Caroline drives the 2019 Skoda Karoq Sportline!
Skoda has been competing in the compact SUV segment in Ireland with the new Karoq for over a year now. In 2019 the Karoq range has expanded again with the launch of the Skoda Karoq Sportline, which brings a little extra ‘oomph’ to the Karoq’s SUV offering!
Available from €34,100, the Karoq Sportline is positioned at the top end of the Karoq range and is available with a 1.5-litre TSI (150hp) turbo petrol engine, and 1.6-litre (115hp) and 2.0-litre (150hp) diesels. A 6 speed manual gearbox is standard but a 7 speed automatic transmission and four wheel drive are also available.
Sporty features inside and out
For a sporty appearance, the Karoq Sportline gets special sports bumpers including rear diffuser, black radiator grille, tinted windows, black door mirrors, black roof rails, LED headlamps and 18-inch ‘Mytikas’ black alloys wheels.
Inside, there are front sports seats with contrasting silver stitch, a multifunction sports steering wheel in perforated black leather, black headliner, carbon effect inserts in the dash, LED interior lighting pack, aluminium door sills with Sportline logo and aluminium sports pedals.
The interior of the Skoda Karoq has a simple layout built around an 8” touchscreen that pairs seamlessly with smartphones. The perceived quality is good for the segment and the Sportline treatment adds a pleasant injection of atmosphere to the cabin of the Karoq.
What do you get?
Standard equipment includes dual zone climate control, cruise control, keyless entry, rear parking sensors, parking camera and a driving mode selector. The test car had the Skoda Virtual Cockpit added as an option for €594. It adds a cool and modern finish to the cabin with five different views to choose from.
The Karoq Sportline has been dolled up but thankfully retains all the practical features of the standard compact SUV. It will seat five with plenty of head and legroom in the rear. The boot is also very generous at 521 litres.
My test car was fitted with a 2.0TDI diesel with 150hp and in Sportline guise has a list price of €35,160. This engine has loads of power and flexibility, and offers decent refinement. Over a week of driving my fuel consumption averaged at 6.0l/100km and motor tax is €270 per year.
Driving the 2019 Skoda Karoq Sportline
On the road, the Skoda Karoq Sportline delivers an agile and composed drive, as we have come to expect from Skoda. Comfort and refinement are also on par with rivals so it falls neatly into the segment, and should fit the requirements of most compact SUV buyers.
The Skoda Karoq Sportline adds a lot to the Karoq offering. Visually it’s a very appealing car, especially in red. It has loads of standard equipment and a suitably atmospheric interior also.
Underneath the Karoq has the basics covered in that it’s a spacious and comfortable family SUV. Sportline just gives it that extra bit of visual appeal to give it a hand to stand out in the segment.
Caroline Kidd
Model
tested: Skoda
Karoq Sportline
Price: €35,160 (Range from €28,350)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel
Power: 150 hp
Torque: 340 Nm
0-100km/h: 9 seconds
Top speed: 205 km/h
Fuel economy: 5.6 – 6.0l/100km
CO2 emissions: 123g/km
Motor tax: €270 per year