Hi All, 

 

Today i picked up my lovely new 2021 SE in Petrol Blue and I thought I would answer all the questions I had before collection for anybody else awaiting delivery or considering an SE

 

• Yes, The car does have keyless start but no keyless entry (which is grand as I would have switched it off anyway).
• Skoda Connect on the SE comes with most of the gadgets IE using your phone to unlock the car, lights etc Although i haven't had time to get it activated as it seems to take an age.
• On a manual start/stop is absolutely fine. on an auto however I'm no fan
• The gearbox is rather notchy in comparison to my previous car (2017 Vauxhall Astra Sports tourer 1.4T 150ps). I did find myself struggling for first but that I'm sure is because the Astra's gear change was rather smooth. it's on par I would say with my 2 Mk3 Ford Mondeos.
• The ride is so much better than the Astra and it doesn't roll very much in bends
• The Rear seat leg room is considerably better without the Removable seats. I'm 6 foot and long in the leg and i could sit behind myself with my legs spread. 
• https://www.skoda.co.uk/new-cars/karoq/se is as you suspected incorrect and it does NOT come with heated seats and floor matt's as standard.
• Although the car has the same set up as the Astra, the torque band is much more diesel like, And for a mid sized SUV it suits it down to the ground. and somehow feels quicker. 
• The car looks reasonably low from the outside but from the inside it does feel tall. 
• parking is a doddle due to the large mirrors and straight edge of the panels.
• In comparison to the 2017 1.0DSG SEL I test drove, The seats are a lot softer and After a couple hundred miles put on the car today, they're rather cosseting. 
• Yes, It does have wireless Car play and it works fine.
• The single usb A port has been replaced by 2 USB C's. I purchased a USB C to lighting cable on eBay and it works like a charm.
• The Halogen Headlights on the Karoq are FAAAARRR better than the Halogens fitted to the Astra. I was going to change to some night breakers but I don't think I'll bother. I test drove this evening on a dark wet country lane that i would have struggled with yesterday and it was brilliant.
• The standard speakers and Bolero Head unit are much better that the Vauxhall variant although it does lack a little volume.
• First Motorway trip with cruise set at 70 exactly returned 48 mpg on it's first trip. Properly impressed by that. I was expecting Low-mid 40's but it's actually better than the astra even though it is taller and heavier. Down to low 40's on the return but that was due to Heavy rain and a heavier foot in traffic. 
• Finally - No it wasn't a mistake its comfortable and is what I would describe as a wafter. I find myself just sitting behind rather than going for an overtake because why bother. until i went for a ride in a friends evoque last year I was anti SUV. Always been a Large Hatch (mondeo) or Estate guy but now I finally understand why so many people buy them and why the MPV market is dead. If you're on the fence just go test drive one! 

I hope this helps somebody who is i'm sure searching every review, forum post facebook group they can find. 

Welcome to Club SE!  There doesn’t seem to be too many of us but when I see the hassle the higher model drivers have with their “extras” I think the SE is ideal, esp with GoogMaps via CarPlay.  

 

I haven’t looked at the specs of a 2021 SE but interesting to see changes to Skoda Connect, USB connectivity, cableless Car Play and keyless start.  I also don’t like keyless entry, it’s too big a vulnerability with piggy-back thefts.  Re the seats, I (in normal times) do mostly long drives and the longest I’ve done is 600 miles and got out without the usual aches and pains that I’d have normally had, the seats are that good.   I do miss heated seats and steering wheel that my Disco4 but the SE I bought (ex demo, registered 6 months before I bought it) had a very good discount (£10k/32% off list) so I can Iive with it. 
 

Enjoy your new ride. 
 

PS And good choice of colour, but I would say that!!!    Don’t forget pics.

Edited 19 December, 20205 yr by DSL

Thanks DSL.

 

yes, I went with the SE because it has everything I needed except maybe the heated seats and steering wheel. (Like you I am going to miss them but without leather seats they’re not as required) And the rear leg room was a must for me. The Varioflex was a no go.

 

with the advent of CarPlay I would never spec a car with inbuilt nav again. I’ve never found one to route anywhere near as accurately as Waze which then updates for free and if all else fails I have free open source mapping (used to be called navfree now it’s uk & Roi mapping or something along those lines) on my phone that can route without data albeit not on the main screen.
 

I forgot to mention the horn yesterday. The Astra’s sounded like somebody stood on a mouse. The dual horns in this are a vast improvement. I had to use them yesterday when some numpty decided to park a van on the crest of a blind hill. There was no Chance in hell I was going to go past it. 

Well two days in now and these are my additional thoughts;

• So far absolutely no issue with kangarooing or similar issues when cold or warm.
• I had a few issues with Skoda Connect but leaving it a day seemed to sort it.
• Car play refused to activate yesterday but I think that may have been an issue with my phone. it was doing strange things elsewhere. a Fresh restore via iTunes seems to have solved that.
• You have to press the footbrake reasonably firmly for auto hold to activate. This is taking a little getting used to as i tend to be releasing the brake as I come to a stop to be smooth. 
• Purchased a bed from ikea and was worried it wouldn't fit but with a bit of jiggling it was fineish. Infuriatingly I had used the extra length is the estate I previously had only a handful of times yet 2 days later it would have been very useful.
• Even though they are priced very similar (high spec Astra to poverty spec Karoq) the interior feels sooooo much more premium. 
• i still cant wrap my head around the fact that the Karoq feels so much more torquier than the Astra even though its heavier and on paper has the same HP and Torque figure. although the 1.4T did sound a bit nicer and the handling was unsurprisingly better. 
• At motorway speeds in rare for the eco mode/cylinder deactivation to active.
• Start/Stop is far exceeding my expectations. its ready to move way before I'm in gear.
• I've gotten used to the notchiness of the gearbox. no longer struggling to get 1st.
• fuel economy is on par with the Astra around town but slightly worse on the motorway but not by much.
• That screen is Amazing. so clear and responsive. 
• The petrol blue shows dirt quite quickly but to be fair the weather had been horrible the last few days so its due a clean already.
• The wipers are dead silent.
• I know I have said it before but those headlights are so much better than the Vauxhall.
• I thought keyless start was a gimmick but not having to fumble to put the key in the ignition at night is a pleasure. 

That's about it. I always thought people who said Skoda was just a rebadged VW were wrong and naïve. I now know the opposite to be true. It's an absolute pleasure to drive and every opportunity I get I do so.