Skoda Karoq SUV teased ahead of global reveal

More details, including teaser pictures, have emerged of Skoda’s new Karoq SUV, which is due to debut in Stockholm this week ahead of its November launch.

Designed to the Czech carmaker’s new ‘crystalline’ design language based on Bohemian glass art, the teaser pics suggest the Karoq won’t be as bland looking as a prototype spotted in March.

The front looks a lot like the larger Kodiaq, including full-LED headlights with eight light strips that create a unique ‘eyelash’ lighting pattern.

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LED technology is also used for the C-shaped tail lights, which differ to the ones seen on the prototype by having a thinner inner segment integrated into the tailgate.

At 4832mm long by 1841mm wide, it’s a little bigger than its Nissan Qashqai rival while having the same 1605mm height.

With a 2638mm wheelbase [2630mm for AWD version, the same as Qashqai] the five-seat Karoq has generous interior proportions including a generous 521-litre boot capacity with the rear seats up which is significantly more than the Qashqai’s 430 litres.

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With optional VarioFlex sliding rear seat, this can extend to 588 litres at the expense of legroom while still being a handy 479 litres with the seats all the way back. That upper figure is more than medium-sized SUVs such as the Nissan X-Trail [550 litres] and Toyota RAV4 [577 litres].

With the seats folded down, cargo capacity extends to 1630 litres. With the VarioFlex system, which features three separate rear seats that can be adjusted and completely removed individually, the Karoq’s load capacity becomes a van-like 1810 litres.

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The interior will also feature design elements to the dashboard door trims.

It will also come with plenty of new technology, including automatic city braking and a range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox standard on European market cars.

Skoda is yet to say how base cars will be configured once they arrive here.

Based loosely on the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Karoq steps up to Volkswagen’s new MQB platform that includes the ability to roll out plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions.