2021 Skoda Karoq 110TSI Review: Czech Mate

First things first: the 2021 Skoda Karoq 110TSI tested here has a totally different engine to the 2020 Skoda Karoq 110TSI we tested not too long ago. This year’s model might share the same name and power outputs as last year’s one, but the engine used in the updated model is both older and smaller than the outgoing one, using more fuel as well. As far as first impressions go, not a good one then for the “new” Karoq, with its back to the future engine.

But stay with us, as this car is nothing short of a revelation, worthy of one of the highest ratings we have ever given here at DiscoverAuto. This is because the engine change has gotten rid of the now ubiquitous DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox, found in so many Volkswagen and Skoda products. A creamy smooth traditional eight-speed torque converter automatic now sends the engine’s power to the front wheels. Does this make the Karoq a better buy this year? Read on to find out.

Price & Equipment: 8/10

The Karoq 110TSI is the entry variant to the two-tier 2021 Skoda Karoq range, priced from $32,990 before on-road costs and joining the more expensive 2021 Skoda Karoq 140TSI Sportline.

Coming in with no options at all and without metallic paint even, our Karoq was as cheap as the Czech mid-size SUV gets. Don’t go thinking that the cheapest model is sparsely equipped however. Skoda’s excellent Virtual Cockpit digital dials, classy mood lighting, dual-zone climate control, auto lights and wipers, 17-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start all feature in this base model. An 8.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto sits integrated into the centre of the dash, with eight speakers as well.

All Karoq models come with seven airbags, front and rear autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a reversing camera with rear parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, driver attention monitoring and adaptive cruise control allowing the car to earn a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

There are plenty of Skoda’s “Simply Clever” features built into the Karoq too, including a little rubbish bin in the door pockets, a parking ticket holder, tablet holders for back seat passengers, sliding hooks in the boot, the pop-out LED torch and plethora of nets to tie things down.

Skoda offers three option packages for those wanting more for their Karoq: the Premium Pack ($3700), Tech Pack ($4200) and Travel Pack ($3800). The Premium Pack adds LED headlights, 18-inch wheels, ‘Suedia’ upholstery, an electric bootlid, front parking sensors and stainless steel pedals. The Tech Pack adds a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen with digital radio, wireless phone charging, a hands-free tailgate, a Canton 10-speaker sound system, auto parking and selectable drive modes for greater customisation.

Finally, the Travel Pack adds leather upholstery with an electric driver’s seat with memory functionality, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, auto-folding mirrors, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist (which drives the car in stop start traffic) and emergency assist, which automatically slows and tops the car if the driver becomes unresponsive. These packages aren’t cheap, especially combined, though Skoda does discount them if you choose all three like so many buyers do.

For our money, the Travel Pack is necessary as it adds kit that should be standard such as lane keep assist and blind-spot monitoring. While we’re at it, it’s annoying that equipment such as 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, lane keep assist and auto-folding mirrors are optional on the Karoq yet the cheaper Kamiq has them as standard equipment.

The positioning of the 2021 Skoda Karoq 110TSI means that it faces a number of rivals from different segments. On price, it competes with entry-level medium SUVs such as the Mazda CX-5 Maxx, but also with the Mazda CX-30 Touring that it’s sized very close to.

Performance & Fuel Economy: 9/10

Like we said before, things get a little interesting on the drivetrain front with the new base 2021 Skoda Karoq 110TSI. The “new” 1.5-litre petrol engine from the Karoq previously offered in Australia – which featured cylinder deactivation tech to further help economy – has now been replaced with an older 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol making the same 110kW of power and an identical 250Nm of torque. Claimed fuel economy has increased from 5.8L/100km to 6.6L/100km as a result. 

Apart from this purely academic retrograde step however, the rest of the engine and transmission are hard to fault. From the second you let go of the brake and roll onto the throttle, this new Karoq feels different to any other Skoda before it, or indeed any other VW-Group car we had ever tested. Thank the switch away from the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to an eight-speed torque converter automatic.

Leaving a set of lights is buttery smooth and reversing up a driveway immediately highlights just how right this new engine and transmission feel. In most dual-clutch transmission vehicles, get ready to adjust your driving style slightly to appear less like a learner driver.

The 1.4 litre turbocharged 110TSI engine has more than enough power for most drivers, proving tonnes of low end torque for effortless cruising around town. Don’t expect to win any land speed records however, this Karoq isn’t as fast as the Karoq Sportline 140TSI, but amongst other non-turbo SUVs in the same class, it feels fleet footed and effortless to drive.

During our week with the Karoq, we averaged 7.5L/100km, which is not far off Skoda’s claim of 6.6L/100km. Like the Karoq 1.5L, the 1.4L requires premium unleaded fuel.

