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Subaru XV vs Skoda Karoq

What's the difference?

VS
Subaru XV
Subaru XV

$26,990 - $39,990

2021 price

Skoda Karoq
Skoda Karoq

$34,888 - $64,460

2023 price

Summary

2021 Subaru XV
2023 Skoda Karoq
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Flat 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 1.4L
Fuel Type
Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
7.0L/100km (combined)

6.5L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Thrashy 2.0L engine
  • Hybrid not super efficient
  • Small boot

  • Interior starting to look dated, generic
  • Far too many safety features only options
  • 1.4L engine in Style can struggle up hills
2021 Subaru XV Summary

Subaru has always been a good fit for Australia.

Since the '90s, when the brand made a big splash with its rally derived Impreza and Liberty, Subaru’s rugged appeal has suited Australia’s tough conditions and recreationally adventurous buyers.

Cars like the Forester and Outback solidified the brand’s place amongst SUVs before SUVs were really a thing, and the XV is the logical progression of the Impreza range, slotting nicely into the brand's offerings of lifted all-wheel-drive wagons.

It’s been a few years since the XV launched, however, so can its latest 2021 update keep it in the fight in a quickly evolving and notoriously competitive segment against many newer rivals? We’ve taken a look at the whole range to find out.

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2023 Skoda Karoq Summary

It’s easy to forget about the Skoda Karoq. It’s not that it’s a particularly forgettable model - it’s really not - it’s more that people just don’t know it exists. 

That might be due to the fact that Skoda Australia did not do any promotional or marketing activities for the Karoq when it arrived back in 2018, because, at the time, it didn’t have adequate supply.

The company didn’t want to over-promise and under-deliver given the lack of available stock.

From 2020, the global pandemic has made the supply situation even worse so the Karoq has remained something of a hidden gem in the segment. 

This mid-life facelift and slowly improving supply could ensure the Karoq gets a little more attention, but fighting for the limelight against the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, new Nissan X-Trail, not to mention its Volkswagen Tiguan sibling, could prove challenging.

Does the Karoq deserve to be added to more shopping lists for buyers looking for a mid-size family SUV?

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Deep dive comparison

2021 Subaru XV 2023 Skoda Karoq

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