Used Skoda Karoq 2017-present review

What’s in a name? The Skoda Karoq has always been a particularly odd name and might have seemed contentious given the popularity of its predecessor, the far from abominable Skoda Yeti. But viewed within the context of the other SUVs in Skoda's range, the smaller Skoda Kamiq and the larger Skoda Kodiaq, it makes a great deal of sense.

As does the car itself. The Karoq is a terrific car, being good to drive, comfortable to ride in and smart and well-finished inside. Its primary brief has always been practicality, though – so it retains the smart touches and versatility that made the older Yeti so popular.

Engines: You can pick between three petrol and three diesel options with the Karoq. The petrol range consists of a 113bhp 1.0-litre, a 148bhp 1.5-litre and a 187bhp 2.0-litre, all turbocharged. If you want a diesel, you can pick between a 113bhp 1.6-litre (although this was dropped from the range in 2020) and two 2.0 diesels of 148bhp and 187bhp respectively.

You can also find a dual-clutch automatic gearbox on almost every engine, while four-wheel drive is available on the 1.5 and 2.0-litre petrols and the 2.0-litre diesel models.

Trims and equipment: There are four different Karoq trim levels to choose from. The range kicks off with the SE, which is anything but basic with 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, front and rear electric windows, cruise control, privacy glass and an 8.0in touchscreen that features smartphone mirroring coming as standard.

SE Technology adds adaptive cruise control and front and rear parking sensors, while SE L gives you a dedicated built-in sat-nav. Top-of-the-range Edition trim adds larger 19in wheels, a wider 9.2in infotainment screen and a panoramic sunroof.

Ride and handling: To drive, the Karoq is very pleasant. It isn’t quite as sharp in the handling department as the Seat Ateca with which it shares a platform, but it’s tidier and more agile than its other platform-mate, the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Karoq comes up trumps for comfort, with a well-judged ride that smoothes off all but the harshest bumps around town and becomes delightfully plush at higher speeds.

Diesel engines can get a little boomy, mind you, so we reckon the quieter, sprightlier petrols are the most pleasant to drive.

Interior and practicality: The Karoq’s greatest asset, however, is its interior. The Karoq’s is smart and beautifully built; admittedly, it lacks the sense of occasion of the Peugeot 3008, but it’s still a great place to spend time. There’s loads of room for both driver and front-seat passenger, combined with an excellent driving position.

Things get even better further back because the rear doors open nice and wide and the rear bench is pretty spacious. If you choose an SE L or Edition, you get a fantastically useful 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat – or the option to remove the rear seats entirely to maximise boot space. This system was also available as part of the VarioFlex package on SE and SE Technology models.

The boot, meanwhile, isn’t the biggest in the class, but it is very well shaped, which means you can carry a useful amount in it. And if you don’t choose a car with the VarioFlex seating, your consolation prize is an adjustable boot floor that gives you a hidden space beneath the cover for smaller items.

If you're interested in buying a used Skoda Karoq, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site here.

Prices for a used Skoda Karoq start at around £10,000, this for a 2018 car with an average to above average mileage for the year and a full service history. Up the budget to between £12,000 and £15,000 and you'll find plenty of 2018 cars and some 2019 versions too. Spend around £16,000 to £20,000 on 2020 and 2021 Karoqs, £20,000 to £24,000 on 2022 and 2023 cars and a little more on 2024 models.

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MPG

Not too much if you stick with the smaller petrol and mid-range diesel versions. The 1.0-litre petrol has a WLTP figure of 43.5mpg, while the more powerful 1.5-litre petrol is only slightly down on this at 41.5mpg thanks to cylinder-deactivation technology that cuts fuel consumption at a cruise. The 2.0-litre petrol is by far the thirstiest version of Karoq at 33.2mpg.

Strangely, the smallest 1.6-litre diesel isn't the most fuel efficient engine available at 49.6mpg, because the 148bhp 2.0-litre is slightly better at 50.4mpg. This drops to 41.5mpg if you go for the range-topping 187bhp version with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox.

Road Tax

All Karoqs will have been registered after April 2017, so owners will be charged the current £190 per year for all petrol and diesel cars.

Insurance and servicing

Servicing costs should be cheap, and once your Karoq hits three years old, you should be able to take advantage of Skoda’s good-value fixed-price servicing scheme at its dealerships.

One tip is to look out for a Karoq that had Skoda’s optional extended warranty added by its first owner. This adds an extra two years to the standard three-year warranty, so it’s really worth having – although if you haven’t got it, don’t forget you can always extend the warranty yourself in the normal way when it comes to an end.

Reliability

Owners of the Skoda Karoq report high satisfaction in the 2023 What Car? Reliability Survey. The Karoq is admired for its overall performance, with only minor electronic glitches mostly centred around the infotainment system. These issues are infrequent and are usually resolved swiftly.

Dealer service is generally praised for its efficiency and professional conduct, enhancing the ownership experience. While most feedback about the dealerships is positive, some owners noted longer-than-expected repair times.

Overall, the Karoq enjoys a reputation as a dependable car, supported by a competent service network.

Discover more about the used Skoda Karoq reliability on our dedicated page.

We think the engine that best combines useful pace, refinement and efficiency is the 1.5-litre petrol. Happily, there’s a healthy proportion of Karoqs equipped with this engine available on the market, so it shouldn’t be too much of a struggle to find one.

Our favourite Karoq model is the entry-level SE, simply because it offers you so much equipment. However, seek out a car equipped with the VarioFlex seating – it’s very useful and you won’t regret it.

Our favourite Skoda Karoq: 1.5 TSI 150 SE

The most obvious alternative is close to home: the Seat Ateca shares much of the Karoq's mechanical package but trades some comfort and versatility for sharper handling and improved fuel efficiency. It’s a great small SUV, and a little cheaper to buy than the Karoq, too.

If you’re after something rather different, try the Peugeot 3008. It’s incredibly economical and comes with a smart, well-built interior that feels more special than most SUVs'.

If the peace of mind that comes with a long warranty is key, however, you might want to look into a Kia Sportage. It’s average to drive and has rather a firm ride, but its seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty is unmatched.

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If you're interested in buying a used Skoda Karoq, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site here.