A Skoda thread? On this forum? (particularly Karoqs and Kamiqs)

I have a Karoq in Nando grey for sportiness.  Bought it in Feb 2020 and it hasn’t missed a beat.  It’s quite an innocuous car, which is what I wanted as I don’t want anything desirable/nickable. 

I went for the SeL model, and it’s a lovely spec. Heated Alacantara seats, reversing camera, CarPlay etc.  The only thing I’d like is a sunroof. 

The SeL has removable rear seats so when you need space, you can take, one, two or all the rear seats out. I’ve managed to get two bikes, front wheels off, in the back with a seat still in.  Not as big as the Touran I traded in, but it’s a nicer drive.  Auto box and 1.5 tdi engine makes for effortless driving.

Also got a 2016 Karoq which I've had just over a year, very happy with it so far

Again go for the SE L with the fancy rear seats, they are great

It's nice to drive and a nice spec although I half-regret not getting an auto, but it does everything I want very well

I looked at the kamiq but found the boot too small and doesn't have the clever rear seats

Thanks for the feedback, it's definitely contributing to my decision making. 😀 

2020 SeL here! Had a couple of Yeti's before. Preferred how the Yeti looked but the Karoq is a big step up (and it's a bit bigger inside). Good for 4 adults, comfortable, pretty economical, everything just works. It's not exciting to drive if that's your thing but with the DSG it's very relaxing. We just did a 1000 mile trip through France, Belgium and Germany and can't think of why I'd want a bigger or more expensive car.

Mine has "only" 45000 miles and, outside of standard services, has needed one set of front discs and pads, all four dampers (roads here are terrible), a drop link and a suspension mount. None of which is particularly expensive. I stopped dealer servicing mine once I bought it at the end of the 4 year PCP as a) the local dealer is 30 mins away and a bit useless and b) my local garage is fab and a lot cheaper.

I ordered mine from new so had the factory retractable tow-bar (also the extra oil cooler) fitted. Works great- only ever used for my bike trailer. Bikes will go in the back with the seats down and passenger front seat pushed forward. Take the seats out once when we we doing a monster recycling run, again no drama. Note tho that if you drop the rear seats and then push them to the back of the front seats, you do get a flat load area but the middle seat will not go full vertical as it hits the centre console.

Having now got adaptive cruise on our other car, and a heated wheel that's about the only option I'd want. Maybe the auto-dip lights as well. Occasionally CarPlay and the head unit have a sulky electronic stand off, but mostly all that stuff works fine.

I am considering changing it for an electric version of the same at some point. It's my third Skoda and they seem to offer good value and reliable, cheap-ish motoring. Which is what I'm all about nowadays;)

Posted by: ChrisL

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which basically means SUVs these days.

I clicked quote to say “Estates are still a thing” and then read your comment about an Octavia estate being too big, so see you have considered one.

Is there actually more usable space in an SUV vs the equivalent hatchback? A Golf is a great size for a daily.

 It’s got no rails like you say but a towbar with a rack might be better anyway? A3 has rails.

 I’m just trying to help you not have to succumb to an SUV!

Just as an aside, you can get lowering springs for the Karoq from Eibarch??? which will drop it 30mm and it would almost, through night time fog, have the same profile as the Kamiq. 

here…

https://eibachshop.com/index.php?p6981,eibach-pro-kit-springs-skoda-karoq

My wife was a serial Skoda fan, multiple Fabia, Citigo and Kamiq etc. The last and final was a Kamiq, nothing but trouble. The heater matrix failed three times and through it was replaced under warranty each time it was a royal pain. Skoda is not the manufacturer it once was, and over multiple purchases I could see the build quality reducing with each purchase but hey, it was her car and her decision. She sacked the Kamiq off in the end and bought a Mini.

Posted by: phil5556

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I clicked quote to say “Estates are still a thing” and then read your comment about an Octavia estate being too big, so see you have considered one.

Is there actually more usable space in an SUV vs the equivalent hatchback? A Golf is a great size for a daily.

 It’s got no rails like you say but a towbar with a rack might be better anyway? A3 has rails.

 

 I’m just trying to help you not have to succumb to an SUV!

You can still buy an estate from new, but generally it seems like if you want choice in the second hand market, especially without going to all corners of the country, then you're looking more at SUVs in this sort of size bracket.

The Octavia isn't necessarily too big (though they may have grown since my current 2007 model was built), but I don't feel that I need something quite as large, either. Having looked inside a Karoq it felt pretty big, the Kamiq did make me think "OK, that's noticeably smaller than what I currently have", but it's hard to really know for sure about these things until you're using them for real.

I've been putting bikes onto roof racks for 20+ years now so that's what I'm used to, but thanks for trying to keep me away from SUVs. 🙂 

If you're looking at Karoq's can I suggest you look at the SEAT Atica, same car different badge, but you get probably a spec higher for the same money.

We started looking at Tiguan, then extended to Skoda and SEAT and quickly found the Atica to be way better VFM.

We got the Excellence spec for less than the equivalent Base +1 level VW, Skaoda were a step up and the SEAT another step up.

I did the comparison thing and come to the conclusion the Skoda was the better value, ie pounds per feature that I’d actually want. 

I could be wrong but from my car hunting ~18 months ago, the SE L spec with the removable rear seats was only on the Karoq, and none of the other Skodas or equivalent VAG models

I had a very early Karoq 1L - it was fantastic - drove to France a few times with a couple of bikes in the back. Full bikes front wheel off - Boot is great!

The 1L 3cyl engine was nice too. I've had a Kodiaq for the last few years which is like a deluxe Karoq with about 400/500L more space.

Karoq's crept up in price definitely. When my lease is up I will go for a Cupra Ateca - there are some great deals to be had on those.

The Karoq had a warranty job which was done at my studio by mobile VAG service. Throttle kep sticking on tick-over - known problem sorted in 1hr. I assume it was an early model issue. Other than that I thought it was a great car and more practical than the Yeti it replaced.

I think the Karoq has slightly slightly more boot space than the Ateca. Enough for two bikes and holiday stuff.

There are photos on here with my bike in the back somewhere.

Kodiaq for comparison - with my filming kit. Not sure I've got one with my bikes. You can get a bike with wheel on in the kodiaq. But its still awkward to get in and out.

This has been a very useful thread as I was struggling to find cars with removeable seats to replace our aging Yeti and I did not know that some Karoq had 'variflex' seats. Shame the removable seats arent available in the Ateca

I have ended up buying a 22 plate Karoq SE L with the 1.5l engine. It has the fancy rear seats and should last me for quite a while. Thanks for the advice and feedback!

Have to admit I wasn't that convinced by the seats til I had a play with them, they're really cool. Will ChrisL ever use them? Perhaps not, who cares, still cool.

*cough*

2016 Skoda Fabia 1.0 MPI Colour Edition, 47,000 miles – Singletrack World Magazine