Sales Natures: A Comparison Test Of Skoda Karoq, Kia Seltos And Nissan Qashqai

If you praise the car, you get paid. You swear - you also paid, but competitors. You don't write about it at all - that's right, no one paid. On these three pillars, according to knowledgeable people on the internet, is the world of automotive journalism. In an amicable way, such nonsense should be ignored and continue to do our job - which is what we usually do. But in the current case, it will not work to leave public skepticism outside the brackets: it is too deeply woven into the context

We speak Seltos - we mean a dead variator, right? An incident at the premiere test of the Russian version, when a box died under one of the bloggers, instantly spread over the waves of word of mouth. And the Russian office of Kina did not really react to this situation. An extremely short-sighted decision in the world of victorious haters and trolls! And even if engineers in Korea are opening and diagnosing the corpse of the unfortunate transmission right now, regardless of their verdict, the deal has already been done: a wave of negativity has covered both the crossover itself and the company that spawned it. And to hell with them!.. I would have thought, if I did not have to write this material.

How can you praise this trough if its variator is falling apart out of the blue? Why didn't you mention the breakdown when you went to the same test yourself? Is it conceivable after that not to check the transmission off-road? Here is a short list of comments that you would certainly write if I got down to business in the usual way. Therefore, I propose a deal: today, urban crossovers will go to the places where they drive, in principle, they should not, and will do what is usually not required of them. But I will tell everything as it is - and I will not wonder if anyone will think my opinion paid for. Did you agree? Let's get started.

With the composition of the subjects, everything is clear: it is impossible not to knock their heads in sync with those who arrived in Russia SkodKaroq and KiSeltos, and the third asks to them exactly Nissan Qashqai… It will help us understand whether the new "semi-budgetary" is far from the recognized "full" crossovers, and whether such a division is appropriate in principle. After all, in terms of dimensions, power and equipment, all three are very close, and the cost of the test Seltos and Karok is generally almost identical.

Let's say right away that all three cars came to the test in top-end versions. Ki costs 1 829 900 rubles (20 thousand of which are asked for a two-tone paint job), Skoda, with all the options and accessories, pulls on 1 824 400 rubles. Nissan in the top version and paid blue is 1 922 000 rubles. That is, you will have to pay about a hundred thousand for it. Or not?

At first glance, the cash prize deserves, rather, Seltos - the Koreans have designed a bright, intricate and not boring car that can pretty much enliven cityscapes. Unless, of course, our client spoils everything with his ineradicable love for dull colors - they, alas, are also offered for Seltos. Qashqai is younger, squinting with recently updated headlights (by the way, the optics of all three cars are fully LED), but the age is felt, because only six months are left until the debut of the next generation. Yes, and he became familiar, whatever one may say. Karok … Stop, where is Karok? Oh, I'm sorry, buddy, I didn't notice you right away - it was too plain. Although many will say: "You yourself are nondescript, but he is restrained and laconic." And they will write it down in the pluses. Okay, their right!

The same epithets apply to the interior: it is flesh of flesh. Skoda with all its advantages and disadvantages. Landing in comfortable chairs may seem high to someone, but the adjustment ranges are wide, and our First Edition equipment also pleases with a combined leather upholstery and tenacious Alcantara - a miracle, not an upholstery.

To describe for the thousandth time how the brainchild of Volkswagen AG has a climate control unit or control of auxiliary functions is disrespectful to a reader who is somehow interested in cars (otherwise why are you here?).Ergonomics Karok does not present a single unpleasant surprise, with the exception, perhaps, of the dimmed dashboard with gray scales. It outright loses to the large and clear dials of Nissan and Kia, but I would not be surprised if this was done on purpose - so that the client pays extra for digital tidying, which will be available a little later. For the rest, consider it the same Kodiaq, only smaller and still cheaper.

Is Karok budgetary or not? Let's play our favorite game "Shake the Plastic". The top of the front panel is pliable, like in older models, but everything below is already rigid, as well as the entire door cards. Soft pads - only on the armrests. Tiguan has more soft plastic, although not much.

We transfer to the reference “full-fledged” Qashqai, and … there is a difference!

They did not save on door plastic here, and the soft leather pads on the central tunnel are, in the context of today's company, generally a claim for class superiority. Architecture Nissan is also more interesting than that of the Skoda, but the interior is perceived gloomily - especially after the restyling, which washed away part of the silver decor. The landing is not that uncomfortable, but here you feel a little unnatural, and the chairs seem to be the most amorphous. Although, we must pay tribute, the back does not go numb on a long journey: cooperation with NAS in this matter has gone beyond banal marketing.

And everything would be great if not for the buttons. The hardware, apart from the modern and neat steering wheel, looks simple, cheap and outdated - the giant seat heating keys on the center tunnel are especially impressive. By the way, who thought of placing the one that is responsible for the second row next to the front ones? And why is the whole sofa heated there at once? And how in 2020 can you walk with such a multimedia system without blushing?

The entertainment complex near Kashkaya is archaic, with a faded display, primitive functionality and simply disastrous graphics: if you are even a little esthete, do not open the local navigation. I warned.

Yes, there is an optional Yandex.Avto system that corrects the situation, but for some reason it is offered only for medium versions. If you want this - sacrifice leather interior, keyless entry, electric front seats and all-round visibility system.

However, the latter is just not a pity, because it is generally not clear what exactly can be observed through it. The picture quality has not changed since the complex debuted on the Qashqai 360 version of the past (!) Generation, and today it all looks like an attempt to turn on the Avengers on the Yunost TV.

On the other hand, SkodKaroq does not offer any cameras at all - even the back one. And multimedia, albeit a couple of centuries more modern than Nissan, also looks sad, because this is an inexpensive Swing system with a 6.5-inch screen, bordered by a wide plastic frame. More serious electronics will appear on Karok later, but it will be an option. And, knowing the habits of Skod and Volkswagen, not the cheapest.

This is where KiSeltos bursts into the arena - the youngest and most gadget car in today's test!

Camera and 8-inch multimedia with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support are already available in the Luxe version, the prices for which start from 1 319 900 rubles - and for one and a half million you will have a large color display on the dashboard, and Bose acoustics (not the most "pumping", but with a clean and elastic sound), and a luxurious media center with a diagonal of 10.25 inches. Fast, beautiful, with a bunch of features … Whether they are needed or not is another question: what do you generally use in a car, apart from music and navigation? But all this economy, I must say, creates an impression.

And in the richest configuration, like ours, Ki does flaunt unprecedented equipment: a retractable head-up display, front seat ventilation, induction charging - hey, but surely Qashqai is expensive and solid here?

Exactly, exactly. Because behind the generous equipment Seltos hides the cheapest, ubiquitous hard plastic - and, for example, does not offer dual-zone climate control even for a surcharge.As if hinting that he is a crossover primarily personal, not family. And these hints are worth listening to.

Because only one car out of three is suitable for family needs, and this - well, of course - SkodKaroq… Only it has an electric drive for the fifth door and handles for remote folding of the second row backrests, only it is ready to provide you with a million hooks, loops and additional niches, and only our traditional suitcases did not have to be pushed into it with our feet. The scarlet duo has accommodated itself with a huge margin, and one can only complain about the high threshold, which interferes with the loading of heavy things.

Have Seltos from Qashqai there is parity in freight matters, but the accents are placed in different ways. Nissan's trunk is better finished and has multiple cargo attachment points, but frustrates with a flimsy floor. And also with steps both from the side of the bumper and at the junction with the folded second row. The "Korean" has a completely flat floor, and in addition, under it lies the only full-size spare wheel in the test … But there are no conveniences here at all. Pile on the floor, bare plastic on the sides - that's it.

It can be assumed that Seltos with the smallest wheelbase (2630 millimeters versus 2638 for Karok and 2646 for Kashkai) will be the worst option for rear passengers, but here Nissan is suddenly lagging behind. The roof presses from above (partly because it is optional, panoramic), the knees are a few centimeters from the backs of the front seats, there is nowhere to charge the phone, even the heating - and that one is at the mercy of those sitting in front. So it's better not to quarrel with them.

Seltos is noticeably more spacious in all directions, except for the width - three adults are closer here in the shoulders - and besides, it is equipped with a USB connector, a two-stage separate sofa heating and a backrest tilt adjustment. Even nominal. Well, Skod gives even more space, and in addition to it - an optional power unit from a USB-C port, a 12-volt connector and a full-fledged 220 V socket. But they are not even on the list of additional equipment yet. And in general, the localized Karok at first is not a car for dreamers: at the moment, two configurations and a single power unit are offered.

However, right now Seltos can also be bought with only one set of "hardware", and it is here that Czech and Korean crossovers turn into real antipodes. Only the power is similar: 150 horsepower for the Skoda and 149 for the Kia. Further - completely polar approaches. Turbo engine 1.4 against a two-liter aspirated. Front-wheel drive versus full. Eight-speed automatic versus… variator.

