Skoda has revealed its new Karoq SUV, which will indirectly replace the Yeti, providing a more mainstream C-SUV.

Skoda’s new C-SUV bears the Karoq name to give closer ties to its Kodiaq sibling.

Due on sale from the second half of the year, the crossover will compete directly against cars such as the Renault Kadjar and Nissan Qashqai, as well as with the SEAT Ateca, with which it shares a platform, and will major on space, practicality and new technology.

Around 200mm longer than the Yeti, the Karog brings a boot space of 521 litres, rising to a a maximum of 1,630 litres with the rear seats down. The optional VarioFlex system, which consists of three separate rear seats, increases maximum load capacity to 1,810 litres with the seats removed. Practical features include a virtual pedal for hands-free opening of the boot and a folding front passenger seat to enable longer items to be transported.

Engine line-up will cover five variants – two petrol and three diesel engines – of which four are new.

Diesels comprise the 150hp 2.0 TDI seen in models such as the Octavia as well as new 190hp 2.0 and 115hp 1.6 TDI units. Both petrols are new and cover 115hp 1.0 and 150hp TSI units, with the latter featuring cylinder deactivation.

With the exception of the most powerful diesel, all drivetrains can be ordered with a six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed DSG while the higher-powered diesel comes as standard with 4×4 drive and DSG. The economy champion is the 150hp TDI, which brings official figures of 115g/km CO2 and 4.4l/100km combined with front-wheel drive and six-speed manual transmission.

Higher trim levels can also be equipped with the Driving Mode Select feature, with Normal, Sport, Eco, Individual and Snow (4×4), while an Off-Road mode is available on all-wheel drive versions.

Equipment includes full LED headlights as an option on certain trims and a digital instrument panel – a first for the brand.

A choice of four connectivity solutions is offered, with the basic version offering the SmartLink+ platform as an option while top-range systems bring a Wi-Fi hotspot. Also on offer are the Skoda Connect mobile online services, which feature infotainment online services for information and navigation and CareConnect services for assistance in case of breakdowns and emergencies.

Driver assistance systems include Park Assist, Lane Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot Detect, Front Assist with predictive pedestrian protection and Emergency Assist.

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