Skoda Karoq Style 2024 Review

At $45,490 plus on-road costs, the 2024 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style is a mid-size SUV that’s priced competitively with similarly-specced Japanese and Korean rivals including the Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander and Mazda CX-5, but actually costs more than its larger 110TSI Volkswagen Tiguan Life cousin, which is tagged at $43,990 and equipped similarly (in fact better, because the price includes embedded GPS sat-nav).

The Karoq Style is bookended by the entry-level $39,990 (drive-away) 110TSI and the $52,490 (plus ORCs) 140TSI Sportline AWD.

As a mid-spec model, the 2024 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Style comes with an extensive equipment list, but it’s no real surprise that Skoda has taken the smartphone route rather than imbedding GPS navigation. At least there’s a wireless phone-charging pad in the centre console.

There’s no power seat adjustment – or seat heating – and no faux-leather trim either, but two-zone climate control and an eight-speaker audio system are standard. And the LED headlights do a decent job without the assistance of an auto-dimming function, which some disbelievers will applaud anyway.

The standard equipment list includes a power-assisted tailgate that can be opened with the wave of a foot, a virtual cockpit display (digital instrument cluster), a self-dimming electrochromatic rear-view mirror, keyless entry, privacy side window glass and a little bit of Skoda cleverness in the removable rubbish container that slots into the driver-side door bin.

The back seats can also be removed if you want to turn your Karoq into a minivan, while supplied netting helps to control wayward luggage. Disappointingly, you will not find endearing Skoda niceties such as a built-in umbrella or a handy torch in the Karoq Style.

Although our Karoq came option-free, those wanting more can specify the pricey $5700 Tech Pack that adds things like GPS, Matrix LED headlights, surround-view camera, park assist and lane assist. Style models can also be optioned-up with a sumptuous $4700 Leather Seats pack.

Warranty provisions are strong: The Skoda Karoq is covered for a full seven years with unlimited kilometres, but only 12 months of roadside assist.

Service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km and pre-paid servicing is available in a choice of two cost-saving packs: seven years at $2800 and five years at $1850. Owners of eligible pre-loved Skodas are offered a $1800 four-year/60,000km used car service pack.

Along with many others, the 2024 Skoda Skoda Karoq lost its five-star ANCAP safety rating with the expiry of its original rating in 2023, but it’s still a safe car.

Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection in both forward and reverse, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring are all included.

To combat fatigue, the Karoq also monitors the driver’s state of alertness, while the auto-braking system continues to operate after a collision to help reduce secondary damage.

There are seven airbags including a knee bag for the driver, but the front centre airbag that helps prevent collisions between occupants in a crash and is slowly becoming universal in the industry, has not as yet found its way into the Karoq.

Embedded GPS might have been sidelined along with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, but at least there’s a smartphone charging pad.

The 9.2-inch centre display flanked by two rotating buttons is nicely incorporated into the dash architecture and features easily-identified touch-screen displays that minimise and simplify the steps required to go from function to function.

The climate controls are located separately lower in the centre dash, where there are three tactile dials and touch-controls that make it easy to switch between functions such as re-directing airflow, de-fogging or selecting air recirculation.

There are only two USB-C ports – sited in the front centre console – and there’s a fully-digital instrument cluster in front of the diver that can be set to individual tastes to displaying the most relevant information (our preference here was the conventional two-dial tach/speedo display).

The 1.4-litre 110kW/250Nm four-cylinder turbo in the 2024 Skoda Karoq Style is very familiar in the Volkswagen Group, producing identical outputs to the 110TSI Tiguan, but in this case driving through an eight-speed torque-converter transmission rather than the Tiguan’s six-speed DCT.

That engine displacement sounds a bit small for a mid-size SUV weighing upwards of 1.5 tonnes but it’s enough to provide acceptable grunt, with Skoda claiming zero to 100km/h acceleration of 9.2 seconds.

