Skoda Karoq

FIRST REPORT It's plain sailing as we welcome new Karoq with long Cornwall trip

- Pete Gibson

WE chop and change a lot different manufacturers with our long-term test cars, but it's always reassuring to go back to a brand you've experienced (and enjoyed) before. That's certainly the case for me now, as I welcome the latest, updated Skoda Karoq to our fleet.

I've plenty of experience of the Czech company's vehicles, having had everything from a 1.2-litre Yeti to a Superb and even an Octavia VRS spending extended stays on my driveway over the years. And I'm pleased to say that the Karoq - which remains one of Skoda's most important models in the UK - feels very much like a typically sensible evolution of those models' values.

In particular, I'm keen to see if, over my higher mileages, the Karoq can deliver the practicality and charm of the Yeti - a car that I loved, and a model with many devotees.

There's no doubt that the new arrival is a bit less quirky than the car it replaced - even if it does stand out in Phoenix Orange metallic paint - but time will tell if there are enough little touches to make me love it.

The spec we've gone for is a 2.0-litre diesel edition with 148bhp, four-wheel drive and a DSG automatic transmission. That may seem slightly out of kilter with current trends, but higher-mileage drivers like me can still find lots of appeal in a diesel SUV that does the shifting for itself.