THE all-new Skoda Karoq has a breadth of abilities that mean it enters the busy compact SUV market towards the top of its class.

The vehicle’s roominess, practicality and value for money make it a superb family transporter that won’t break the bank.

The Karoq has adopted many of the appealing features found on its larger sibling, the Kodiaq, and rolled them into a smaller package.

However, don’t fall into the trap of thinking the Karoq is in any way small because, for a compact SUV, it’s undoubtedly remarkably spacious, with a huge boot and bags of legroom for back seat passengers, largely thanks to the generous wheelbase of 2,638mm.

The Karoq is bigger in all dimensions than the Yeti, which it replaces, and these capacious proportions were most in evidence during my family’s recent Easter trip to Devon, which saw the Karoq comfortably swallow five people and their holiday possessions for a lengthy yet relaxing road trip.

The Karoq isn’t a head-turner when it comes to looks, but it does have a smart and purposeful appearance in SE trim, as found on this test car.

Distinctive features include chrome roof rails, a wide and pleasant-looking front grille, and appealing 17 inch Ratikon alloy wheels.

That chunky and distinctive styling found on the Yeti are not so much in evidence on the Karoq, with sharper creases to the fore and narrower headlights.

Karoq customers can choose from four engine options – two TSI petrol units with outputs of 115ps and 150ps and two TDI diesels with identical power outputs to their petrol counterparts.

The 1.6-litre 115ps diesel variant, tested here, felt to be a right-sized engine for the size of the vehicle, once you weigh up performance with fuel efficiency.

The vehicle takes 10.7 seconds to go from a standing start to 62mph - acceleration that won’t exactly set the pulse racing but also doesn’t feel too sluggish in real world driving conditions in the context of a family machine.

And when you take into account the official combined fuel figure of over 60mpg, the financial benefits of this frugal engine start to stack up.

In general, it’s an easy vehicle to drive, being well behaved on a variety of road surfaces and providing trustworthy, settled and composed handling. At motorway speeds, the cabin is a serene place to be, with an absence of any engine noise, very little wind noise and minimal tyre roar. Meanwhile, a high driving position gives you a commanding view of the road ahead, making you feel even safer and more comfortable in your surroundings.

Inside, the cabin has a very smart feel to it, with a three-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel emerging from a dashboard that features a split level design with a distinctive central rail that accentuates the width of the car.

It has a solid and well-built feel to it, with materials throughout feeling premium and the soft-touch, rubberised dashboard being a particular highpoint. There are also plenty of handy storage spaces for your phone, keys and other odds and ends, including a rather surprisingly-located hatch high on the dashboard towards the windscreen, the lid of which suddenly popped up of its own accord when I drove over a bump, leaving me somewhat taken aback.

The Karoq has also introduced new levels of connectivity thanks to its feature-packed infotainment systems. All modes are equipped with Smartlink+ and a touchscreen display system as standard. And the huge high-resolution display that comes as part of the upgraded infotainment system has to go down as a real plus point.

Perhaps the best thing about the Karoq is the price tag, with this version coming in at £22,950. That’s a lot of car for the money when you factor in the amount of tech, the high-quality finish inside and out, the vehicle’s comfort and ease of use, the driver and safety systems, plus the fuel economy.

THE LOWDOWN

Skoda Karoq SE

PRICE: £22,950 on the road

ENGINE: 1.6-litre TDI 115ps

ECONOMY: 61.9mpg combined

EMISSIONS: 120g/km

ACCELERATION: 0-62mph in 10.7 seconds

TOP SPEED: 117mph

INSURANCE GROUP: 15E

Will's Ratings

PERFORMANCE: ***

ECONOMY: *****

RIDE/HANDLING: ****

SPACE: *****

EQUIPMENT: *****

SECURITY: ****

VALUE: *****

OVERALL: *****