And yes, now is the time to satisfy your curiosity about this very variator.

The plan was simple: get to the zoomed hills, crawl along them, load the transmissions - and either calm down or open another page in the difficult history of Seltos. But the spring made its own adjustments: the field along which the path to the improvised landfill lay, became a little sour, and the front-wheel drive Karoq got stuck two hundred meters after the exit from the asphalt. And the problem was not in the passenger's 16-centimeter ground clearance and not even in the absurd footpegs that stood on our copy (damn it, seriously, why are they?).

Skoda did not sit on its belly: it simply did not have enough driving wheels, and the electronic imitation of the front differential lock was powerless. Instantly clogged winter tires and not the most comfortable traction control also contributed. More precisely, under normal conditions, everything is in order with it, but here accuracy was required literally up to a percent - otherwise slip and fiasco.

And yes, you know perfectly well where half of the commentators, their fathers, grandfathers and pets, would have driven across this field. But we, four adult men, pretty quickly got tired of pushing Karok back and forth and covered with mud ornaments from under the skidding wheels.Helping ourselves with a quiet, gentle word, we nevertheless returned it to the asphalt - and decided to postpone the assessment of off-road qualities until a version with the correct type of drive comes on the market. Because a little soggy soil, even quite harmless in appearance, is not a territory for a car with two leading drivers, no matter how it calls itself a crossover.

What about Qashqai and Seltos? Their arsenal is, consider it identical: two-liter aspirated, variators and rear axle couplings with the possibility of forced locking. The set, frankly speaking, is not off-road, but simply sufficient to get out of a snowdrift or get to the cottage along spring roads that stop front-wheel drive vehicles.

Both crossovers drove across the field and dirt roads with the same confidence, after which they got on the very hills that we agreed to consider an adequate limit for any city car. The result came out about the same - and, first of all, depends on the courage of the one who sits behind the wheel. I was not afraid of the puddle below, kept a little more speed - I easily ended up at the top. I tried to drive in vnatyag - limply froze on the way to the top.

The main difference is that when the clutch is locked, the Qashqai often slips with all wheels, while Seltos - by the same variator: the engine roars, and the wheels hardly spin, especially the rear ones. A dangerous moment? We also thought so, so to check, we drove both crossovers along a difficult route several times, and to top it off, we made them stand up to half a minute with the accelerator recessed into the floor. AND…

And yes - a specific smell appeared, but it never came to the disappearance of cravings or reports of overheating. And if you think that we have not tested the cars seriously enough, then … You know, if a city crossover cuts in sticky spring mud for half an hour in a row and does not die, and you want something more from it, then the problem is not in it, but in you.

Well, we'll get back to more important things.

Not surprising in off-road disciplines, Karoq fought back in asphalt - and now you probably think that this phrase means a crushing advantage over rivals. But no, he just "surprised" - the swing that will constantly accompany his passengers! Do you even remember Volkswagen Group cars that would love to rock? So I don’t remember. And Karoq does just that - even when you're just rolling off work on the Garden Ring.

This does not have to be considered a disadvantage - on the contrary, if you and your household are not sick in cars, then Skoda will seem the most comfortable in most situations. But it must be borne in mind that she still does not like large obstacles: as on most cars with the MQB platform, the front suspension here thumps on rebound, and the rear one unexpectedly kicks hard. And this is especially noticeable in contrast to how well Karok smoothes out all sorts of little things. In general, a good vestibular and intense deceleration in front of each pit and joint is a guarantee that the Czech crossover will not upset you. And it also has excellent sound insulation that outclasses the competition - and especially the Seltos.

Kia and the tires make more noise, and the engine during acceleration is wailing completely unashamedly. But with comfort, everything is not so simple: the road profile is broadcast to the salon in much more detail, but large obstacles respond with less blows than you expect. Apparently, also in contrast. And it is simply impossible to decide which of these two is more comfortable - after all, everything depends on the personal settings of the sciatic nerve. Seltos's ideology is closer to me: a constant vibration background can be tolerated if the suspension does not allow unexpected shocks. But the opposite opinion has the same right to life.

The most amazing thing is that with such different characters, both crossovers turned out to be very similar in turns! With light, not too informative rudders, rather serious rolls - and reactions that are quite sharp for such rolls.Except that Ki is more willing to turn the rear axle, but in any case this is not about excitement, but rather about the fact that in extreme modes, each of them makes you a little nervous, feeling the trajectory.

