The Skoda Karoq Gets A Midlife Refresh In Europe

• Exterior touch ups include reworked bumpers, a hexagonal butterfly grille, new alloy wheel options, and sleeker headlights and tail lamps.

• Cabin gets a new eco-friendly upholstery option, more ambient lighting colors, digital driver’s display as standard, and three touchscreen infotainment system options.

• Remains mechanically unchanged with three petrol and two diesel engines on offer.

• India launch isn’t happening anytime soon, as Zac Hollis has ruled out the Karoq’s return for now.

Sure, we don’t have the Skoda Karoq in India, but the carmaker has decided to give it a midlife refresh in Europe. And it looks like Skoda has kept the premium compact SUV’s formula largely the same while giving it subtle touches. 

From outside, you’d think the Karoq hasn’t changed much, but Skoda has slightly tweaked the butterfly grille to have a more hexagonal shape. It also seems to have taken a leaf out of the Audi A6’s book with its slimmer headlights that are now Matrix LED units. The DRLs now get a split design. The front bumper also had air dams take up a little more space than before. Aside from a new set of alloy wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 19 inches, the rear gets a reworked bumper and sleeker LED tail lamps with snazzier graphics. 

The cabin may look similar, but there are subtle changes including a new Eco pack that has seats made out of vegan leather and recycled materials. Ambient lighting extends to 10 colors and the footwell gets illumination too. All trims get a digital driver’s display as standard, with options ranging from eight inches to 10.25 inches. Up to three touchscreen infotainment systems can be availed, ranging from 6.5 inches to nine inches. It features Skoda Connect, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, OTA updates and the ‘Laura’ digital voice assistant.

Under the hood, things remain the same with the Karoq being powered by a range of petrol and diesel engines. The petrol offerings include a 110PS 1-litre TSI EVO, 150PS 1.5-litre TSI EVO, and a 190PS 2-litre TSI EVO. The diesel mills include a 2-litre TDI EVO in 116PS and 150PS states of tune. A 6-speed manual is standard, with a 7-speed DSG automatic available for all engines aside from the base 1-litre TSO EVO. It can also be specced with an all-wheel drivetrain, exclusive to the 2-litre petrol and diesel options. For reference, the model that used to be sold in India was specced with the 120PS 1.5-litre TSI petrol engine. 

It will go on sale in markets abroad by March 2022, and will be offered in the Active, Ambition, Style, and Sportline trims. The pre-facelift Skoda Karoq has been off the shelves in India since it was sold out in October 2020,  but if it does return, it will be in its current guise and could even be a localised model. Unfortunately, Skoda director Zac Hollis has ruled out a revival anytime soon. 

Currently, Skoda has the facelifted Kodiaq SUV lined up for a January 2022 launch, followed by the Slavia sedan in March.