Skoda Karoq 2022: facelifted midsize SUV delayed, set to arrive by September

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Skoda Australia has announced that its facelifted Karoq midsize SUV has been delayed and is now set to arrive between July and September this year.

The facelifted Karoq was unveiled in December 2021 and was originally slated to arrive in Australia this March but that arrival date has been pushed back.

Skoda Australia head of sales Kieran Merrigan told Chasing Cars that the Karoq would arrive in Australia with both an entry-level 110kW variant and an all-wheel-drive 140kW Sportline.

Straddling the line between a small and a midsize SUV, the facelifted Karoq will compete with smaller rivals such as the Mazda CX-30 and Kia Seltos as well as traditional rivals in its segment such as the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester.

The Karoq was Skoda’s best-selling model in Australia in 2021 with 1709 sales – an increase of 457 sales compared to 2020.

What will change in the forthcoming update?

The Karoq’s mid-life update sees small changes made to the exterior design via restyled front and rear bumpers, matched with redesigned headlights and taillights.

Skoda has also packaged in new features such as a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, while the tweaked interior features more sustainably-sourced materials.

What will the Karoq include?

Detailed Australian specification is yet to be confirmed but the two-model engine and grade line-up will continue in the coming update.

Kicking off the range will be the familiar 110TSI which has historically featured a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine developing 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque, with grunt sent to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The range-topping Karoq 140TSI Sportline will also continue as the more performance-oriented option, with no hot ‘RS’ variant currently available for the Karoq.

The 140TSI Sportline has historically been powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder producing 140kW/320Nm, driving through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an AWD system.

Globally, Skoda offers the Karoq with touchscreens spanning 6.5- to 9.2-inches in size, with the Australian 140TSI Sportline likely to score the larger option while the 110TSI will continue with an 8.0-inch unit.

An 8.0-inch digital driver’s display is now standard in the Karoq with a larger 10.25-inch unit available on higher grades.

Safety features include front AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, improved blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assistance and adaptive cruise control.

More information on Australian specification and pricing of the facelifted Skoda Karoq will be available closer to its arrival during the third quarter of 2023.