Spending a lot of hours behind the wheel of a car is usually the easiest way of exposing any problems, annoyances or things that a car could do better.
Some cars turn out to be pretty uncomfortable, whether that be through ride quality or unsupportive seats. Others have irritating safety features and might even prove to be inefficient when subjected to motorway speeds for hours on end.
Recently I’ve done a number of long-distance drives in my long-term Skoda Karoq and I’m happy to report that it’s one of those cars that only gets better after hours behind the wheel.
On the motorway it offers a perfect balance between performance and efficiency, providing plenty of pace for accelerating up slip roads and for overtakes, yet still comfortably returning 45mpg and upwards on an extended run. More locally, the 1.5-litre unit isn’t quite so efficient, not helped by the fact the sometimes dim-witted DSG gearbox forces you to push your foot to the floor to overcome the lag. It’s only really on steeper hills that you notice, though.
But I think I’d still choose this petrol engine for its refinement, as there’s none of that often tractor-like rumble that you get with four-cylinder diesels, and even at higher speeds it sits at fairly low revs.
If you’ve ever driven a modern car with lane assist, it can be a nightmare down rural roads as it tugs the wheel, sometimes dangerously, to keep you in your lane, even if you’re likely avoiding a pothole or debris in the road.
Similarly, many brand-new cars now come with a feature that picks up speed signs and then bongs if you’re over the limit. Theoretically, it’s a good idea but they’re often poorly integrated, picking up the wrong road signs or screaming at you even if you dare go 1mph over the limit.
I’ll shortly be handing the keys back to the Karoq, but it’s perhaps the easiest long-termer I’ve ever run to recommend. Sure, it’s not one car that you aspire to own, but as a sensible family car you can buy knowing it will be an especially easy and reliable ownership prospect, you’ll struggle to do better than this brilliant Skoda.
