Hi, one of my son's is looking for a family car and is considering a Karoq or a Kamiq. When I was looking at the 1.5 Karoq as a replacement for my Yeti around 7 years ago I remember there were problems with jerkiness when pulling away (worse with the manual) and engine stalling. This caused me to look elsewhere as I didn't want AWD with the 2.0 petrol or a panoramic roof with the spec. I wanted.

Son is looking at around 4/5 years old and sub-40k. miles. I assume that at that age the problems I mention would have long gone? Certainly have on my wife's Fabia but that is just over a year old.

Assuming that is the case are there any other issues with Karoqs of that age?

Thanks.

Personally, I would be a bit wary of the 1.5TSI as it seems that a lot of those models are still causing trouble but I am sure some will say they are now fine. He would need to do a longish test drive on various roads with roundabouts and junctions to fully test out the various situations that problems may occur. I think that most people would imagine that the 1.0TSI would be gutless, but it isn't! Its worth a test drive to see. It all depends on your sons driving style and where most of his journeys are, but I have absolutely no regrets with mine. Also it has none of the problems associated with the 1.5TSI. I wish him well in finding a good one as they are brilliant cars.

The 2018 Kangerooing (lack of torque) issue resulted in a Critical Safety recall & a software / engine management update. As to 2021/22 1.5 TSI,s there are those that report issues, but there will be many thousands that do not. Sub 40,000 miles the spark plugs should still have been replaced in 2025 or now in 2026.

Thanks for the replies. After posting I read the post with the 1.5 issues (lengthy post as I found I'd posted on it years ago!). It seems that the DSG model is not affected so I have advised my son to steer clear of the manual version.

Just be wary that the DSG in the Kodiaq can suffer issues (mechatronic etc.) which might also be prevalent in the Karoq? Personally I'd be looking at a manual.

My 71 reg 1.5 manual does suffer from kangarooing BUT it is only from a cold start and it is only for the first 100 metres up to the t-junction at the end of my close. After that it is no issue.

7 hours ago, VAGCF said:

Thanks for the replies. After posting I read the post with the 1.5 issues (lengthy post as I found I'd posted on it years ago!). It seems that the DSG model is not affected so I have advised my son to steer clear of the manual version.

With the 1.5 TSI engine it depends what model year you are looking at; it has had modifications that have attempted to address the issues, I think its fair to say that it has improved but not not been completely fixed. It is a complex engine designed around the Miller cycle rather than the traditional Otto cycle, it requires very precise tolerances and tuning to perform properly. Many owners say it runs better on Premium fuel - like Shell V-Power and it benefits from Fixed annual servicing scheme rather the extended Flexible/Variable servicing scheme. The 1.0 TSI and 2.0 TSI engines on the otherhand seem to be problem free. With regard to the DSG gearbox fitted to the 1.5 TSI there are two versions - 2WD use the DQ 200 and 4WD use the DQ 381. The DQ 200 is a dry clutch and the DQ 381 a wet clutch. The majority of issues reported for the DSG gearbox are for the DQ 200, but there are literally millions of DQ 200 DSG gearboxes in use around the world in VW, Audi, SEAT and Skoda vehicles. Its a feature of Forums and Groups that the majority of posts relate to problems which skews the impression of an engine or gearbox. The DQ 200 has been around for over 15 years, with modifications and improvements, and the post 2015 DQ 200 is generally a reliable gearbox (I have a DQ 200 in our 2015 Fabia 1.2 TSI which we've had for 11 years). The DSG is a manual gearbox with a mechanically controlled clutch and gear selection mechanism, so just like the manual clutch and gearbox it can suffer if abused. The DQ 381 wet clutch is relatively new, its processor, was the bullet proof DQ 250 ( I had one of these in a VW for 11 years). I have a DQ 381 in my Karoq 2.0 TSI 4x4. There is no doubt that the 1.5 TSI is more suited to the DSG than the manual gearbox, as the DSG manages the foibles of the 1.5 TSI automatically. I would advise test driving a new 1.5 TSI manual and 1.5 TSI DSG - to set a bench mark as to how they should drive. Then when you test drive used ones you will have a standard against which to judge them. With the DSG it should creep smoothly without any throttle on tickover, change gear smoothly even under hard acceleration, pull away without jerkiness. Its your money and car at the end of the day and we all have different preferences and requirements.

