Can anyone tell me if the Karoq four wheel drive is permanently engaged or is it only when off-road mode is selected?

Puzzled Edition dsg 4x4 driver

It's normally front wheel drive. 

The system used in your vehicle is the Haldex 5th generation, it is 'proactive' rather than reactive, by that I mean the system detects slippage or loss of traction before it occurs and applies drive to the appropriate wheel or wheels. 

 

Haldex 2 was reactive, it would only engage after the loss of traction was detected. 

 

Some people don't like the fact there is not a light on the dash to tell you the haldex is engaged or a dial or button for you to engage the system.