Hi All.

Just got a 2019 Karoq 2019 SE L........i've noted other people have had an uncomvortable seat experience but its not many.

 

The seats are nurdering my mid/upper back and I cannot find a position that works.

 

I drive several cars each year and have been driving for over 20 years....never had anything like this happen.

 

At the moment it feels like the only option I have is to trade it in for another brand.

 

Anyone had a fix or similar experience?

 

Thanks

20 minutes ago, MSKODAW said:

.i've noted other people have had an uncomvortable seat experience but its not many.

 

The seats are nurdering my mid/upper back and I cannot find a position that works.

I've published the full version several times, but the summary is "seats are personal and subjective".

For sure. Most thigs in life are subjective. 

 

Would you be able to share the full version?

 

I was hoping to sus out some mods to help with the seats. 

 

Because - subjectively - they have murdered my mid back. The guides to seat position etc have not helped.

1 hour ago, MSKODAW said:

Hi All.

Just got a 2019 Karoq 2019 SE L........i've noted other people have had an uncomvortable seat experience but its not many.

 

The seats are nurdering my mid/upper back and I cannot find a position that works.

 

I drive several cars each year and have been driving for over 20 years....never had anything like this happen.

 

At the moment it feels like the only option I have is to trade it in for another brand.

 

Anyone had a fix or similar experience?

 

Thanks

I bought a 12month old SEL Karoq 1.5 DSL without a test drive (I had test driven one about a year ago and liked it, so bought this one on spec). Anyway, the day after picking up my new car, I had to drive to West Byfleet to see my son, a journey of approx 220miles. Aat the end of that journey my partner's back and my back ached so much we couldn't believe it - worst seat I have ever had in many, many cars over 45 years of driving. The return journey home was even worse! Apart from that, I loved everything else about the car, but as I drive a lot for work, I knew I wouldn't be able to compromise on my comfort, especially as I am now 63!

 

 It was on the return journey that I recalled that the Karoq I had test driven a year ago was a Sportline, not an SEL. Anyway, a couple of days later I went back to the Skoda dealer and rejected the SEL using their 7day return guarantee. Luckily, they were extremely cooperative about this and gave me a couple of options to consider. The next day I took a brand new Karoq Sportline for an extended test drive and could tell almost immediately that the seats were chalk and cheese compared with the SEL seats - infinitely better. Back as the dealers, the manager found me an 18month old Sportline with very low mileage and I was able to exchange cars with no upfront costs and ended up paying only £5 more per month for a car with not only way better seats but a way better spec. than the SEL!

 

 Roll on to approx. 3,000miles later I can confirm that the Sportline seats are amazingly comfortable and supportive.  Shout out to D. M. Keith, Hull, who have put my faith back in car dealerships too!  

 

 

Edited 24 December, 20241 yr by Duncs1961

Thanks for the response.  So swapping seats was your answer. Im going to keep searching for a small fix, but thanks.

I assume you've tried adjusting the lumbar support ?

My Kamiq seats were a problem for my back and I tried various commercial solutions without success. The thing that worked was a small piece of sponge behind my bum, only about 8 inches high and just less than the width of the seat. Keep the seat fairly upright too. Since using that I have had no back problems. 

If adjustments do not help, then cushions / supports then it is Replace Seat or get it re-trimmed with padding / support to suit. Or change car.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/527762-hamstring-problems-due-to-driving

 

Surprisingly most people do not know how to correctly adjust their seating position, they know how to move things, but not the correct order to set them up.  Basically they forget that the pedals are fixed, but steering wheel can be moved so they don't set up seating position starting at lower legs, instead start from arms and shoulders.

 

Here is a link to how your seat should be set

 

https://www.physiomed.co.uk/uploads/guide/file/21/Physiomed_Sitting_Guide_-_Driving_Digital.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

We were given a similar document to the above from work - I think it was done by Loughborough University.

 

However the only way I could get comfortable in the Mercedes C Class I had at the time was to place a rolled up towel just above the base of my back.  Never had issues in any other car, and I find our Karoq fine although I've only done one long trip in it.

