Skoda Kamiq review

Is the Skoda Kamiq a good car?

Skoda has an ever-growing family of SUV options, including a full-size seven-seater (the Skoda Kodiaq) and two fully electric models in the shape of the Skoda Enyaq and the more compact Skoda Elroq. 

The Kamiq sits at the most modest end of the group, in terms of both its size and its price. Base models start from less than £25,000, and from 2025 onwards, a revised trim structure has improved the levels of standard kit throughout the range. LED headlights, a rear-view camera and satellite navigation are standard on every model.

Under the skin, the Kamiq sits on an enlarged version of the MQB-A0 platform that underpins superminis such as the Volkswagen Polo and the brand's own Skoda Fabia and Skoda Scala hatchbacks. 

How much does the Skoda Kamiq cost?

The introduction of Edition versions to the Skoda Kamiq line-up means that it now starts from just under £25,000 for the SE Edition. This variant is powered by a 94bhp version of the 1.0 TSI three-cylinder turbo petrol, while an extra £1,000 gets you the more powerful 114bhp version of this engine. For an extra £1,400 you can also add a seven-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox.

SE Edition is the only version of the Kamiq that comes with the 94bhp engine, so the starting point for Design Edition at just under £26,000 means there’s only around £200 difference over the SE Edition car with the same 114bhp engine. It’s also offered with the 148bhp 1.5 TSI four-cylinder engine, but only with a manual gearbox for around £28,000.

Used - available now

2023 Skoda

Kamiq

17,458 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £15,197

View Kamiq

2023 Skoda

Kamiq

45,230 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,899

View Kamiq

2023 Skoda

Kamiq

11,576 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £15,749

View Kamiq

2023 Skoda

Kamiq

24,597 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £13,400

View Kamiq

The SE L Edition starts from around the same amount with the 1.0 TSI manual, with the 1.5 TSI adding around £1,300 to the price. Both can be had with an automatic gearbox for around £1,400 extra.

At the top of the range, the Monte Carlo Edition adds a sporty-looking bodykit and interior trim for a premium of around £2,100 over SE L Edition.

There’s just one body style available, a five-door small SUV, while all versions of the Kamiq are front-wheel drive - there’s no four-wheel drive option available.

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Positive controls and torquey petrol engines mean the Skoda Kamiq is a doddle to drive

Access to MQB technology has enabled Skoda to offer a range of very tried-and-tested engine options in the Kamiq, although hybrid fans will have to look elsewhere. Diesel engines were dropped from the line-up a few years back, too, so that leaves a choice of three petrol variants.

The range kicks off with the 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI, which offers 94bhp and 175Nm of torque, but if you can stretch to the version with 114bhp and 200Nm, we’d recommend it. Above those options sits a more potent 1.5-litre unit. This gains a cylinder and an extra 34bhp and 50Nm of torque over the mid-range 1.0 TSI, which – in a car that weighs a fairly modest 1,277-1,289kg (depending on the transmission) – delivers very strong performance. 

Both engines are very accomplished. The 1.0-litre’s three-cylinder layout transmits subtle vibrations into the cabin, but its engine note always remains low-key. The 1.5 unit sounds a little more revvy and is smoother under hard acceleration, remaining refined even when it’s being worked hard. 

The six-speed manual gearboxes are very light and slick to use, while the dual-clutch automatics are particularly responsive. Our one criticism of the auto is that it can be a little hesitant and jerky when moving off from rest. This makes precise, low-speed manoeuvres such as parking a little trickier than they should be.

What is the Skoda Kamiq like to drive?

It’s not a car that will set hearts racing, but the Kamiq’s on-road manners tick all of the required boxes, and the Skoda generally ranks towards the top of its class in most areas.

In town

The Kamiq’s steering is light yet precise, which combined with dimensions that aren’t much larger than a supermini’s, makes it very easy to drive around town. The brakes take a little time to acclimatise to, because they are quite sharp at the top of their travel, but they feel strong. 

Ride comfort is, in general, among the best in the class. Aside from larger potholes, which can cause bigger thuds in the cabin than in rivals such as the Jeep Avenger, it remains a comfortable place to be.

On A- and B-roads

There are very few cars in the small SUV segment – Ford Puma excepted – that are actually fun to drive. But the accuracy of all the Kamiq’s major controls – plus the strong performance of its most potent petrol option – mean that it’s better than most in that regard. 

The handling has a very subtle, nose-heavy bias, the grip is strong and it feels reasonably light on its feet. The suspension’s overall softness allows the driver to have a strong idea of just how much grip is available, and it’s easy to cover ground smoothly. Harsh bumps can send shocks through the cabin, but the suspension keeps the car on course even when it hits a sudden mid-corner lump. 

