Skoda Kamiq Review
Skoda’s smallest SUV offers an appealing blend of practicality, equipment and the latest technology at an affordable price
Strengths & weaknesses
- Spacious interior
- High level of standard tech
- Clever touches such as built-in ice scraper
- Not the cheapest car in the class
- No electrified version for now
- Some safety kit reserved for higher trims
Skoda Kamiq prices from £11,795 Finance from £130.84 per month
There’s a huge range of small SUVs for buyers to choose from in the 2020s, with the likes of the Peugeot 2008, Renault Captur, Hyundai Kona, Kia Stonic, Seat Arona, Volkswagen T-Cross and Ford EcoSport on offer - all of which have strengths that appeal to the numerous buyers looking for something compact with a slightly elevated ride height that provides a greater sense of safety to some drivers.
Skoda has also entered the fray with its third - and smallest - SUV, the Kamiq (an Inuit word that means something that fits perfectly in every situation), which joins the Kodiaq and Karoq as the Czech carmaker’s line-up of rugged-looking models. On paper, it looks as though this latest addition to the family has inherited much from its established siblings, as it combines a striking design with real practicality and a sensibly compact range of well-equipped trim levels.
The exterior design is different without being too fussy, and there's no mistaking that the Kamiq is part of the Skoda range. It feels modern in style with a look that is enhanced by the LED light setups front and rear. The interior is similarly well designed. There are some similarities to the Seat Arona and VW T-Cross, with which it shares a lot of its components - not surprising, as Skoda and Seat are part of the VW Group - but, again, this is very obviously a Skoda. It's all very neat and well put-together, with unshowy but decent-quality materials.
There are three different media display options, depending on the trim level you choose, with sizes up to 9.2 inches. There’s plenty of connectivity on offer, with all but the most basic of trim levels offering smartphone compatibility (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay - even wirelessly).
The Kamiq is also spacious and practical inside, despite its compact dimensions, with enough legroom and headroom for six-footers. The 1,395-litre boot is also the biggest in the class when the seats are folded, and one of the biggest (400 litres) with the seats up, so if you need decent luggage room but don't want a big car, the Kamiq works well.
The big advantage the Kamiq has over older models such as the 2008, Captur and EcoSport is that it has a number of more recent safety features. So autonomous emergency braking is standard on all models, while it will also tell you if you’re straying across the white line markings on the road, and blind spot detection is available on SE L trim models. Options include adaptive cruise control - that keeps you a safe distance behind the car in front - and a driver alert fatigue detection system. All of these help make the Kamiq one of the safest cars in the small SUV class, with an official five-star crash safety rating.
On the road, the Kamiq is a comfortable, responsive and easy car to drive. The range of engines - three petrol , one diesel - is well judged, with the 1.0 TSI 115hp petrol engine likely to prove the most popular buyers, as it has all the power most drivers will need, both in town and on the motorway, while offering the prospect of real-world fuel economy of more than 45mpg.
It handles neatly, with accurate steering and plenty of grip, while the ride quality is typically Skoda-like, soaking up the worst of the road surfaces and making travelling in the Kamiq a very comfortable experience.
With prices starting at £17,700 at launch, the Kamiq isn't cheap. In fact, the base model is more expensive than the cheapest T-Cross and Arona, but less than the 2008. That said, it is a well-equipped car, so it does still offer good value for money. If you want the most bang for your buck though, as always, it makes sense to look a nearly-new or used model. Check out the best value used models available now by clicking on the link below.
Key facts
| Warranty | Three years/60,000 miles |
|---|---|
| Boot size | 400-1395 litres |
| Width | 1793mm |
| Length | 4241mm |
| Height | 1531mm |
| Tax | £170-210 in first year and £145 thereafter |
Best Skoda Kamiq for...
Best for Economy – Skoda Kamiq 1.6 TDI 115hp
The only diesel Kamiq variant returns an official fuel consumption figure of 48.7-56.5mpg on the combined cycle, while CO2 emissions are 112g/km.
Best for Families – Skoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI 115hp
Offering a blend of reasonable performance and low running costs, the 1.0 TSI petrol engine with 115hp should prove to be the most popular for those with a family to fit in.
Best for Performance – Skoda Kamiq 1.5 TSI 150 PS
The higher-powered 1.5 TSI petrol engine produces 150hp, which results in a 0-62mph sprint in 8.3 seconds - pretty speedy for a car of this type.
History
- March 2019 Skoda unveils the Kamiq small SUV at the Geneva Motor Show.
- November 2019 First UK deliveries of the Kamiq.
Understanding Skoda Kamiq names
Engine 1.0 TSI 115PS
The Kamiq is available with a choice of four engine options, three petrol and one diesel. The petrol engines carry the TSI name, while the diesel has a TDI designation. The PS figure refers to the amount of power the engines offer in horsepower.
