New Skoda Karoq Scout Ventures Off The Beaten Path

Some sport-utility vehicles veer closer to trucks, some to cars. As a unibody crossover, the Skoda Karoq is geared more towards the road than off it. But Skoda’s taking it in an altogether more rugged direction with the launch of the new Karoq Scout.

Similar to Subaru’s XV/Outback, Volvo’s Cross Country, or Audi’s Allroad lines, Skoda’s Scout trim adds a dose of the great outdoors to a variety of the Czech automaker’s vehicles. And that’s just what it’s done with the compact crossover.

Like the lower Octavia Scout and larger Kodiaq Scout, the new Karoq Scout is visually differentiated from other versions with contrasting lower body cladding, chrome and silver trim, beefier wheel arches, and its own unique set of 18-inch (or available 19-inch) wheels – all to give it a more rough-and-tumble appearance.

It also comes with tinted windows, special badging (both inside and out), and an interior done up with its own dose of off-road styling. Inside you’ll find black-brown upholstery with contrasting stitching, stainless-steel pedals, LED ambient lighting, and more.

As befits its rugged appearance, the Skoda Karoq Scout is the only version that comes exclusively with the all-wheel drive system that’s also available on other trims.

But buyers (in markets where Skoda competes) will be able to choose between a 1.5-liter gasoline inline-four rated at 150 horsepower (110 kW) or a 2.0-liter turbodiesel good for 190 hp (140 kW). The former comes mated to a six-speed manual and can be had with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that comes standard on the latter.

Article has been updated with live images from the Paris Auto Show