Skoda's Small SUV To Be Called Karoq

Skoda, the Czech carmaker popular for its premium sedans in India, is readying a Yeti replacement. The Yeti, which was launched in 2010, is the only crossover from the carmaker in the country and has met with limited success. The next-generation Yeti was spied recently while it was being tested in Czech Republic. Skoda has confirmed that the compact SUV will be named 'Karoq', whose origin lies in the combination of terms 'KAA'RAQ (car) and 'RUQ' (arrow). The name and spelling have been derived from the language of Alaska's indigenous people. That said, we personally prefer the Yeti moniker over 'Karoq'.

Based on VW’s MQB platform, the Karoq borrows styling cues from its elder sibling, the Kodiaq, and resembles the Volkswagen Tiguan, as they are likely to share most of the components. From the spy shots, we can conclude that the Karoq sheds the crossover dimensions of the old Yeti and gets proper SUV proportions, which is likely to go down well with potential SUV buyers. 

Though not confirmed, the Karoq is likely to retain Yeti’s 2.0-litre TDi engine along with the 6-speed manual/7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. Expect the Karoq to be also offered with an optional all-wheel-drive system and to come loaded with features. 

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The Karoq will be unveiled on May 18, 2017 in Sweden and is expected to go on sale in Europe by the end of this year. While we expect the Karoq to reach our shores by mid-2018, the Kodiaq, Skoda’s first SUV, and the Volkswagen Tiguan are scheduled to enter India later this year. The Karoq is expected to be priced similarly to the Yeti in India. 

Recommended read: Skoda Kodiaq First Drive Review

Source: autoevolution.com