And the complete opposite is Nissan Qashqai: it goes into demolition much earlier, but makes it clearer, it falls sideways not so actively, and the heavy effort on the steering wheel, even if it does not add information, instills additional confidence. And not only and not so much when attacking corners, but on a high-speed line and during everyday driving: surprisingly, the crossover, which was recently considered one of the most mischievous in the class, in this trio suddenly turned out to be phlegmatic with smooth reactions!

The suspension is a cross between Ki and Skoda: the relief is repeated in detail, almost like in Seltos, but all vibrations come to the cabin in a more rounded and smoothed manner. At the same time, Qashqai perceives large bumps and potholes more calmly - although it works out them louder than the "Korean" and allows more vibrations of unsprung masses. Which, however, is not surprising on the only 19-inch wheels in the test. As a result, Nissan in terms of comfort is a compromise as it is: to whom is neither fish nor meat, and to whom the golden mean. The same cannot be said about the dynamics. She's just bad.

According to the passport, it is only ten times slower than Ki- 10.5 seconds versus 10.4. Feels like the gap is much larger. And, first of all, because of the transmission settings: the Kashkaya variator, even if it is trained to simulate virtual transmissions, is perceived by the variator. With stretched, "rubber" reactions to the accelerator, suspension of revolutions and so on. More precisely, like this: the settings are not bad, and I would not have raised this topic at all if it were not for the Seltos transmission, which is completely devoid of such ailments. Linear, fast, logical responses, almost perfect connection with the engine - and at the same time smoother behavior at low speeds: getting under way off-road and maneuvering in tight yards on Seltos is easier than on Qashqai.

What could be better? Skoda power unit! Karoq beats both variator competitors both in acceleration intensity and in the ease of traction control, and the eight-speed hydromechanics works almost flawlessly, only occasionally stumbling a little when going downhill. All you need to know in the end: according to the passport (8.8 seconds to a hundred), and according to the feelings Karok is fundamentally more dynamic than his rivals.

So who paid whom?

Here's the takeaway from the test results: Ki and Skod jumped over to drown the Nissan. Like, look: the new "semi-budgetary" are able to outshine the legend of the class! And after all, they really overshadow: Qashqai is slower, closer, more expensive, and in many respects it is noticeably outdated. And I do not see any objective reason why today it can be preferred to any of the newbies.

But Karoq and Seltos shared their polar qualities so equally that there is simply no point in determining the winner. Everything that is known for certain: there is no bright and at the same time practical car among them. In the same way, there is no crossover that is family-friendly and stuffed with all the options. Real antipodes! The only thing: the Kia, all other things being equal, is still much cheaper than the Skoda - but this is exactly what you can influence. Not with biting comments, of course, but with substantive communication with dealers of the Czech brand - they, as a rule, turn out to be more accommodating than Korean ones.

Nissan Qashqai

Okay

• - Solid finish
• - Balanced chassis
• - Name and reputation

bad

• - Cramped interior
• - Outdated electronics
• - Weak dynamics

Features Nissan Qashqai II Restyling

Equipment

2.0 CVT (144 HP) 4WD

Engine

2 l / 144 hp / gasoline

Transmission

variable speed drive

Drive unit

full

Body

SUV 5 doors

Fuel consumption

7.3

Acceleration to 100 km / h

10.5

Price, ₽

1 865 000

All characteristics Car catalog

KiSeltos

Okay

• - Bright design
• - Rich equipment
• - Nice driving character

bad

• - Cheap plastic
• - Lean trunk
• - Image spoiled at the start

KiSeltos I characteristics

Equipment

2.0 CVT (149 hp)

Engine

2 l / 149 hp / gasoline

Transmission

variable speed drive

Drive unit

front

Body

SUV 5 doors

Fuel consumption

6.8

Acceleration to 100 km / h

9.6

Price, ₽

1 349 900

All characteristics Car catalog

SkodKaroq

Okay

• - Second row and trunk
• - Motor and gearbox
• - Soft (if you like) suspension

bad

• - Temporary lack of choice
• - Poor equipment
• - Soft (if you don't like) suspension

SkodKaroq I characteristics

Equipment

1.4 AT (150 HP)

Engine

1.4 l / 150 hp / gasoline

Transmission

automatic

Drive unit

front

Body

SUV 5 doors

Fuel consumption

6.3

Acceleration to 100 km / h

8.8

Price, ₽

1 673 000

All characteristics Car catalog