for comfort. Granted, the Range Rover Evoque and Volvo XC40 are comfier still, but they also have much bigger price tags.

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Top-spec Sportline Edition introduces Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), allowing you to stiffen or soften the suspension as you change modes. With it equipped, the Karoq feels even more cushioned in Comfort mode and resists body lean a bit better over undulations.

Handling

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The Karoq sits on the same underpinnings as the Ateca and the VW Tiguan but Skoda has clearly worked hard to give it its own character, and it falls squarely between comfort and sportiness. There's more body lean in corners than in the driver-focused Ateca, but the Karoq is just as agile as the longer, heavier Tiguan.

Compared with the Sportage and the Ateca its steering is rather light, but it has a fine level of accuracy that lets you glide from corner to corner with ease. With plenty of grip at your disposal, you won’t lack any confidence as you do so.

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Despite some versions getting four-wheel drive, don’t expect the Karoq to be a cheap alternative to a strong off-roader like the Land Rover Defender. Indeed, while it might help you get across a muddy field, that’s about the extent of its abilities.

Noise and vibration

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Put your foot down and the diesel is a bit grumbly, while the 1.0-litre petrol thrums away noticeably, although not unpleasantly. The 1.5 petrol offers the smoothest progress of all, matching its rivals – for something quieter, you’ll need to look at near-silent all-electric alternatives such as the Kia EV3, MG S5 EV or Skoda Elroq.

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The Karoq generates more road, wind and suspension noise than the Ateca and Tiguan, despite being very similar mechanically. Even so, none of the noises are extreme enough to disturb you too much, providing you have the radio on. For those with particularly sensitive ears, the Mazda CX-30 is a quieter companion.

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The manual gearbox is light and easy to use, as is the clutch. If you opt for one of the automatic models, you'll find that they change gear smoothly but can be a bit jerky when pulling away from a standstill – a bit of a nuisance when parking or in stop-start traffic.

"You used to be able to add the Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) as an option with most of the trim levels, but I don’t think its removal from most versions is an issue because they’re already really comfortable." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Tips & Advice

How to test drive a car

There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

Skoda Karoq interior dashboard

Strengths

Weaknesses

Driving position and dashboard

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You shouldn't have any problems getting comfortable in the Skoda Karoq, whatever your size or shape. All versions have front seat height and lumbar adjustment, plus there's plenty of up-and-down and in-and-out steering wheel movement.

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You’ll also enjoy good seat support and a relatively high driving position – although the Karoq is no skyscraping Range Rover. Even so, you sit appreciably higher up than you do in the Mazda CX-30 let alone in conventional family hatchbacks.

Life is made easier still by well-sited, sensibly grouped buttons and switches on the dashboard, and the crisp digital instrument cluster. We like the wealth of information and the level of customisation the 10.25in Virtual Cockpit allows, including showing a full screen map.

Visibility, parking sensors and cameras

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The Karoq is one of the easiest small SUVs to see out of because it combines a raised driving position with narrow windscreen pillars and big side windows. Pulling out of T-junctions, manoeuvring around multi-storey car parks and changing lanes on a motorway are a breeze.

It also scores much better than the Kia Sportage, the Peugeot 3008 and the Vauxhall Grandland when it comes to over-the-shoulder vision. That’s thanks to its relatively slim rear pillars – a rare treat these days.

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As a back-up, all models have rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, while SE L Edition adds front parking sensors. All models come with LED headlights for better visibility at night, but top-spec Sportline Edition upgrades them to clever Matrix LED headlights, which allow you to keep your high beam on without blinding other drivers.

Sat nav and infotainment

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If you go for the entry-level Karoq, you get an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen as standard. It gives you clear graphics, has a simple operating system, and is, quite frankly, up there with the best in class.

The other two trims swap out the 8.0in touchscreen for a bigger 9.2in system. It has even better screen resolution and the larger size makes it easier to hit the on-screen buttons.

Both versions are packed with features, including sat-nav, DAB radio, Bluetooth, and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (so you can use your smartphone apps on the screen) as standard, along with two USB-C ports in the front centre console.

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Quality

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The Karoq's design team – determined to ensure that it has a distinct Skoda brand identity – has come up with an interior look that is surprisingly far removed from those of the Seat Ateca and VW Tiguan.

Its modern-looking dashboard borrows styling cues from the bigger Skoda Kodiaq and a few metal-effect and piano-black trims add a touch of class to finish it off. You’ll find plenty of squishy surfaces on top of the dashboard and doors, and even the harder materials lower down are textured so they don't feel cheap.

It's not just the finish that’s good – everything feels solidly screwed together, suggesting that the Karoq will easily shrug off the rigours of family life. That said, it doesn’t have the visual wow factor of the Peugeot 3008 inside or the sense of premium luxury the Mazda CX-30 imparts.

