Dear Alex,
I have a 2021 Skoda Karoq 1.5 petrol with a DSG automatic gearbox. You have previously mentioned that these had been troublesome, and I think you may have said that VW had sorted the problem. My Karoq is due its annual service, and I understand that the gearbox oil should be changed at 40,000 miles or four years. Is that correct?
–RC
Dear RC,
The dry-clutch DQ200 gearbox used to be the most troublesome DSG variant, but a while ago Volkswagen switched the gearbox oil from synthetic to mineral, which led to a huge reduction in the incidence of expensive issues.
While many of the issues that gave DSGs such a bad reputation early on have been ironed out, there are still areas that can cause problems – and fixes can be expensive.
The biggest bugbear is the mechatronics unit, which is effectively a box of solenoids and hydraulic valves that physically move the gears and clutches in order to engage different ratios. This, as you can imagine, contains many small components and relies on a lot of sensors; if any one of those items packs in, it throws up a mechatronics fault.
Volkswagen, Skoda’s parent company, only sells the mechatronics unit as a complete part, so the official fix is therefore to replace the whole thing – which can cost several thousands of pounds.
However, there are aftermarket companies that will dismantle the mechatronics unit and fix certain faults. Either way, a mechatronics unit failure is either costly or time-consuming to sort – sometimes both.
The better news is that while mechatronics failures are not unheard of, even on newer DSG gearboxes, they are now fairly rare. There are tens of thousands of DSQ-equipped cars happily trundling around UK roads, so it isn’t as though a DSG will inevitably cause your car to break down.
The best way to guard against failure is fastidious maintenance. The DQ200 doesn’t officially have oil change intervals, because it’s considered a “sealed for life” gearbox. However, I treat that phrase with suspicion and believe it’s worth getting the oil changed.
Other DSG gearboxes have an interval of 40,000 miles, so that seems like a logical time to do it. Some dealers may say you can’t – but I’ve had the oil changed on a DQ200 unit before, so it is possible. If your dealer won’t do it, take the car to a Volkswagen Group specialist instead.
Doing so won’t guarantee an expensive failure in the future, of course. But it can help to ensure you’re not one of the unlucky few to suffer a big DSG-related bill.
Dear Alex,
My wife has a 2015 Ford B-Max. She has kept it for so long because she can’t decide on what new car to buy that matches the generous headroom of the B-Max. Which make and model should she consider?
–DN
Dear DN,
You don’t mention a budget, but the first cars that come to mind are from premium brands.
The one that suits best is the Mercedes-Benz GLB. This SUV’s boxy styling means it has a huge amount of room inside for its size – your wife will find there’s more headroom in the GLB than in her B-Max.
The GLB 200 AMG Line Executive is my pick; it’s fairly close to the bottom of the range but has all you need, including a relatively frugal 1.3-litre petrol turbo engine. However, even this relatively affordable model weighs in at £43,610.
The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer is one of the few new cars that’s a similar MPV (or people carrier) body style to your wife’s B-Max, although the 2 Series is slightly larger. But it offers generous headroom – and in 220i Sport form, it’s £35,360, which is a good deal cheaper than the GLB.
Still too pricey? At the other end of the price spectrum sits the Dacia Duster. This compact SUV will be easier to park than the premium options, and while it’s an SUV rather than an MPV, it should be at least the equal of, if not slightly better than, a B-Max in terms of headroom.
The well-equipped Journey model with a fuel-sipping hybrid engine is only £26,530. And don’t forget that Dacia’s reliability ratings are sky high, backed up by as much as six years of service-activated warranty.
Cut from similar cloth to the Duster is the Seat Arona, though this compact SUV is more engaging to drive and feels slightly higher-quality inside.
The headroom isn’t as good as the Dacia’s, but it should be about the same as the B-Max. And prices are pretty reasonable now that the Arona is nearing the end of its life. A luxurious Xperience model with a cracking 1.0-litre petrol engine costs £27,750; a more basic SE Technology is only £24,605.
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