Currently own an SE L 1.5 Man 71 Plate. So happy with it we are considering replacing it with another Karoq when the lease ends (ordering now).

 

Looking at lease pricing the Sportline is pretty much the same price as the SE L. Would be a step up in style & Spec. But I have a few concerns on the Sportline spec as a family car:

 

19" alloys - do they noticeably worsen the ride comfort &/or noise? 

 

Pano roof - does it lower roof height substantially? I'm 6.4 so head height is important, never had and issue in the SE L. Also read that they can be noisy/hot/cold. (2/3 times a year we use a roof bag for camping, so would have to upgrade to a roof box & bars)

 

Cloth interior - currently have leather (reasonably priced SE L option) and find its practical with the kids. Is the sportline cloth hardwearing? Easily cleanable? (The leather option for sportline is so expensive it makes it less viable) 

 

Thank you. Be interesting to know if anyone else had made the switch to Sportline.

 

  

1) wheels, yes 19 inch lot rougher riding due to lack of tyre sidewall.  You won't notice much difference on well maintained roads with high quality tarmac.   But on any road with bumpy, rutted, broken or potholed tarmac (which seems to be lot of secondary and urban roads nowadays), likely to regret the big wheels.  The Karoq is not some low slung sports car, so don't need wheels for shaving fraction of second off a lap time instead of comfort.  The 19 inch are vanity item, not practical.

 

2) can't comment on headroom

 

3) Don't know ages of you family, but if you children ever get in with muddy wellies, spill drinks on a long journey etc then you will find cloth much harder to shampoo and clean, than wiping leather.

 

 

I am a current SEL owner and just placed order for a Sportline so perhaps a little too early for me to comment accurately but see below

 

1. 19" alloys - I too am concerned about ride comfort (and there are mixed view on this but still quite a few saying ride is compromised) so have added the performance package (DCC) and I hope this softens the blow (literally)  - frustrating as pack costs approx £1000 and in the past Sportline has periodically come with 18" - which I would have gladly accepted. Dealer says no option to swap wheels and no web brochure option to do that either

2. Sat in one but I am approx 6" so didnt notice anything

3. Not sure, but at least the standard interior is dark so doubt it will show much 

Edited 25 June, 20241 yr by mistac

I've just purchased an SEL instead of a Sportline.

 

I will say this is personal preference and only you can answer for yourself.

 

Dropping from 50 profile to 40 profile does make a big difference on poorly serviced roads, expansion joints and potholes.

 

There is still plenty of height with a sunroof but I've had two VAG sunroof's and they both leaked. The last one was fixed under warranty but cost £2500 to repair.

 

I didn't have an issue with the cloth seats but my wife hated the sports seats. You can have the SEL's seating in the Sportline but it's an expensive option.

 

Only thing I miss from the Sportline is the Matrix LED lighting but it was too expensive an option on the SEL for me to Justify.

 

Edited 25 June, 20241 yr by logiclee

6 minutes ago, logiclee said:

I've just purchased an SEL instead of a Sportline.

 

I will say this is personal preference and only you can answer for yourself.

 

Dropping from 50 profile to 40 profile does make a big difference on poorly serviced roads, expansion joints and potholes.

 

There is still plenty of height with a sunroof but I've had two VAG sunroof's and they both leaked. The last one was fixed under warranty but cost £2500 to repair.

 

I didn't have an issue with the cloth seats but my wife hated the sports seats. You can have the SEL's seating in the Sportline but it's an expensive option.

 

Only thing I miss from the Sportline is the Matrix LED lighting but it was too expensive an option on the SEL for me to Justify.

 

From your signature, you appear to be a real skoda fanboy/family! (no Karoq Sportline mentioned in signature yet though) so if anyone can state the good and bad it would be you

 

54 minutes ago, mistac said:

From your signature, you appear to be a real skoda fanboy/family! (no Karoq Sportline mentioned in signature yet though) so if anyone can state the good and bad it would be you

 

 

I wanted the Sportline to be for me but it wasn't unfortunately. 

