It looks like Skoda has finally realized the benefits of having a subcompact SUV on the market. With people opting for small SUVs more and more these days, the Czech automaker has decided to snatch its share of the pie with a product that will be on sale by next year. This rumored small SUV will be placed below the Kodiaq and the Karoq in Skoda’s lineup.

It’s The Need Of The Hour

Speaking to AutoExpress at the Paris Motor Show earlier this month, Skoda’s CEO Bernhard Maier said, “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. This is a segment which opened up a couple of years ago, and as we want to take part and have a piece of the cake, this car fits perfectly. The car is following the needs of our customers. You have all the advantages of a big body, higher seating, and more space, while not spending too much on the drivetrain, such as four-wheel drive.”

What To Expect From The New Vehicle

Skoda’s potential could-be-bestseller product will ride on Volkswagen Group’s MQB A0 platform, and it will be the largest model in its segment. In fact, it will even offer more cabin space than its cousin, the Volkswagen T-Roc, which competes in a segment above.

It will feature Volkswagen’s familiar three-pot engine in base form, while higher trims will be offered with the 1.5-liter, four-cylinder, TSI, gasoline engine or a 1.6-liter, TDI, diesel unit. A manual transmission should be standard equipment while a dual-clutch automatic transmission will be on the options list.

Our Take

Skoda is known to provide quality products in all the segments they occupy these days, even though they are considered to be slightly overpriced. But given the competition, the Czech automaker is likely sticking to the basics and provide a well-packed car with prices kept under control. There’s no word on the unveiling or the launch, but it’s expected to be sometime in mid-2019; perhaps after the debut of the next-gen Rapid. Share your thoughts on this in the comments section below.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Skoda Karoq.

Read our in-depth review of the 2017 Skoda Kodiaq.