Ride & Handling: 8/10

Skoda has really nailed the on-road feel of the Karoq, creating an incredibly likeable family SUV to drive. Riding on relatively small 17-inch alloys and chubby Hankook tyres, the Karoq rides superbly and quietly over all sorts of imperfections both around town and on faster country roads. The ride has a soft and planted feel to it, considering that the Karoq 110TSI has less sophisticated torsion beam suspension compared to the Karoq 140TSI Sportline. Road and wind noised are impeccably hushed thanks to well engineered door seals and clever use of sound deadening to improve comfort on the move. At freeway speeds, the gearbox slips into 8th gear and the Karoq makes for a supreme long distance cruiser.

What might come as a surprise however is that the Karoq is also very enjoyable to drive when driven by more demanding drivers. From the responsive steering, to the sharp brakes and rather crisp turn-in, the Karoq surprised with its cornering talent. Only some float and body roll spoil the party, no doubt bolstering the Karoq’s impressive comfort. It might not be as agile through corners as even the Karoq 140TSI Sportline, or even a Ford Escape ST-Line, but it simply offers an almost perfect blend of handling and comfort to suit the vast majority of drivers.

Interior & Practicality: 9/10

Even opening the door to the Karoq shows the car’s solidity and quality. The door handle feels sturdy and satisfying in hand, unlike the tinny feeling doors in so many rivals. The interior is an extremely practical, comfortable place to be and feels built to last.

The cloth seats in the base Karoq are both supportive and welcoming. The front seats are well bolstered and you sit “in” them and not “on” them like in so many other SUVs. The plastics used throughout are a world away from those used in rivals such as the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos – they’re soft, padded and feel expensive. Skoda has mastered making their interior appear much expensive than you would expect for the price and the Karoq feels more expensive than its price tag would suggest, from the sublime leather steering wheel to the soft dashboard, door trims and elegant mood lighting which sets the scene at night.

The digital dials look the part too as they’re super crisp, clear and are now capable of showing navigation prompts from Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which can now run wirelessly on the standard 8.0-inch screen. The screen itself might not be breathtaking or particularity large, but it is dead easy to use and well positioned in the upper portion of the dash. Screen quality is also pretty crisp, unlike the CX-5.

Skoda’s now legendary practicality is very much on show in the Karoq, and genuinely makes rivals look underdone. Up front there are large door bins with straps to keep a map from moving around, a large cubby under the adjustable centre armrest, a spacious and chilled glovebox and there is a spot for your phone under the climate controls.

The space inside is impressive too, with rear seat space easily beating any small SUV such as a Mazda CX-3, while easily rivalling the room in a Mazda CX-5, even if the CX-5 is larger outside. Legroom and headroom are plentiful too in the back, allowing six footers to sit behind six footed front occupants. This makes for an excellent family car, with the Karoq easily accommodating five adults in comfort – the rear seat’s centre armrest with cupholders and rear air vents help on that front, too.

The boot is very well sized for a car of this size, with 479L with the rear seats in place, and 1605L with them folded. Pull the seats completely out of the car and there’s a massive 1,810-litres of space on offer, which is comfortably the largest in the segment. There’s also a clever removable magnetic flashlight in the boot, along with a plethora of hooks and nets to keep loose items from rolling around.

The Karoq also comes with Skoda’s handy VarioFlex seats, meaning that the entire back row can be slid back and forth, the backrest can be reclined and the seats themselves can be completely taken out as well. They’re the best in the business, meaning that your Karoq can turn into a delivery van.

The Mazda CX-5 comes in with 442 litres (1,342L folded) with the rear seats up and does not offer the option of sliding the back seats fore-aft. Another big tick for the Skoda.

Service & Warranty: 8/10

As with all Skodas sold in Australia, the Karoq is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Service intervals fall every 12 months or 15,000km and servicing is cheaper than for parent company Volkswagen. The Czech marque also offers discounted servicing packages when paying up front for the yearly services. The three-year pack costs $900 and the five-year pack will set you back $1700. Opting to buy these means you will save greatly on servicing down the track.

Servicing the Mazda CX-30 over the same time period costs $1,061 – though keep in mind that’s only to 30,000km thanks to the Mazda’s shorter service intervals. Five years? That’ll be $1,907 (and only to 50,000km – not the 75,000km of the Skoda).

The 2021 Skoda Karoq 110TSI DiscoverAuto Rating: 9.0/10

The base 2021 Skoda Karoq 110TSI with the 1.4TSI might have been a retrograde step, but it is a step which elevates the mid-size Czech SUV to a level seldom reached by other SUVs. From formidable rivals such as the Kia Seltos, to even the best-seller Mazda CX-5, the Karoq injects a healthy dose of Euro flair and practicality, along with some genuine talent. Here at DiscoverAuto, we loved this Karoq so much, that it was on fact one of my favourite cars of 2020.

There is simply no mistaking it, this model of the Karoq is nothing short of excellent and well deserving of the highest score we have ever given on DiscoverAuto. This is a mid-sized SUV that just feels right in so many ways, like the perfect friend who’s there for you every time you jump in and drive. A job well done then from Skoda.