Trim SE
Buyers can select one of four trim levels for the Kamiq: S, SE, SE L and Monte Carlo. The differences between them are that they offer varying amounts of equipment fitted as standard and prices to match.
Gearbox DSG
All four engines are paired with a manual gearbox as standard: a five-speed transmission is available with the 1.0-litre TSI 95hp, while other models have a six-speed ’box. Alternatively, cars with a power output of 115hp and above can be fitted with a seven-speed, dual-clutch (which works to provide smooth and quick gear changes) automatic gearbox.
Skoda Kamiq Engines
1.0 TSI 95hp, 1.0 TSI 115hp, 1.5 TSI 150hp, 1.6 TDI 115hp
Skoda has kept the engine range simple with just four options (three petrol, one diesel) to choose from.
A 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine offers two configurations, with different power ratings. The basic model produces 95hp, resulting in a 0-62mph time of 11.1 seconds, which makes it not exactly sluggish, but certainly sedate. A fuel consumption figure of up to 49.6mpg hints at its priorities and making it the most economical of the petrol-engined cars.
The slightly more powerful 115hp version is likely to be the most popular among buyers, so will provide the most used examples further down the line. It’s a good all-rounder, with enough performance for most needs, while the upper limit of the official fuel economy figures (47.9mpg) is achievable, especially on motorway journeys. Both 1.0-litre models offer low CO2 emissions figures of 116g/km.
If more power is required, a 1.5 TSI petrol engine with a 150hp power output is also available. The 150hp output is quite a lot of power for a small car such as the Kamiq to put down and it's easy to spin the wheels, especially in the wet. Fuel economy isn’t badly compromised though, with 47.1mpg possible and lower CO2 emissions than the less powerful 1.0 TSI model above (113g/km).
The only diesel option is a 115hp one. As you’d expect from a diesel, fuel lasts longer, with up to 56.5mpg possible, and CO2 emissions of 112g/km, while performance is similar to the 1.0 TSI with the same 115hp output.
|
Fuel |
Fuel economy |
Power |
Acceleration (0-62mph) |
Top speed |
|
|
1.0 TSI 95hp |
petrol |
44.8-49.6mpg |
95hp |
11.1 secs |
112mph |
|
1.0 TSI 115hp |
petrol |
41.5-47.9mpg |
115hp |
9.9 secs |
120mph |
|
1.5 TSI 150hp |
petrol |
38.2-47.1mpg |
150hp |
8.3 secs |
132mph |
|
1.6 TDI 115hp |
diesel |
48.7-56.5mpg |
115hp |
10.2 secs |
119mph |
Skoda Kamiq Trims
S, SE, SE L, Monte Carlo
The most basic S trim level comes with standard equipment that includes 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and tail lights, air-conditioning, a media system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, digital radio, Bluetooth, e-Call emergency assistance, electric windows, Isofix points for child seats and a range of safety features such as front assist, lane assist and tyre pressure monitoring.
The mid-level – and popular – SE trim adds 17-inch alloys, lumbar support for the front seats, multifunction steering wheel, an upgraded eight-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration (via USB for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and also wireless for CarPlay), rear parking sensors, cruise control, automatic lights and wipers, an umbrella in the driver’s door and blind spot detection.
Upgrading to SE L means also getting 18-inch alloys, privacy glass, microsuede upholstery, a 9.2-inch touchscreen, height adjustable driver and passenger seats, electric folding door mirrors, keyless start, dual-zone climate control, gesture control and 'virtual cockpit' digital dials, that feature information in greater detail in the driver’s display.
The fourth trim level, Monte Carlo, will have a sporty character, but exact details have not yet been released.
Skoda Kamiq Reliability and warranty
The Kamiq has been launched after the publication of the most recent Auto Express Driver Power survey, so we don’t know yet how reliable it is likely to be. However, the Škoda brand was voted fifth most reliable manufacturer, so chances are that it will serve owners well in this area.
The company’s three-year/60,000-mile warranty isn’t very generous, when compared to manufacturers such as Kia, whose Stonic has a seven-year warranty, or Hyundai, which sells the Kona, with five years of cover.
Used Skoda Kamiq
It’s too early to offer a judgement on the resale values of the Kamiq, as there are few on the used market, but as small SUVs are the fastest-growing segment of the car market at the moment, second-hand prices should hold up pretty well.
While that means you're unlikely to get a nearly-new bargain, you should benefit from low PCP finance costs on used models, as when you hand the car back at the end of the contract it should still be worth a lot, meaning low monthly payments.
In addition, as Skodas tend to do well in reliability surveys, this factor also increases demand for used examples and helps them retain a slightly better proportion of their original price than cars from other manufacturers.