Skoda Karoq to go on sale in October from £20,875

Skoda's newest, Yeti-replacing family member - the Karoq - will go on sale in October 2017, with prices starting at £20,875. All petrol and diesel engines are turbocharged, with power outputs ranging from 115PS to 150PS.

The rival to the Nissan Qashqai will be available in three trim levels - SE, SE L and Edition. The entry-level price is more than £1500 higher than the Qashqai, although the Karoq gets 17-inch alloys, LED rear lights, rear parking sensors and a driver fatigue monitor as standard.

SE L models are priced from £23,165, while the top-spec Edition trim starts at £27,110. Engines available are the 1.0 TSI and 1.5-litre TSI petrols plus the usual 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre TDI engines. Top models come with a 150PS 2.0 TDI, all-wheel drive and a DSG automatic gearbox.

Safety equipment will include lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and auto emergency brakes, plus there is plenty of convenience technology including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. A wireless phone charging pad will also be offered.

There are four different infotainment systems, which vary depending on the trim level chosen. The basic 6.5-inch Swing system goes without Bluetooth and DAB, but upgrading to Bolero brings an 8-inch touchscreen. Amunsden adds navigation and WiFi, along with Smartlink+. The top Columbus has a larger screen and improved WiFi, along with gesture control.

In typical Skoda style there are numerous Simply Clever features, ranging from a built-in ice-scraper and a holder for pay and display tickets, to a retractable tow bar and a hands-free, electrically-operated tailgate.

Luggage capacity is 521 litres with the rear seats in place, or 1810 litres with them folded. That’s a little smaller than the Volkswagen Tiguan, but larger than the Nissan Qashqai.

Let us know what you think to the new Skoda Karoq in the comments.