Thank you for the seat adjustment description most useful.  I have never had a problem with the standard 1.5 SEL seats but probably this is more by luck than judgement. Having just travelled over 200 miles in far from ideal conditions ( bright sun and fog) my back is fine. As 80+ I am perhaps most fortunate.

I have had a dodgy back for years, and used to be in agony in older cars, with only fore/aft adjustment. My chiropractor use to come out to my car, and set me up with various wedge shaped hard foam slabs, to wedge me in, pain free. I still occasionally use one, when in friends’ cars, but, as said by others, my Sportline gives me no trouble at all.

It is totally subjective and individual to any given persons back. I actually had years of back trouble whilst driving and most Japanese cars and Vauxhalls will cause me great discomfort after 30 minutes. I actually only started getting Skodas after my employer got them at work and I did a long journey in an Octavia and had no back pain. Personally I have found most VW group cars and Fords I am ok with, also some Renaults are ok. Most of the Asian manufacturers vehicles cause me issues which is a shame as it has ruled out a number of vehicles which I like or would be ideal for me.

As duncs1961 proved with the sel and sportline difference I won’t buy a car now unless I’ve had a long test drive of over 1 hour continuous driving.

I agree that seating must be highly subjective; I have a 2019 model SEL Karoq which is, I guess, the same as the OP - and it is the most comfortable car that I have driven in my entire life. I should add that I am now 75 and have had a dodgy back since my mid 30s with a L4/L5 vertebral displacement. My wife remarks that she, too, finds the Karoq very comfortable to drive.

I know this is an ol post, but rather than raise another separate thread, wanted to join the conversation.

I drove a 2016 Superb for about 8 years and absolutely loved it. Wanted a new (to me), low mileage replacement but could not find one in the right price range.

Test drove a Karoq a few weeks ago on a 30 min test drive and loved it, so much so I bought a SEL that had lots of additional factory packs added (+ electric memory seats) and have been loving the experience so far. However this weekend took an extended drive of 2hrs in both directions and my lower back is screaming at me. I've adjusted the lumbar to remove it completely (as I did in the Superb) but it seems like this ergonomically designed seat pushes into my beltline just enough to really be uncomfortable.

Any tips on how to make this better or am just going to have to accept that long journeys are not going to be pleasant ?

https://www.medesign.co.uk/MEDesign-Backfriend

I have a couple of these and transferred them to every one of my last 4 cars

Don't use the base though, just the back.

You might find a 2nd hand back on eBay. My second one was bought from there

Edited 23 June, 202523 Jun by Viffer800
Update

On 23/06/2025 at 17:08, Viffer800 said:

https://www.medesign.co.uk/MEDesign-Backfriend

I have a couple of these and transferred them to every one of my last 4 cars

Don't use the base though, just the back.

You might find a 2nd hand back on eBay. My second one was bought from there

Thanks, I've tried a few different settings and if I can't get it any better after my next long trip I'll try one of those.

@Northerndave where did you land on this in the end? Did you try the MEDesign backfriend? Asking as I’ve just bought a SEL Karoq and it is killing my back.

1 hour ago, TWKaroq said:

@Northerndave where did you land on this in the end? Did you try the MEDesign backfriend? Asking as I’ve just bought a SEL Karoq and it is killing my back.

I can definitely recommend a Backfriend

This may or may not help, but I’ve found that driving with anything in the back pockets of my trousers causes me to have a lower backache. This seems to be a Skoda seat “feature” as I found the same discomfort in the pool Octavia on long runs.

I found that I was adjusting my seat simply to get my feet in the right place for the pedals which did lead to awkward general positioning - my solution was to put in a false floor made up of foam and ply -this raised the floor such that it was far more comfortable and I could adjust the seat to the right place for me

Neither I, at 6 feet tall, or my wife, 5 feet 6, have issues and find the Karoq very comfortable. Try using the guide here https://www.physiomed.co.uk/simple-movements-improve-lifelong-energy