Skoda Kamiq Review

How much does it cost?

In such a hotly-contested marketplace, Skoda has decided that the Kamiq needs to be priced to compete. A look at the brand’s online configurator shows the entry-level ‘SE Edition’ car starting at just £25,520, making it one of the most reasonably priced small SUVs that money can buy. For those who want to push the boat out a little more, there are a variety of different trim options all the way up to the range-topping Monte Carlo Edition which still only gets underway at a very reasonable £30,765. Skoda also offers finance packages from around £250 per month, meaning there should be a Kamiq to suit most financial situations. The car also represents excellent value on the used market, where second-hand models can be found on AA Cars for under £10,000, although for that kind of money, you are likely to be looking at a car with more than 100,000 miles on the clock. Anyone looking for a three-year-old Kamiq with around 30,000 miles under its belt can expect to pay anywhere upward of £13,000.

Engine and performance

Overview

Skoda has kept things simple when it comes to the engines on offer under the bonnet of the Kamiq. Entry-level models use a 1.0-litre TSI engine that produces either 94 bhp or 114 bhp, depending on setup. Moving up the range, top-spec cars also get the option of a 1.5-litre TSI unit, producing a slightly heftier 148 bhp. Gearbox choices include a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic in cars with the smaller engine, while the more powerful 1.5-litre is offered with the DSG as standard. A slight drawback is the fact that Skoda does not offer any hybrid, electric or diesel options, with the brand instead opting for a more straightforward approach. When it comes to performance, 0–62 mph will take 11 seconds in entry-level cars, shrinking to 8.3 seconds in the most powerful versions.

Out on the road

Right from the outset, the Kamiq feels friendly and easy to live with. It offers a slightly raised driving position for good visibility, without ever feeling like you’re lording it over other motorists in the way you do in a larger SUV. The car’s more compact dimensions make it particularly strong around town, where it is manoeuvrable and well suited to urban driving and tight parking spaces. While the smaller engines are excellent in these environments, when you head out onto the motorway, it is the slightly more powerful 1.5-litre option that comes into its own. While acceleration is not what you would call brisk, the car is more than comfortable at motorway speeds, settling into a nice rhythm once up at 70mph. Of the two gearbox options, the DSG automatic is the one to go for, offering smooth and intuitive shifts, which is particularly helpful in stop-start traffic.

Ride and handling

Skoda knows how to make a sporty SUV, as shown higher up its model line-up with the likes of the genuinely exciting Elroq vRS. However, when it came to designing the Kamiq, the brand decided to opt for comfort over precision. As a result, the car feels relaxing and reliable but very rarely exciting. The suspension is soft and does an excellent job of soaking up bumps and imperfections, leading to an impressively smooth ride for a car at this price point. The trade-off for this comes when the road gets twisty and you want to have some fun. The Kamiq lacks the sharpness of key rivals like the Ford Puma and certainly does not encourage enthusiastic driving in the same way. While body roll is largely well controlled, the steering is light and lacking in feedback. While this may be enough to put off some of the more adventurous drivers, for the majority of buyers it won’t matter a jot. Most motorists will love the safe and secure ride, which is particularly good on higher spec cars with the optional adaptive suspension.

Interior and features

Interiors

Inside, the Kamiq continues Skoda’s approach of keeping things straightforward and no-nonsense. Up front, the dash layout is clean and logical, with the brand resisting the urge to do away with physical buttons in favour of putting everything on a screen. This is certainly a welcome decision, at a time when many of the car’s rivals are opting for far more fiddly set-ups. Keeping physical buttons for features like the climate control means that the screen is left purely for infotainment purposes. Entry-level cars get an 8.25-inch screen, which grows to a larger 9.2-inch system on more premium models. Throughout the cabin, material quality is generally good, particularly in higher trims where soft-touch plastics and optional leather upholstery add a more upmarket feel. While you would certainly not describe the interior as being luxurious, everything does at least feel well-built and durable.

Boot space and practicality

Considering it is firmly at the smaller end of the SUV scale, the Kamiq actually offers an impressive level of practicality. There is a very strong 400 litres of boot capacity – comfortably enough for weekly shopping, pushchairs or weekend luggage – and folding the rear seats down creates a very usable flat load area. The cabin itself also includes a number of clever storage solutions like door bins, cupholders and Skoda’s trademark ‘Simply Clever’ touches, such as umbrella storage and bag hooks. There is also more than enough head and legroom in both the front and rear, making long journeys very comfortable, regardless of where you are seated.

Features

The Kamiq boasts a good level of equipment as standard, with even the most basic cars getting 17-inch Stratos silver alloy wheels, full LED headlights, a rear-view camera, cruise control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Moving up the range, cars also get dual-zone climate control, heated seats, a digital instrument cluster and upgraded audio systems. While the Kamiq may lack the outright tech seen in some of its more expensive rivals, it manages to cover all the essentials with a minimum of fuss.

Trim and colour options

The standard Kamiq is offered in SE, Design, SE L and Monte Carlo editions. While entry-level models do come with a decent level of equipment, it is the mid-range SE L that represents the best balance of price, comfort and technology. Monte Carlo versions add sportier styling touches, larger wheels and upgraded interior details for those wanting a more distinctive look. Colour choices include Energy Blue, Race Blue, Candy White, Moon White, Velvet Red, Graphite Grey, Black Magic Pearl Effect, Phoenix Orange and Smokey Silver.

Safety and reliability

Despite its bargain price tag, Skoda hasn’t scrimped when it comes to safety on the Kamiq. Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition and multiple airbags, with higher trims adding adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts. The package was enough to impress the judges at Euro NCAP, which awarded the car a full five-star rating, after reserving special praise for the car’s safety for adult occupants. As part of the VW Group, Skoda enjoys a strong reputation for reliability and benefits from an extensive dealer network across the UK, should anything go wrong.

MPG, emissions and tax

With a line-up of cheap and cheerful petrol engines, the Kamiq performs well when it comes to fuel efficiency. Official figures range from 47.1 mpg to 52.3 mpg, although real-world numbers are likely to fall closer to the 40 mpg level. CO₂ emissions sit between 122 and 135 g/km, placing the Kamiq in relatively low tax brackets. As a result, annual road tax costs are modest, and company car drivers will benefit from reasonable Benefit-in-Kind rates, although the lack of any electrified options means it can’t match the very lowest figures on that front.