Skoda has a new petrol engine available in the Karoq. Or rather, it's an old familiar petrol engine, but it's only now available in the Karoq.
I'm talking about the 2.0-litre TSI producing 190 horsepower and 320 Nm of torque which Volkswagen has been using in everything.
And that's great for the Karoq, but Hyundai has been supplying their Tucson with a powerful turbocharged petrol engine for years now.
However, it's a slightly different recipe. Instead of a 2.0-litre, it's only a 1.6-litre and instead of permanent four-wheel drive...
like the Karoq, the Tucson always has front-wheel drive. So the recipes are slightly different, let's find out which tastes the best.
The Tucson 1.6 T-GDI has been around for a few years now, and you used to always get four-wheel drive if you got this engine.
Now however, they've turned things around. It's only available as a front- wheel drive car. You are able to choose between two transmissions though.
You've got this 7-speed DCT and a manual six-speed. Because of additional taxes, that's €2.500 more expensive, so I don't think...
dealerships have to barricade their doors for the manual buyers. Right, the DCT itself then. It's a very decent gearbox,
but it does have its flaws. If you want to turn around in a street and you put it from D to R, you've got to wait a little before it goes...
into reverse. If you want to enter a junction quickly, the clutch will launch you forward. Not very comfortable.
Also, it waits way too long to change back. You really have to press the accelerator 2/3's of the way to change back.
That just doesn't work. You have to wait too long. The engine itself is good. A turbocharged 1.6-litre producing...
177 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque from around 1.500 RPM. So it's smooth enough, especially for a heavy car like this.
I mean, the performance won't be spectacular. However, I measured it, and where Hyundai says it can do 0-100 km/h in 8,9 seconds,
but it does it in 8,1 seconds. That's very good. When you're driving along as well. It's quiet, it's smooth... A very good drivetrain...
with fits the chassis. It offers a very nice combination between comfort and dynamics, but it's clearly leaning towards the first.
So when you steer, it starts heaving a bit. It does process imperfections very well. However, it's on 19-inch wheels. I think that when you...
get smaller wheels, it'll be more comfortable. It will process imperfections even better. The handling is great with these Contisport-tires,
but you won't buy this car because of it's communicative skills. So, to improve it, get smaller wheels. Other than that, it's a very good mix.
A very good total package and despite the fact that it has been around for a few years now, it's still a big player in this segment.
Then, the Karoq and its new engine. It's only available in one trim level, and it's called Sportline Business. That kind of signals what Skoda...
aims to achieve with this: being the sporty version of the Karoq-range. Well, it isn't as weak as other Karoqs and it's more nimble than the Tucson.
The steering is more direct, the car positions itself quicker, it just feels nimbler. The weight doesn't even matter, which is funny...
because this has four-wheel drive whilst the Hyundai only has front- wheel drive. I think the gap is about 20 kg.
However, it feels smaller. More compact. But does that make it a car which you want to push to the limit? Absolutely not.
Sure, you will feel certain imperfections the Tucson would process, but it's still very comfortable. The differences aren't big.
It's more agile, without it being better or worse. The engine then, it's a 2.0-litre TSI producing 320 Nm of torque.
That's very nice, because it means the performance is about the same when you go all the way. Skoda says it does 0-100 km/h in seven...
seconds, but my measurements get nearer to eight seconds. So flat out, both cars are very similar. However, the Skoda excels in...
the mid-range, whilst the Hyundai only excels in higher revs. Despite the fact that this DSG doesn't change back easily either,
it's an advantage. Because you've got that additional torque, accelerating is easier, smoother, less noisy. That makes it a tad more accessible.
Again, it's a small difference, but the power is smoother in the Skoda.
The differences between these two compact SUV's are relatively small, and if you look at the interiors, it's pretty much the same story.
Again, they're different, but not necessarily worse or better. If we look at the Skoda, the multimedia system and digital dials...
looks better than in the Hyundai. The latter just looks a tad dated. However, because it has so much buttons, it's easier to operate.
I mean, if you want to change the dashboard lighting, you can do that via a button instead of searching your way through the menu structure.
The offered space then. The Karoq has a very spacious rear seat. I'm 1.80 m. myself and the seating just is very good.
The Hyundai offers even more space, but unless you're really tall, you won't notice any of those benefits.
The same goes for the boot. The Hyundai has more litres, but the Karoq strikes back with all of its handy hooks and the fact that you can...
fold down the seat from the boot. So the only thing that remains is the price.
As we're used to from Hyundai, it's very clear. If you get this drivetrain, you can choose between Comfort or Premium.
We're driving the latter, which'll set you back €45.000, and it pretty much offers you everything you need.
Cooled seats, heated rear seat, leather, everything's on here. This Skoda is only available as a Sportline Business,
which is €44.000. You'd think that's a win for the Skoda, but you'd be wrong. You still have to add the option packages.
A Comfort-pack for example, which contains all kinds of safety systems funny enough. Or a Function-pack, which gets you 220V-ports and such.
If you add all of those together with a tow bar and 19-inch wheels, the car suddenly costs €49.000. It might have four-wheel drive,
but the Hyundai has more options. For less money. So if you consider that, this Karoq gets a very different taste.