Skoda Karoq review

Half of all Skodas sold are now SUVs, so you're in good company if the Karoq's hovering about the top of your shopping list. Prices start at £26,255 for an entry-level SE Drive model, rise to £28,090 for an SE L and top out at £32,140 for a Sportline, as a sort of budget alternative to an Audi Q5 S-line. 

Standard kit on the SE Drive includes 17-inch wheels, heated dimming door mirrors, tinted glass, LED rear lights, the eight-inch touchscreen, rear parking sensors, automatic wipers and cruise control. That's a strong showing for the standard car.

SE L adds an inch to your rims, LED front lights, heated seats and the clever VarioFlex seating. Front parking sensors and a useful rear-view camera appear, along with handy keyless entry and start and pointless selectable driving modes. Sport, in a Karoq? Who are you fooling?

Sportline is chiefly a visual pack to add dubious sporting credentials, but also heaps in a panoramic glass roof, Matrix-beam front lights, unusually supportive sports seats and an electronically motorised tailgate. Go with one of the lower trim levels for extra worthiness.

When looking at running costs you'll see why we'd recommend the 1.5-litre four-pot over the less powerful 1.0-litre triple, too. In mid-range SE L trim with six-speed manual gearboxes, Skoda quotes 45.6mpg for the three-pot and 43.5mpg for the four. Yep, the far more powerful engine almost matches the milk carton. CO2 emissions are similar too, with 140g/km playing 145.

In terms of diesels, you're looking at 56.5mpg for the 114bhp option when paired with a six-speed manual. Go all out for the black pump and combine the 148bhp 2.0 TDI with four-wheel drive and the DSG gearbox and you're looking at 49.6mpg and 150g/km of CO2 emissions.