Spec Comparo: Skoda Karoq vs Jeep Compass vs Volkswagen T-Roc

Skoda has launched the Karoq in India at a price of Rs 24.99 lakh ex-showroom and the two-row SUV will be available in a single Style variant. Consequently, the Karoq will lock horns with the Jeep Compass while the recently launched Volkswagen T-Roc fits in just below it in the premium mid-sized SUV space. Before we get a chance to take these SUVs on the road, we pit the newly launched Skoda Karoq against its prime rivals on paper.

Design and dimension

The Jeep Compass is also the longest in the lot with an overall length of 4398mm, followed by the Skoda Karoq and the Volkswagen T-Roc. The Karoq is 4382mm long, 1841mm wide and 1624mm tall and the T-Roc is 4342mm long, 1819mm wide and 1573mm tall. The T-Roc is the smallest mid-sized SUV among the lot. The tallest among the lot is the Jeep compass and the widest is the newly launched Karoq. All the three cars ride on 17-inch alloy wheels with tubeless tyres and braking duties are done by disc brakes on all wheels for all the three cars.

Safety and features

The Skoda Karoq gets nine airbags for its passengers. ABS, EBD, brake assist, airbags, passenger airbags, central locking, power door lock and child safety lock are standard for all the three cars. The T-Roc and Compass get brownie points for the hill assist and ESP. And when it comes to comfort and convenience, the Karoq hosts features like two-zone climate control, powered driver's seat, a panoramic sunroof, cruise control, a virtual cockpit instrument cluster, ambient lighting, an eight-inch infotainment system along with Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The T-Roc also gets a panoramic sunroof along with LED headlamps, paddle shifters, 6-speakers, DRLs and tail lamps and the digital instrument cluster that debuted on the Tiguan Allspace. The features that are common with the Jeep and T-Roc are tilt and telescopic steering, rear parking sensor and camera, steering mounted audio, push to start function and keyless entry. The Jeep Compass gets a 7-inch touchscreen display, cruise control, traction control and LED DRLs. When it comes to features, all the cars are on par with each other.

Engine and performance

The Skoda Karoq and the Volkswagen T-Roc both are powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine that develops 150PS of power and 250 Nm of torque. The Karoq gets a cylinder deactivation function that shuts off two cylinders in low load situations. The Karoq's engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox and there is no AWD option, all the power goes to the front wheels. The Jeep Compass is powered by a 1.4-litre petrol engine that makes 162PS of power and 250Nm of torque. The Jeep Compass leads the pack in terms of power, the car offers quite a few options in terms of engine and transmission as compared to the Karoq and the T-Roc. It offers a diesel engine and a manual transmission too. You can opt for an AWD option as well.

Price

The Skoda Karoq and the Volkswagen T-Roc share the same engine with each other, and still, the T-Roc is Rs 5 lakh cheaper than the Karoq. The Karoq is priced at Rs 24.99 lakh and the T-Roc costs Rs 19.99 lakh. On the other hand, the Jeep Compass starts at Rs 16.49 lakh and the top model is still Rs 3.07 lakh cheaper than the Skoda Karoq, the top model of Jeep Compass costs Rs 21.92 lakh. Unlike the Karoq and the T-Roc, the Jeep is offered in four variants- Sport, Longitude, Longitude Plus and Limited Plus.