 

I also got the Varioflex seats in my late 23 SEL but they are now an extra on the  24 SEL.

 

I've had 16 cars from the same dealer and know most of the staff. If I want an extended test drive they just chuck me the keys and put the trade plates in. Come back when I'm ready.

Edited 25 June, 20241 yr by logiclee

I'm 6' 4" there is enough headroom with the drivers seat right back and fully lowered, however to avoid compromising rear passenger legroom behind the driver the backrest needs to be fairly upright.  The rear seats in the Sportline would not fit 3 adults, the centre rear seat is a child width and the transmission tunnel affects legroom.  Only the backrest of the rear seat folds forward. no where near as adaptable as the Vario Flex which is not available on the Sportline.

 

Front Sports seats have fixed headrest compared to SEL which has adjustable headrests, also front sports seats have very firm side bolsters, seat squab is quite narrow, becomes noticeable after a while but not on a 20 minute test drive.

 

2.0l TSI performs well but is thirsty, I came from a 2L TDI DSG where mpg was always 45 around town and 65 longer runs, getting 25mpg around town and 45mpg on longer runs from the Karoq.

 

You may want to compare the list price of the SEL vs the Sportline in relation to the £40k threshold for the additonal RFL rate, currently £410 on top of the standard £190  for years 2 to 6, first year RFL is based on emissions so a 1.5 TSI is less than the the 2.0 TSI.

Thanks everyone for your responses, after a bit of thought I have ordered another SE L. 

 

I like the styling of the Sportline but for the family unit we use it as, the SE L makes much more practical sense. I would've liked the light package included with the Sportline, but its something I can live without (especially at the SE L option price!). Other than that the SE L meets the Spec of everything I really require (once I've added Suite leather). 

 

MY24 SE L has a few additions I don't currently have (virtual cockpit, wireless charging, heated steering wheel etc.), only thing I don't like are the Procyon wheels, but I will get used to them. Not sure why they have made Varioflex an option, guess its a cost and weight saving exercise. 

4 hours ago, Supergrecians said:

Thanks everyone for your responses, after a bit of thought I have ordered another SE L. 

 

I like the styling of the Sportline but for the family unit we use it as, the SE L makes much more practical sense. I would've liked the light package included with the Sportline, but its something I can live without (especially at the SE L option price!). Other than that the SE L meets the Spec of everything I really require (once I've added Suite leather). 

 

MY24 SE L has a few additions I don't currently have (virtual cockpit, wireless charging, heated steering wheel etc.), only thing I don't like are the Procyon wheels, but I will get used to them. Not sure why they have made Varioflex an option, guess its a cost and weight saving exercise. 

 

What colour have you gone for?

 

The Procyon have grown on me.  I've taken the inserts out to try but prefer them in.  Pretty easy to clean as well.

 

 

Edited 26 June, 20241 yr by logiclee

11 minutes ago, logiclee said:

 

What colour have you gone for?

 

The Procyon have grown on me.  I've taken the inserts out to try but prefer them in.  Pretty easy to clean as well.

 

 

 

Graphite Grey - seems great minds think a like! It really suits the car. 

 

Just had a call from the dealer to confirm the order and he has managed to put the Miran alloys on the order form as a zero cost option. Have to wait and see if the factory accept it. 

 

If not, I will be perfectly happy with the Procyon, will probably also remove the aero covers and they will end up looking similar to my current Braga alloys. 

1 hour ago, Supergrecians said:

 

Graphite Grey - seems great minds think a like! It really suits the car. 

 

 

Yep for me it was SEL in Graphite Grey or Sportline in Phoenix Orange.

 

Quite a bit of a change there but I think those are the colours that suit the trims best. 

 

The lighting package annoys me a little as the SEL is "Style" in other markets and Style nearly always has Matrix LED.   UK Importers decided to only have Matrix LED on the Sportline and to have it as a very expensive option on SEL.

 

Fortunately the standard LED headlights on the SEL are very good.