Skoda Karoq SUV Spied In India along side the Kodiaq. Visual difference are apparent. Much better proposition in terms of aesthetics compared to version Yeti
Looks like Skoda the Czech republic car maker is planning several new SUV launches. Recently launched Skoda Kodiaq at an ex-Delhi price of 34.49 Lakhs was the first ever seven seater SUV in India. Smitten by the failure of the earlier model, the Yeti, the Kodiaq attempts to enter the fiercely competitive entry level SUV market. To flank competition at the lower end might a Yeti replacement be on the cards to give the likes of the Jeep Compass a run for its money?
Sources say Skoda may be looking at bringing in the Karoq. Not exactly the beast that Kodiaq might be but with many similarities. While the Jeep Compass comes in 2 engine options the 1.4 litre MultiAir turbo and 2.0 litre MultiJet turbo and the Skoda Kodiaq sports a 2.0 litre diesel engine, it will be interesting to see if the Karoq would use the same or downgrade to a 1.5 litre diesel pandering to the Indian consumers’ need for fuel economy.
The Karoq is also rumoured to sport the Kodiaq’s smile with LED headlamps, chrome plated grills with vertical slats. The shape of the lights and bumper is likely to differentiate the front elevation. Unlike the 18 inch alloy wheels that match the big boy look of the Kodiaq, the Karoq may port a smaller wheel base and tyres but with taller side walls to afford the ground clearance.
The more interesting features of the international version of the Skoda Karoq are the new generation safety features like the blind spot detection and rear traffic alert system, the Kodiaq’s hands free parking and rear view camera seem to be more India friendly though. The parent version of the traffic sign recognition system and lane assist of the Skoda Karoq may be useful abroad where lanes integrity and traffic sign violations have hefty fines attached. It’ll be interesting to see if such features replace the more important ones like the drowsiness sensor of the Kodiaq, considering that SUVs tend to be used mostly for long distance drives.
The company is yet to come out with any formal announcement though but the need to stem the tidal shift to the Jeep Compass is very important for Skoda right now.
