The Skoda Yeti is dead, long live the Karoq! New £17,000 family SUV hits the market
One of Britain's favourite compact SUV's will cease production at the end of this year, being replaced by an exciting new competitor
ALL good things must come to an end, and for Skoda's famed Yeti SUV, the time is now.
The Czech carmaker officially launched the new Karoq on Thursday as the replacement for the much-loved and pioneering family SUV.
Since its controversial release in 2009, the Yeti has developed a cult following and became one of the UK's favourite family crossover vehicles.
In 2016 alone the model achieved more than 13,600 registrations - its best year ever for UK sales.
But now, Skoda feel it is time to push their SUV concept to higher ambitions, with the model's larger successor designed to compete in a market flooded by the likes of the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar.
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Due to hit dealerships in January 2018, the Karoq will start at £17,500 for the base model, with the range expected to include SportLine and Scout versions within a year plus hot vRS and plug-in models.
The five-seater offers more interior boot and passenger space than the Yeti, and features the option of Skoda's VarioFlex system which allows all three back seats to be moved individually to maximise rear capacity.
Infotainment comes with four different selections, starting with a 6.5-inch touchscreen including DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity.
SKODA KAROQ SPECIFICATIONS
- Price: from £17,500
- Engine: 1.6-litre diesel (mid-range)
- Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or six-speed manual
- Emissions: 118g/km of CO2 (1.6-litre diesel)
- Drive mode: Front-drive (standard) or four-wheel drive
- Boot capacity: 521-litres (1,630-litres with rear seats down)
- Infotainment: 6.5 to 9.2-inch touchscreen
- Options: DAB radio, Bluetooth, SmartLink+ for Android and Apple compatibility, navigation, WiFi, DVD/CD drive, 64GB memory
The top of the range has a 9.2-inch display and includes a DVD/CD drive and 64GB of on-board memory.
The Karoq is also the first Skoda to get the VW Group’s digital instrument panel, which offers drivers the ability to prioritise displayed data, including navigation instructions, a gear indicator and traffic sign information.
Under the bonnet, Skoda's latest SUV model comes with five different engine types - two petrol and three diesel.
The cleanest option is the base 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit with 114bhp that emits 117g/km of CO2, while the top of the diesel range is a 2.0-litre engine with 228bhp, with a claimed top speed of 131mph.
Skoda CEO Bernhard Maier said: “The Skoda Karoq is a completely newly designed SUV that sets new benchmarks for our brand and its segment in every way.
"With this new SUV, we are taking the next logical step in our SUV strategy.
"The Karoq impresses with its unique brand identity and a distinctive product identity and is introducing – alongside the typical Skoda strengths – the brand’s new, emotive design language into the compact SUV segment."