Selwyn_Times: June 21, 2023

42 Selwyn Times Wednesday June 21 2023
Moving with the times reaps success
IT SEEMS such a long time
ago now, but Trevor Crowe
Motors/CroweSport was once
Christchurch’s Skoda dealership.
I had a short chat with Crowe
recently, and was reminded of
the pioneering development he
carried out with some Skoda
models – turbocharging the 120L
for road use and stuffing a big V8
into another as a rally car.
Times have changed, and
during the early 90s there was a
complete change of direction for
Skoda – Czechoslovakia
split into the Czech Republic
and Slovenia, and Volkswagen
began a partnership with Skoda
–eventually buying into the
brand.
In the years since Crowe
relinquished Skoda in favour
of Subaru, Skoda is now sold in
Christchurch through the Miles
Group, and it’s fair to say Skoda
is now a force to be reckoned
with in the global car market. Its
platforms, engines, components
and designs have much in
common with Volkswagen
product and that has to be a good
thing, development costs are
lower and build quality is high.
Today, Skoda is very much on
a roll, there is a wealth of models,
the brand is marketed buoyantly
PRICE-FRIENDLY: An efficient engine means there is no
clean car programme penalty.
SKODA KAROQ STYLE: The popular sport utility vehicle gets about its business with urgency.
in New Zealand, and at dealer
level there is a lot of passion for
the product.
This evaluation focuses on the
Karoq, a mid-size sport utility
vehicle that has just undergone a
major facelift for 2023. There is
a new grille, new headlights and
cosmetic enhancements both
inside and out.
The Karoq is popular here and,
as a consequence, it is available
with plenty of choice, there are
three price-friendly variants –
Ambition at $45,990, Style at
$51,990 and Sportline at $63,990.
The evaluation car was the midspec
Style, whereas the Sportline
adds a 2-litre engine and fourwheel-drive;
the two entry-level
modelsare front wheel-drive only
and have a 1.4-litre turbocharged
four-cylinder petrol engine.
The latter is much the
European standard with strong
mid-range torque (250Nm from
1500rpm to 3500rpm), and a
low point of peak power (110kW
at 5000rpm). Together, these
figures combine to produce
strong acceleration and worthy
maximum speed. Skoda claims
a 9.2sec standstill to 100km/h
acceleration time and a top end
of 201km/h.
Figures aside, it is in the dayto-day
commute that you really
appreciate the quality of this
engine, it gets about its business
with urgency, yet is unflustered
and quiet. It responds with
vibrancy and is instant in its
delivery, a lot of that is to do with
the quick shifting eight-speed
automatic and clever matching
between the engine and
transmission ratios.
I took the test car on a twisty
high country challenge, it reacts
positively to steering input and
has solid body balance. Grip in
the first instance is supplied by
Michelin tyres (215/50 x 18in),
while they aren’t a performance
tyre, they do have high grip
qualities and contribute to a high
degree of handling control.
The Karoq is also an adept
highway cruiser, it is whisper
quiet at speed, and provides all
occupants with a comfortable
ride. The suspension is a fully
independent front-strut/rear
multiple link system which has
spring and damper rates only
moderately firmed. The result
is a well-cushioned ride, and
one which isn’t affected by body
movement in a corner.
While the Karoq can be seen as
a purposeful all-rounder, one of
its greatest claims to fame is that
• Price – Skoda Karoq Style,
$51,990
• Dimensions – Length,
4390mm; width,
2025mm; height, 1603mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
front-wheeldrive,
1395cc, 110kW,
250Nm, eight-speed
automatic.
• Performance – 0-100km/
h, 9.2sec
• Fuel usage – 7.2l/100km
of its fuel consumption, or should
I say, lack of consumption. That’s
the beauty of European engines,
those that come out of the VW
group’s factories are high on
efficiency and low on emissions.
The end result is a 7.2-litre
per 100km combined cycle
average fuel usage claim.
The consumption readout
reinforced that during my time
in the test car. It was constantly
showing around 7.8l/100km
with an instantaneous figure of
4.8l/100km at the legal limit, the
engine turning over leisurely at
just 1700rpm.
The Karoq is no pretender in
the SUV market, it shares all of
the ingredients that make family
wagons the popular choice today.
For its price it comes with a
healthy trim level, major features
include push-button ignition,
cruise control, electric tailgate,
paddle gear shifters and touch
screen display, and a multitude
of safety systems that count
towards a five-star Euro NCAP
rating.
I’d be happy with just the midspec
Karoq, or even the entrylevel
model, the cloth seats are
certainly the way to go as far as
I’m concerned, they just feel right
to be in. What I also like about
the Karoq is its practicality. It is a
compact car at just 4.4m,
but it has good space inside
and useful load space. Bear in
mind as well, there are many
little features that make Skoda
stand out as a car maker, they
don’t stand out at first, but once
familiar with the car you’ll
appreciate them.
For all of its clever kit and
efficient technology, the Karoq
doesn’t qualify for a New
Zealand Government clean car
discount. But the good news is
that it won’t cost you a penalty,
both engines and all models
are fee neutral. I’m also reliably
informed that there is a healthy
supply of all Skoda models.
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