“The Karoq is virtually the same as the premium Audi Q3 in terms of interior build quality. That surprised me, given the price difference.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

Skoda Karoq boot open

Strengths

Weaknesses

Front space

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It’s unlikely that anyone will get into the front of the Skoda Karoq and start grumbling about a lack of space. It’s possible to slide the seats back a good amount to accommodate long legs, while those tall in the body will find the seat drops low enough to give plenty of head room.

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The only caveat (and it’s a slight one) is that the panoramic sunroof (standard on Sportline Edition and optional on lesser trims) nabs a bit of ceiling height.

There are lots of storage spaces dotted around, including big door bins and cubbies around the central dashboard area.

Rear space

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The Karoq has large rear door openings that make fitting a child seat relatively painless. There’s plenty of leg room for adults, so even six-footers won’t find their knees pressed up against the front seatbacks. If you require even more leg room, take a look at the limo-like Kia Sportage.

Head room is excellent too. The Karoq's ceiling is higher than in the Nissan Qashqai and similar to that of the Sportage and VW Tiguan. As in the front, the panoramic roof fitted to some versions does reduce head room a little, but not by enough to bother six-footers.

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What about carrying three in the rear seats? Well, there’s a high central floor hump to clamber over and, once in place, the middle passenger will feel a little squished. We wouldn’t recommend a long trip with three adults sitting in the back. Again, the Sportage is better in this respect thanks to its wider interior.

Seat folding and flexibility

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This is an area where the Karoq wipes the floor with its rivals – even closely related ones such as the Seat Ateca.

That is, providing you go for the SE Edition and SE L Edition’s optional VarioFlex seats, which do all sorts of clever things. For a start, the seatbacks are split fairly evenly into three separate sections rather than the usual 60/40. That offers much more flexibility if you want to carry long loads as well as passengers.

That’s not all – the seats also recline, and slide back and forth independently. You can even remove all three rear seats from the car, freeing up more space (the only trouble is that they're rather bulky and heavy). Without VarioFlex seats, the rear bench is split 60/40 and the sections don’t slide or recline, unlike with the Sportage's 40/20/40 split bench.

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Boot space

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The Karoq’s boot gives you 521 litres of space, or up to 588 litres in versions with VarioFlex seats. That's one of the biggest storage volumes in the small SUV class.

The closely related Ateca managed to swallow eight carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf, while the Karoq opened wide and gulped down nine. It's worth noting, though, that four-wheel drive models have a slightly smaller boot.

You can add a height-adjustable boot floor as an option, allowing you to create a flat extended load bay, removing the otherwise sizeable step up to the backs of the rear seats. Handily, all Karoqs have a range of hooks, trays and other clever features that should stop your shopping sloshing around the boot when you’re driving home from the supermarket.

“Unlike the Audi Q3, the Karoq’s rear seats don’t slide, but it still had enough space for a couple of my rugby-playing friends to sit in comfort.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

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Tips & Advice

Need ultimate practicality?

We’ve run the rule over the most spacious models on sale to deliver the definitive rundown of the cars with the biggest boots

Will the car fit your needs?

As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Skoda Karoq interior driver display

Strengths

Weaknesses

Equipment, options and extras

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The Karoq's SE Edition trim is generously equipped, with 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers, privacy glass, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and cruise control. Indeed, it’s highly recommendable if you’re on a budget, especially if you add the optional VarioFlex rear seats.

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If you can, though, we’d spend the extra to upgrade to mid-spec SE L Edition trim. That adds a few extra niceties, including 18in wheels, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and steering wheel, heated windscreen washers, keyless entry and start, and extra parking aids.

Ways to buy

Cash from £24,999 Own the car outright. No monthly payments.

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£2,851 initial payment , 24 month contract , 5000 miles p/a . Subject to status and conditions.

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Top-spec Sportline Edition trim, meanwhile, adds 19in wheels, sports front seats, matrix LED headlights, an electrically-operated boot lid and bespoke styling. It costs a fair bit more though, and comes with the head room-limiting panoramic roof.

Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2

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In entry-level form, the Skoda Karoq costs slightly more than the Seat Ateca, around the same as the Kia Sportage and less than the Nissan Qashqai and VW Tiguan.

Officially, the entry-level 1.0 TSI 116 can manage up to 49mpg. Surprisingly, the 2.0-litre diesel isn’t that much more efficient, making it harder to recommend given that it also costs more. Entry-level versions of the Sportage and Qashqai promise around 44mpg, but they both have hybrid engine options, which are much better if efficiency is important.

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Company car drivers looking to minimise their benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax payments will be better off with the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Sportage or a fully electric car like the Kia EV3, or the slightly larger MG S5 EV and Skoda Elroq.

Reliability

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The Karoq had mixed results in the small SUV class of our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. The petrol versions performed well, placing halfway up the 23 strong table, but the diesel came right near the bottom.

As a brand, Skoda claimed 13th place out of 31 car makers, putting it above Ford, Seat, Nissan, Peugeot and VW, but below Kia in 11th place.

