I'm hoping to buy the quietest and smoothest riding model of 1.5 petrol Karoq, so:

 

1) A Skoda sales guy tells me the Drive and SE L trims have exactly the same sound deadening kit. Is that the case in your experience, or does the SE L have more sound deadening overall?

 

2) Would I be right in thinking that bigger wheels means lower profile tyres, more road noise, and a harsher ride - so e.g. a 17" wheel car is likely to be better (with the same tyres) in these areas than one with bigger wheels? Or have they improved the suspension so e.g. the current model SE L with 18" wheels is as quiet as e.g the older 17" wheeled Technology ?

 

Thanks!

There may be another parameter to consider. 2WD Karoqs have Torsion beam rear suspension, whereas 4WD versions have a multi link setup one may be naturally quieter due to not transmitting so much road noise.

 

 

9 hours ago, Maxr said:

I'm hoping to buy the quietest and smoothest riding model of 1.5 petrol Karoq, so:

 

1) A Skoda sales guy tells me the Drive and SE L trims have exactly the same sound deadening kit. Is that the case in your experience, or does the SE L have more sound deadening overall?

 

2) Would I be right in thinking that bigger wheels means lower profile tyres, more road noise, and a harsher ride - so e.g. a 17" wheel car is likely to be better (with the same tyres) in these areas than one with bigger wheels? Or have they improved the suspension so e.g. the current model SE L with 18" wheels is as quiet as e.g the older 17" wheeled Technology ?

 

Thanks!

 

 

For FWD models .

 

The SE and SEL run the same 215 section with a drop from 55 to 50 profile on the SEL a 12mm difference in sidewall.

Is there a noise difference?  Not that I could tell.

Is there a ride difference? A slight one over coarse surfaces, probably similar to putting a few psi extra in the 17's .

 

Going to the current sportline gets an increase in width to 225 and a drop to 40 series tyres.

 

That's a reduction of 30mm in sidewall to the SE and 18mm to the SEL.  So a far bigger difference to the Sportline and in my opinion the 40 series construction can really be felt.  I didn't really concentrate on noise difference because in the first five minutes I knew there was no way I could live with the 19's day to day.

I was coming from a Yeti and my only gripe with the Yeti was the crashy ride around town and I didn't want that again.

 

Why did I go go SEL instead of SE?  The swap from 17' to 18's was not great and the SEL has a fair step up in kit that I wanted. 

 

I'll also point out I didn't try a 4x4 with independent rear suspension and 45 series tyres as I didn't want the running costs of the 2.0.

11 hours ago, Maxr said:

I'm hoping to buy the quietest and smoothest riding model of 1.5 petrol Karoq, so:

 

1) A Skoda sales guy tells me the Drive and SE L trims have exactly the same sound deadening kit. Is that the case in your experience, or does the SE L have more sound deadening overall?

 

2) Would I be right in thinking that bigger wheels means lower profile tyres, more road noise, and a harsher ride - so e.g. a 17" wheel car is likely to be better (with the same tyres) in these areas than one with bigger wheels? Or have they improved the suspension so e.g. the current model SE L with 18" wheels is as quiet as e.g the older 17" wheeled Technology ?

 

Thanks!

My 2023 1.5 TSi isn't especially quiet, although the switch to Michelin Cross Climate was a marginal improvement. 

 

Mine is developing a few rattles from the dash too. 

 

Interestingly I recently purchased a 2021 Octavia iV estate (same engine) and it's a considerably smoother ride (16' wheels) and noticeably more refined in the cabin, compared with the 2 year newer Karoq.

My brother had 64 plate 2.0 TDI Yeti 4WD and 17” wheels I believe, he says my 4WD Sportline has a smoother ride than his Yeti. I don’t find my Sportline  to have excessive road noise or a hard ride compared to the Touran I had previously, but I did have tyres at the max load pressures on the Touran. I guess it’s what you become used to. I drive 3 times as many miles a year in a Mk 7 Transit minibus as I do in my own car, Transits are not known for their soft comfy ride!

Edited 3 August, 20241 yr by thamestrader

10 hours ago, thamestrader said:

My brother had 64 plate 2.0 TDI Yeti 4WD and 17” wheels I believe, he says my 4WD Sportline has a smoother ride than his Yeti. I don’t find my Sportline  to have excessive road noise or a hard ride compared to the Touran I had previously, but I did have tyres at the max load pressures on the Touran. I guess it’s what you become used to. I drive 3 times as many miles a year in a Mk 7 Transit minibus as I do in my own car, Transits are not known for their soft comfy ride!

 

There's only a 5mm sidewall difference between the FWD SEL and 4x4 Sportline.

 

I'm not sure why Skoda on the FWD versions decided to go 60 profile on 16's, 55 Profile on 17's, 50 Profile on 18's and 40 Profile on 19's.

 

45 Profile on 19's make's more sense for the FWD models.

Edited 4 August, 20241 yr by logiclee