It’s hard to say how that compares with the identically-heavy Volkswagen Tiguan, but there’s little doubt the eight-speed transmission is smoother and nicer to live with – for most – than the six-speed DCT. The Skoda Karoq makes do without paddle shifters.

On test, we managed to squeeze a freeway-centric best of 5.7L/100km out of our 2024 Skoda Karoq Style, along with a worst of 8.7L/100km in demanding suburban stop-start conditions.

Skoda claims a combined average of 6.6L/100km, which we reckon would be achievable with a little bit of concentration from the driver. Like most Euros, Skoda says the 110TSI Karoq Style should be fed 95 RON fuel.

The 2024 Skoda Karoq has the same base credentials as the short-wheelbase Tiguan but it’s a touch short of the Volkswagen’s on-road alacrity and is not quite as sharp or composed.

That said, it comports itself in a definably Euro way: the ride is pleasantly absorbent, there’s good road grip and the steering is predictable, accurate and reasonably fast. It’s certainly a match for its volume-selling competitors.

The eight-speed auto transmission is a nice companion for the strong 1.4-litre turbo engine, adding to the overall driveline smoothness without noticeably affecting performance or economy. And most of the time there’s little awareness of the front-drive configuration other than an occasional scrabbling for traction on loose gravel.

Speaking of the engine, its 110kW/250Nm outputs are readily accessed by the eight-speed auto and it’s consequently nicely throttle-responsive – and pretty quiet and smooth too.

The seats are comfy, the steering goes from lock to lock in a relatively quick 2.6 turns and the turning circle is a tight 10.2 metres, which is better than most of its competitors – including the Tiguan.

What’s not quite so user-friendly are the adaptive cruise control functions. Juggled by a hidden, low-set stalk to the left of the steering column, they leave the driver pretty much flying blind until long-term familiarity kicks in.

Full-size caravans or dual-wheel trailers are not on the Skoda Karoq’s remit: The 1500kg braked towing capacity limits it – and most other front-drive mid-size SUVs – to small trailers or campers.

Evident more in the 2024 Skoda Karoq Style’s cabin space than its load-carrying abilities, the Skoda Karoq – at 4390mm long – is quite a bit shy of some mid-size Japanese competitors.

But the luggage space is among the best in the segment. There’s 588 litres available in the boot when all seats are in place, opening up to an expansive 1810 litres with the back seats folded. And even more with the ability to remove them entirely.

All this SUV versatility is helped by a 40-20-40-split folding back seat that has a wide ski-port doubling as an armrest in the middle.

As for the passengers, the patterned, contrast-stitched cloth seats are supportive and impressively comfortable, rear-seat legroom is on the generous side of acceptable and shoulder room is comparable across the mid-size SUV spectrum. The absence of heavily kicked-up rear side glassware contributes to good all-round visibility.

To help the internal ambience, the Karoq is given an appropriate mix of firm vinyl and soft-touch padding, while the driver and front passenger have a height-adjustable, folding centre armrest above an exposed but reasonably handy centre cubby.

The 2024 Skoda Karoq Style is an individualistic, appealing alternative in a lively milieu where mid-size SUV sales continue to top all market segments.

Competitive pricing and a decidedly Euro flair separate the Skoda Karoq from most of its rivals and warranty coverage and ownership costs are also attractive.

Despite having no ANCAP rating it remains a safe car with the performance, style, comfort, utility and fuel economy to combat a big list of ruthlessly-ambitious competitors.

It’s far from being the most popular SUV in its class and it undoubtedly never will be, but the Skoda Karoq has forged a seemingly-secure place in the segment. It is the third most popular Skoda behind the smaller Kamiq and larger Kodiaq.

The Czech brand continues as the simply-smart car company and the Karoq Style upholds (most) of its principles.

2024 Skoda Karoq Style at a glance:
Price: $44,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 110kW/250Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2:155g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested