Hi, I currently have a 1.5tsi sel karoq. I am approaching the end of my pcp deal, just wanted to canvass views on whether people feel the cost uplift to a 2.0tsi sport line is justified and any views on the ride quality would be appreciated. 

 

thanks in advance 

The 2.0 TSI Sportline has a deeper profile tyre than the 1.5 TSI Sportline, and I'm quite happy with the ride in mine. (But as this is my first Karoq I can't compare it with others.)

 

I bought it for the extra security of 4x4 as my drive outside my house is steep and gets quite slippery in winters. And it also avoids any lingering doubts over the 1.5TSI engine. (My daughter has a 1.5TSI Passat which has supposedly been updated to cure the software problems, but she tells me that in the colder weather recently it feels like an old petrol car that needs the choke pulling out - so it seems like the mixture is too lean.) 

 

Is the cost of the 2.0TSI justified? Probably not, as it has a higher fuel consumption, but since my annual mileage is much less now than it used to be (even pre-covid) I decided it was affordable for me, and even driving gently in Eco mode it livelier than my previous 1.4TSI Golf

 

Chris 

Thanks Chris 

I have a 2.0 TDI 4x4 MY20 Karoq.

 

Personally I think it comes with quite a bit of stuff really like the panoramic sunroof which is standard for Sportline. Only real gripe with the car is that it doesn't have ACC installed so if you do get one I'd get ACC if you do a lot of motorway miles. Otherwise it's pretty good.

In terms of mpg I get around 30-37 in city (I can be quite a lively driver) on motorway it hovers around 42mpg highest I've ever managed to get it to do is 46mpg. I think the new MY21 Karoq's don't really come with 4x4 I think only the top engines do and whilst its great knowing you have it, i've not had an instance where I'd need it nor do I think i'd never need it so in the long run probably better to go for the 2 wheel drive unless you know you'd need the system as its extra weight and fuel consumption.

 

Personally I think the Sportline looks the best out of all the trims you can get as its the only full paintwork (basically) Karoq you can get, I'm not a fan of black bumpers.

 

In terms of ride quality mine doesn't have DCC like CJJE's which I think you can make the springs softer or firmer and I do find the car can be quite bumpy at times but generally its just unnoticable so really its not that bad and again like CJJEthis is my first Karoq so I cannot make a comparison.

 

If you are going to get extras (because it is quite expensive already) I'd get virtual cockpit for sure because its just very useful in my eyes and I'd probably get ACC with it but obviously only if you need it.

I would echo the above, although my 2.0 TDI Sportline is 2WD I get 50mpg regularly on a 40 mile commute on Welsh A & B roads....

 

I love the kit the Sportline comes with but chose Virtual cockpit for a bit of glitz and a spare wheel. After that it has everything I need.......

But the OP is talking about the 2,0TSI not TDI. My 2.0TSI averages 32mpg on mainly rural roads.

4x4 is working a lot more than you think. I had it on last Yeti and now on Karoq. 
It definitely got me off a muddy parking area that my previous Yeti would have got stuck in more than once.

When you pull out of a junction sharply you often feel the rear drive joining in instead of spinning a front wheel 

I guess if the Op already has a Karoq, he/she will know if need 4wd, or if it is deadweight majority of the time.

 

One thing is for certain, (and very obvious if you go in the tyres section) that the tyres the car comes with are specified for warm/hot dry sunny days.  It is of course a lot cheaper to buy tyres suitable for all year use in UK climate (where we get cold rain) to get traction in slippery conditions, than pay extra for 4wd system.

 

Recent tests have shown that wet grip in modern summer tyres falls over dramatically below about +11c, and is much worse than you expect lower temperature gets (even above zero).  What seems to have happened is since all seasons have been introduced, summer tyres are optimised for WLTP tests (which I think is at +25c).  Rather higher than average UK day and night, hence now inappropriate.

 

And if you really need convincing there are plenty of videos of spinning all 4 wheels fitted with factory summer tyres, whilst a 2wd version with more appropriate tyres leaves it for dead when it is slushy or snowy.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 8 December, 20205 yr by SurreyJohn

Hi.  Skoda Australia are now selling the new Karoq 140TSI sportline which apparently carries the same engine as the new golf GTI/Occy RS.  Does anyone know if you can get an ecu remap for the Karoq 140TSI sportline that would be equal to a remapped golf GTI/Occy RS (https://www.superchips.com.au/skoda-octavia-rs-180-ecu-tune-remap.html).  Does the new Karoq 140TSI sportline also come with the same DSG box as the new golf GTI/Occy RS?

The 4x4 system is very heavy,

the 2.0 tsi 4x4 is 220kg more than 1.5tsi DSG 2wd per Dec 2020 brochure

That is effectively carrying same weight as 3 extra adults, or 9 25kg sacks of cement.  Do you really want that extra weight all the time?

 

So if you want the Sportline, the extra fuel costs of the 4wd system might be better spent as £600 on set of premium all season tyres eg Goodyear 4 season gen 3.  (and of course the 2.0 tsi 4wd costs £3035 more)

 

Edited 9 December, 20205 yr by SurreyJohn

Forget traction.

In winter conditions a front wheel drive car on winter/all season tyres will out brake a 4wd car on "summer" tyres. 

I prefer "stopping" in those conditions rather than "going". 

 

tom

2 hours ago, Sanqhar said:

Forget traction.

In winter conditions a front wheel drive car on winter/all season tyres will out brake a 4wd car on "summer" tyres. 

I prefer "stopping" in those conditions rather than "going". 

 

tom

Indeed, because for years now all cars have had 4 wheel brakes! But I'd agree All-Season (or full winter) tyres will outperform summer tyres in cold weather. My solution will be to change the Bridgestone Duelers on my Karoq for Continental AllSeason Contacts, but I'm loathe to throw away summer tyres that have barely run in yet. Anyone know where to sell them? 

 

I've previously put winter tyres on between October and March, but still have a set of those too which are halfway through their tread, but are age-expired. And my back objects to changing wheels every 6 months, so I think All-Seasons are the way to go even if they aren't as good in hot weather as summer tyres. 

 

Chris

A good place to sell car and Skoda related stuff is on a car forum, and surprisingly a very good place is BRISKODA.

Not expensive and those looking there quite often know what the want and what things are worth.

@CJJE When you find an nice easy place to sell your summer tyres can you sell my In Laws’ similar tyres?   They swapped on to Michelin CC+s when the car was virtually new.  It’s part of my thinking for getting a 2nd set of wheels and full winter tyres, means in the life of the car I should get my money’s worth out of the ones they fitted in the factory.  Man Maths in action!   

Edited 9 December, 20205 yr by DSL

@e-Roottoot What I’m planning to do.  Once I get my hands on them, which will depend on Queen Nichola opening the border again. 

Why not just by a set of winter wheels and tyres. I have mine on now using steel wheels, and then the summer tyres last a lot longer  and the alloys are protected from salt etc.

Mine are on their third winter after last two on previous Yeti. 16” 6j wheels I was sold for Yeti are perfect for Karoq but apparently I should have had 7j for Yeti!

On 09/12/2020 at 12:28, SurreyJohn said:

The 4x4 system is very heavy,

the 2.0 tsi 4x4 is 220kg more than 1.5tsi DSG 2wd per Dec 2020 brochure

That is effectively carrying same weight as 3 extra adults, or 9 25kg sacks of cement.  Do you really want that extra weight all the time?

 

But if you compare 1.5 TSI DSG 2wd to 1.5 TSI DSG 4wd it's 1393 vs. 1505 kg kerb weight, thus 112 kg more.

The rest is 2.0 extra horse weight, apparently.

 

Actually, in the case of the 2.0 TSI the extra weight of 4x4 may be even less, since in the case of 1.5 TSI the upgrade from 2x4 to 4x4 also involves the inclusion of the more robust wet-clutch DSG transmission box, which on the 2.0 TSI would likely be required in the 2x4 variant as well, due to the higher 2.0 torque.

 

 

Edited 13 December, 20205 yr by agedbriar

On 09/12/2020 at 16:12, Donweather said:

Hi.  Skoda Australia are now selling the new Karoq 140TSI sportline which apparently carries the same engine as the new golf GTI/Occy RS.  Does anyone know if you can get an ecu remap for the Karoq 140TSI sportline that would be equal to a remapped golf GTI/Occy RS (https://www.superchips.com.au/skoda-octavia-rs-180-ecu-tune-remap.html).  Does the new Karoq 140TSI sportline also come with the same DSG box as the new golf GTI/Occy RS?

 

They are different engines. The Karoq Sportline 140TSI in Australia (same as the 190PS in the UK) uses a more efficiency focused EA888 'Gen 3B' version of the 2.0TSI engine. It uses a smaller turbo compared to the Golf GTI and Octavia VRS, so is not as tunable as those cars and wont produce the same gains when tuned. The Gen 3B engine is also found in the Audi A3 40TFSI, Audi Q2 40TFSI etc. A couple of ECU remaps have recently become available for this engine. Tuners include Celtic Tuning, APR and TVS Engineering. I've recently got my Sportline tuned with TVS engineering. Very happy with the gains. Around 280hp and 430nm (at the crank) Here's a link for more info:

 

 https://tvsengineering.com/tuning/skoda-karoq-2017-2-0-tsi-190hp-tuning/

 

The Karoq Sportline 140TSI uses the same DQ381 gearbox found in the Golf R, however the gear ratios are slightly different. I also had a DSG tune completed through TVS Engineering at the same time as the ECU remap. Quicker shifts, doesn't upshift too early in Normal mode, higher clutch pressures etc to cope with the extra torque.

Edited 16 December, 20205 yr by skodamota