Skoda Karoq SUV – Skoda’s replacement for the Yeti – OFFICIALLY revealed

The new Skoda Karoq SUV has been revealed as a replacement for the Yeti and sister car to the VW Tiguan and Skoda Ateca. On sale UK late 2017.

As car makers continue to add SUVs to their range to mop up car buyers’ hunger for high-riding vehicles of all size, Skoda has decided to drop the popular Yeti and replace it with this – the new Skoda Karoq SUV.

Sister car to the VW Tiguan and SEAT Ateca, and teased last week, the common platform yields a new Skoda SUV with many of the design traits of the larger Skoda Kodiaq, and looks pretty convincing.

The Karoq name is another ‘K’ name from Skoda – with the same Alaskan roots as the Kodiaq – and has a big job on its hands to live up to the more than 650k units Skoda sold of the Yeti, but this replacement is bang on in terms of what the market wants, is bigger at 4382mm long, 1841mm wide and 1605mm high and a wheelbase of 2638mm and gets plenty of technology.

Even the boot’s a good size at 521 litres seats up and 1630 litre seats down, and the back seats come out to push that up to 1810 litres if you need a van.

Plenty of the flash technology stuff is optional, but includes new digital instruments, LED headlights, wireless Smartphone charging, electric tailgate, ambient lighting and wi-fi hotspot.

Engine are very similar to those you’ll find in the Ateca and Tiguan including the little 1.0 litre petrol with 114bhp and a 1.5 litre four-pot with 148bhp, with diesel offerings of 1.6 and 2.0 litres, including a four-wheel drive 228bhp with seven speed dual-clutch auto.

Entry models come with front-wheel drive, but four-wheel drive is available and can be had with an off-road mode. There’s also the option of adjustable electro-hydraulic suspension.

Inside is familiar new Skoda design with a quartet of upright vents, central infotainment screen (in a selection of sizes and function depending on how much you spend) and an impressive amount of room – front and back – for a relatively compact car.

The new Karoq won’t go on sale in the UK until the end of 2017, and the range will no doubt grow rapidly to include more engine options – including a hybrid or two – Sportline and Scout versions and, perhaps, even a Karoq vRS.

There are no prices for the Skoda Karoq SUV as yet, but it’s likely to start around £17k in the UK.