Thanks for the additional and detailed information. It's my son (who lives about 2 hours away) who is buying the car and so will be doing the initial test driving but I'm advising on what to look out for and if required will test it as well.

I read up on the 1.5 DSG version before buying my wife's Fabia just over a year ago and that is fine as is my BIL's VW T-Roc, fitted with the same combination, which he has owned for 3 years, so was fairly confident that the issues had been resolved but wanted to check that was the case with the years my son is looking at. It's pretty damning to see that they are still having issues with the manual cutting out though, but have to wonder at some dropping down to such low speeds in high gears resulting in the revs only being 700rpm!

I have a DSG as my everyday car, albeit a Volvo, but have mainly driven manuals and still have a VWG one and never drive it like that.

The staying in high gears until almost stationary is how drivers are taught now, ad the Test required economical driving. Sometimes old school ways were better. I got picked up on a minibus assessment for not starting off in 2nd gear, which I knew the vehicle was incapable of doing even on the level empty.

The 1.5 TSI is a 1.5 ACT, Active Cylinder Technology, just as the Audi is a 1.5 TFSI COD, Cylinder on demand. So 2 cylinders if no load on the engine, as the DSG can be in 'Coasting Mode' so no drive if no demand for drive. RPM drops away. It is all about reduced fuel consumption or reduced emissions, maybe more about that in the WLTP if the drivers do not understand and take their toe / pressure off the accelerator, or enable the modes if there is the choice.

On 13/03/2026 at 12:58, thamestrader said:

The staying in high gears until almost stationary is how drivers are taught now, ad the Test required economical driving. Sometimes old school ways were better. I got picked up on a minibus assessment for not starting off in 2nd gear, which I knew the vehicle was incapable of doing even on the level empty.

When I was working we had an instructor come in to teach us economical driving even though we used our own cars for work. We used the instructors car to drive as we normally do and then as instructed to which included being in gears too high I was happy with (almost lugging and little acceleration available) and going over speed bumps too fast - both of which was at odds with my mechanical sympathy. It certainly worked as I received a certificate for the difference in mpg achieved but couldn't wait to get into my own car again to go home and drive normally again!

When I took my driving test (mainly manual cars at the time) you had to make an emergency stop without stalling the engine. Good job that the cars then didn't have the characteristic that modern Skodas do!

Think you were taught differently to me then. The whole point of an emergency stop was to stop in time, didn't matter if you stalled and it certainly wouldn't have mattered to the person you were attempting not to crash into😁

On 09/03/2026 at 18:26, VAGCF said:

Hi, one of my son's is looking for a family car and is considering a Karoq or a Kamiq. When I was looking at the 1.5 Karoq as a replacement for my Yeti around 7 years ago I remember there were problems with jerkiness when pulling away (worse with the manual) and engine stalling. This caused me to look elsewhere as I didn't want AWD with the 2.0 petrol or a panoramic roof with the spec. I wanted.

Son is looking at around 4/5 years old and sub-40k. miles. I assume that at that age the problems I mention would have long gone? Certainly have on my wife's Fabia but that is just over a year old.

Assuming that is the case are there any other issues with Karoqs of that age?

Thanks.

The low speed jerkiness, lack of torque and tendency to stall were the primary reasons we decided to sell our bought-from-new manual 1.5 TSi SE-L.

My wife and I have owned and driven a large variety of different cars including many manual VAG vehicles and had never experienced anything as grim to drive in slow-moving traffic as the 2023 Karoq.

Equally we never had an issue with our 2018 Karoq, manual 1.5, which had been faultless, part exchanged it on Friday for a new DSG 1.5, as delighted with that combo on our Kamiq. Hoping our new Karoq will be just as reliable.

Edited 29 March29 Mar by sussamb
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