You get a par-for-the-course three-year/60,000-mile warranty as standard, which you can extend up to five years or 100,000 miles for a reasonable fee. Hyundai and Kia match or beat that extended warranty time period as standard.

Safety and security

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When it was tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP the Karoq scored the full five stars. The thing is, that was back in 2017 and the rating has since expired.

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Even so, while the tests have become more stringent since then, the Karoq should still be a very safe car. It comes with plenty of standard safety equipment, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), a drowsiness monitor, lane assist and traffic-sign assist.

If you go for SE L Edition or Sportline Edition trim, you can also add the Travel Assist package option, which includes lane-keeping assist with traffic jam assist and emergency braking for adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring is reserved for the Sportline Editions’s optional Travel Assist Plus package.

“The Karoq’s option list is far more extensive than for the Kia Sportage or Vauxhall Grandland. I found that while that makes it easier to get precisely what you want, it all can be a bit confusing.” – Claire Evans, Consumer Editor


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Skoda Karoq owner reviews

Sort by: Most Recent Star rating

Ralph

Skoda Karoq petrol

Likes: Value, Reliability, Running costs

Dislikes: Servicing

Jun 8, 2026 6:34 PM

Like car but the dealer very unhelpful and refuses to fit new battery under warranty due to me not covering enough miles. Make up your own rules

Anonymous

Skoda Karoq petrol

Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs

Jun 2, 2026 8:36 PM

Excellent vehicle demonstrated by this being my third. Comfortable, reliable and great value for spec

Mike

Skoda Karoq petrol

Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing

May 5, 2026 7:25 PM

4th Skoda we've had. Like the brand.Most we ever spent on a car after buying it as an ex demo.Very happy so far. Quite economical on long runs, but not so on shorter journeys, but this was expected as it is the biggest car we've owned.

Anonymous

Skoda Karoq petrol

Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing

Mar 29, 2026 10:58 PM

Andrew

Skoda Karoq petrol

Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs

Mar 24, 2026 10:57 AM

Very reliable, comfortable drive and good boot space.

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If you're interested in finding a Skoda Karoq, or any of the other small suv cars mentioned here, head over to our Cars available now pages to find new cars listed for sale at great prices.

Skoda Karoq specifications

Best buy

1.5 TSI ACT SE L Edition SUV 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) review

1.5 TSI ACT SE L Edition SUV 5dr Petrol DSG Euro 6 (s/s) (150 ps) review

RRP £35,760

RRP price range

£30,960 - £44,250

MPG range across all versions

35.3 - 59.4

Available fuel types (which is best for you? )

Petrol, Diesel

Available colours

Number of engines (see all)

3

Number of trims (see all)

8

Warranty

3 years / 60,000 miles

Company car tax at 20% (min/max)

£2,003 - £3,166

Company car tax at 40% (min/max)

£4,006 - £6,332

FAQs

Is a Skoda Karoq worth buying?

Our expert reviewers think so – to the extent that they gave it five stars out of five. If you want a comfortable small SUV that’s practical and has a smart interior, the Karoq is for you.

Is the Skoda Karoq the same as the VW Tiguan?

While the pair share the same basic underpinnings, the Volkswagen Tiguan is bigger than the Karoq in most ways.

Are there any problems with the Skoda Karoq?

Not many – the Karoq is a great small SUV. Indeed, our only real demerits are that the Seat Ateca is more fun to drive and that the Varioflex seats are no longer standard equipment.

Which engine is best with the Skoda Karoq?

Our chosen Karoq engine is the 1.5 TSI 150, because it finds a great balance between performance and cost.

New car deals

Best price from £24,999

A circular icon with a £ sign at the centre.

What is What Car? best price?

The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.

Available now from: £24,999

RRP from: £30,960

Available now

From £24,999

Leasing deals

From £238

About our price indicator

What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

Skoda Karoq

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 24 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £237.62 Initial payment £2,851.44

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.

In partnership with

AutoTrader logo

£3,096 total upfront (£2,851 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 24 months

Skoda Karoqs available to buy

In partnership with

AutoTrader logo

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI SE Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.0 TSI SE Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £31,640

£24,549

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £31,885

£24,551

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI SE Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.0 TSI SE Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £31,640

£24,574

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£24,834

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI SE Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.0 TSI SE Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £32,300

£24,999

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £32,290

£25,346

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £31,885

£25,495

Skoda Karoq 1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.0 TSI Design Edition Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £32,565

£25,819

Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI ACT SE Edition DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Skoda Karoq

1.5 TSI ACT SE Edition DSG Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £34,160

£26,230

See all available cars

About the writer

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Name: Dan Jones

Title: Senior Reviewer

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Dan joined What Car? in 2021 and is now the road test team's Senior Reviewer. In that role, he produces new car reviews for Whatcar.com and What Car? magazine, alongside occasional contributions for Autocar and Move Electric.

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