Skoda Is Thinking Big As New Baby SUV Shapes Up

EXCLUSIVE Our imagespreview Karoq and Kodiaqs little brother, and its one of largest crossovers in class

- Jonathan Burn

SKODA’S forthcoming compact SUV will be on sale within 12 months and will be the most practical and spacious model in its class, according to the boss of the Czech firm, Bernhard Maier.

The Nissan Juke rival and spiritual successor to the Yeti crossover will be revealed early next year, ahead of arriving in showrooms in the summer. It will be the third SUV in Skoda’s expanding range, slotting beneath the larger Karoq and Kodiaq models.

Under the skin will be the VW Group’s new MQB A0 platform, but in its longest possible set-up. A 2,645mm wheelbase will give the car even more space inside than a VW T-Roc (tested on Page 44), a model that competes in a segment above.

This focus on practicality and space is what will mark the Skoda out against its nearest competitors, according to Maier. Speaking exclusively to Auto Express at the Paris Motor Show, he told us: “We always position our cars at the upper end of the segment, so we have a longer wheelbase, have a bigger boot and more space in the interior.