On the motorway

The ride is at its best on the more settled surface of a motorway, where its overall softness manages to soak up longer compressions with ease. Stability is great, while road and wind noise are fairly well isolated compared with other cars in the class.

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed

Of course, the fastest version of the Kamiq is the one powered by the 148bhp 1.5 TSI four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. A 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds means that there’s more than enough power for everyday driving and longer journeys, while the car’s top speed is 132mph. The DSG auto has the same 0-62mph time as the manual model.

The 1.0 TSI three-cylinder in 94bhp guise is capable of 0-62mph in 11 seconds, while the torque spread from low revs is useful for keeping pace with urban traffic. This model has a top speed of 113mph.

The Kamiq powered by the 114bhp version of the 1.0 TSI can sprint from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds, while adding the DSG auto sees that time grow to 10.2 seconds. Both of these cars have a 121mph top speed.

Officially, the 1.0-litre petrol achieves up to 52.4mpg in WLTP tests, and the larger 1.5 can return up to 49.1mpg. Our experience in the real world suggests that there isn’t much difference between the two engines’ efficiency, either. 

During our last encounter with the smaller unit, we achieved 45.3mpg, while the 1.5 TSI managed 43.8mpg. Given the additional performance that the larger engine can achieve for little loss in efficiency, we’d choose that model if your budget allows. 

The smaller engine tends to be more frugal with the manual gearbox; the auto struggles to get into the mid-thirties around town, but things improve with three pedals. That aside, real-world economy is excellent; motorway runs in the 1.5 TSI result in 50-52mpg, while the 1.0-litre can get into the mid-fifties.

Tax

For drivers paying Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax, the Kamiq’s emissions should compare favourably with its main competitors’. However, there are hybrid rivals for similar money, such as the Renault Captur E-Tech and Toyota Yaris Cross, with lower emissions that could save you money. 

Then there are a number of fully electric alternatives such as the Hyundai Kona Electric, Jeep Avenger, Peugeot E-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric to consider, which could save you even more cash.

Insurance groups

The Skoda Kamiq ranges between group 12 for the least powerful 94bhp 1.0 TSI, up to group 20 for the 148bhp 1.5-litre. That’s on a par with the Volkswagen T-Cross (groups 11-20), but is generally higher than the Ford Puma (groups 12-17), Renault Captur (groups eight to 19) and Toyota Yaris Cross (groups 11-14).

Depreciation

Depending on the trim and engine combination, the Kamiq is predicted to hold on to between 48 and 51 per cent of its original price after three years or 36,000 miles.

The Volkswagen T-Cross fares similarly to that across most of its range (although its keenly priced Match trim holds on to nearly 53 per cent), while the Renault Captur is better still; it is expected to cling on to almost 56 per cent of its original value. 

A Jeep Avenger loses more money, however, maintaining around 42-43 per cent of its original purchase cost – or a little less than that if you choose the fully electric version.

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A smart look and decent quality defines the current crop of Skodas, and the Kamiq is no different

Recent Skodas have struck a good balance between a smart, modern cabin design and decent quality – and the Kamiq is no different.

What is the Skoda Kamiq like inside?

Alongside so many newcomers to this class, the first thing that strikes you about the Kamiq’s cabin is that it has actual physical controls. The climate functions are operated using dials and chunky buttons; the light switch is a big dial beside the steering wheel, which rotates with a satisfying clunk. There’s even a manual handbrake, too.

Despite this now-rare use of buttons, the overall look is clean and understated. There’s a central panel running the width of the dash, that has a textured look (but is smooth plastic) and everything is neatly laid out.

What is the interior quality like?

Soft-touch plastics tend not to be too commonplace in supermini-based SUVs, but even though there’s lots of hard plastic in the Kamiq, it feels sturdy enough. It helps that the main touchpoints, such as the door handles and steering wheel, feel more expensive. 

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment 

All Kamiqs are fitted as standard with Skoda’s digital cockpit technology. From 2025, all models have the larger 10.25-inch screen, which offers plenty of scope for customisation of the display layouts, prioritising mapping, speed and revs, driver assist or a more minimal look. 

Whichever is selected, the white-on-black graphics with green highlights are sharp and the information is presented clearly. The combination of buttons and thumb wheels on the steering wheel makes changing between them easy and intuitive.

The Kamiq’s infotainment system is a prime example of how not to overcomplicate simple things. Keeping the climate controls separate helps massively, but so does a logical menu structure. Screen resolution is sharp, the graphics are consistent through the menus and with the digital driver’s display, while the panel responds quickly to touch inputs. The volume can be adjusted by a wheel on the steering wheel.

