Skoda is a busy company at the 2018 Paris Motor
Show. Besides the Kodiaq RS we showed you earlier, the VW Group’s Czech brand
also wheeled out Scout and Sportline variants of the Karoq SUV, which is one
size smaller than the Kodiaq. Think Volkswagen Tiguan.
As usual, the Scout is an off-road variant with more
rugged design. It rides on 18-inch polished “Braga” wheels as standard, with
19-inch “Crafter” rims on the options list. The SUV’s rugged character is
displayed via the “underbody protection” parts in silver, which are added on to
the black plastic on the front, rear and sides of the SUV. Scout badges sit on
the front wings.
Inside, the seats have new covers featuring
black/brown contrast stitching as well as an embroidered Scout signature. A
Scout logo is found on the dash, and the Ash Brown trim has a dark ash wood
effect. Door sills with Karoq logos, leather for the multifunction steering
wheel and stainless steel pedals are also included, along with LED ambient lighting.
The Audi-style virtual cockpit instrument panel is optional. AWD is standard in conjunction
with three engine options (150 PS 1.5 TSI, 150 PS or 190 PS 2.0 TDIs), and the
Rough Road package (underbody protection for the engine) is also included.
Meanwhile, the Karoq Sportline trades the silver
exterior bits for gloss black ones, which stand out against body-coloured
bumpers. Also in black are the radiator grille, wing mirror caps, window
outlines and roof rack. Like the Scout, there are badges on the front fenders,
but they read “Sport” here. The sporty one rides on 18-inch “Mytikas” alloys,
with 19-inch “Vega” items available. The only silver on the exterior is on the
lower rear bumper, where a strip gives the impression of tailpipes.
The sporty Karoq is equipped with fabric
sports seats (new breathable ThermoFlux fabric) with diamond pattern silver
stitching and a sports steering wheel with perforated black leather. As per the
Scout, there’s a badge on the dash, door sills with the Karoq logo and
stainless steel pedal covers.
The optional virtual cockpit features a special
“sport skin” carbon effect background and a Sport display layout. The “sporty”
ambience is completed by carbon effect decor and black lining for the roof and
pillars.
The Sportline is the only variant offering the most
powerful petrol engine in the Karoq range. The new 190 PS 2.0 litre TSI engine
is exclusively paired to AWD and a seven-speed DSG automatic. The other engine
options are a 150 PS 1.5 TSI petrol with automatic cylinder shutdown, a 150 PS
2.0 TDI and a 190 PS 2.0 TDI. The 150 PS engines can be had with a six-speed
manual or seven-speed DSG automatic.
The 190 PS engines come with a sound generator
function along with Driving Mode Select as standard.