One minus point is Skoda’s smartphone connectivity. In comparison with Ford Bluetooth systems, which just instantly work, connecting a device wirelessly to the Kamiq’s set-up always seems like a struggle, with the system usually taking a few attempts to connect successfully.

Even then, Android Auto can take minutes to pair automatically, although you can speed things up by manually selecting the option yourself. But you’ll still need a USB cable anyway, because there’s no wireless charging.

The Skoda Kamiq is more like a high-riding hatch than a small SUV, and it’s roomy as a result

For a car barely larger than a supermini, Skoda’s designers have managed to unearth an awful lot of space inside the Kamiq’s cabin.

Skoda’s Simply Clever Plus pack (£340) adds extras that make life easier throughout the Kamiq. Rear-seat passengers each get a tablet PC mount on the back of the front seats, while loading the kids in and out of tight spots becomes a little less stressful thanks to pop-out door edge protectors. 

Further forward, the pack adds a small waste bin in the driver’s door pocket and drawers under the front seats. The boot gets a net on the underside of the parcel shelf and a double-sided floor; one side is rubber and the other is carpet.

Dimensions and size

At just over 4.2m long and almost 1.8m wide, the Kamiq isn’t a particularly big car, but it’s marginally larger in both directions than a Volkswagen T-Cross, and slightly longer than a Nissan Juke. It’s more like a high-riding medium/small hatch, almost as if the Skoda Scala had been given a lift kit.

How practical is the Skoda Kamiq? 

Seats & space in the front

Much as with every other Volkswagen Group product, it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position in the Kamiq, thanks to the driver’s seat and steering wheel offering a huge range of adjustment.

A large tray at the base of the dashboard has plenty of space to hold a smartphone, while a modular storage item slots into one of the two cup-holders in the centre console, which is ideal for taking care of the key on the move. The large door bins are useful, too.

Seats & space in the back

There’s loads of space in the back of the Kamiq, easily beating rivals such as the Peugeot 2008, Jeep Avenger or Ford Puma. Headroom, in particular, is excellent for a car in this class, but kneeroom is also among the best the segment has to offer. 

The seats themselves are fairly soft and supportive – even in the centre seat, which can often be a little overlooked – and large plastic openings make it easy to access the ISOFIX points when installing a child seat.

Boot space

For a car of this size, the 400-litre boot is decently sized. It’s not quite the largest in its class – the Nissan Juke, for example, has 422 litres of space – but the Skoda’s wide opening, square shape and high roofline make it a useful area. Drop down the rear seats, and that volume grows to an impressive 1,395 litres.

A variable boot floor is a £205 option that’s well worth the investment. Without it, there’s quite a drop beyond the opening, which makes it a little more tricky to lift heavy items into position, and once the seats are folded, it creates a useful flat load-through area. If you’re willing to sacrifice just a little more storage capacity, then a space-saver spare wheel is offered as an option.

Skoda finished a relatively mediocre 23rd out of 32 brands in the best car manufacturer rankings of our 2024 Driver Power survey, which is disappointing, given that owners used to be so keen on their cars that the firm regularly placed within the top five only a few years ago.

The Kamiq was awarded a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP in its crash tests, with a stellar 96 per cent score for adult occupant safety. It scored 85, 80 and 76 per cent in the Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road Users and Safety Assist categories, respectively. The closely related Volkswagen T-Cross recorded higher safety scores, beating the Kamiq by a few per cent in each category. It’s a shame that Skoda charges extra for a driver’s knee airbag and rear side airbags, though, and they’re part of a pack, too, costing around £700.

Warranty

All Skoda models are covered by a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty and AA roadside assistance for the same period. The warranty can be extended up to five years and 100,000 miles at extra cost. Prices range from £250 to increase it to four years/80,000 miles, £280 for a four-year/100,000-mile extension, or a little over £500 for a five-year/100,000-mile policy.

Servicing

Skoda offers a two-year service plan for the Kamiq, which costs just over £500. This can be broken down into more manageable payments of around £22 per month spread over the full 24-month term.

What do owners think?

Here’s what owners in the 2024 Driver Power survey thought of the Skoda Kamiq.

Tell us what you think of your car! Take the Driver Power survey…

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Skoda Kamiq alternatives

Since the Kamiq is based on the Volkswagen Group’s tried-and-tested MQB architecture, it’s obvious that its main rivals are going to be the platform-sharing Volkswagen T-Cross and Volkswagen Taigo, plus the SEAT Arona. It’s positioned a little higher than those models on price, but it’s also slightly larger, so you’re getting more car for the money.

The small SUV market has a lot of contenders. There’s the funky and soft-riding Citroen C3 Aircross, hi-tech Nissan Juke, fun-to-drive Ford Puma and the rounded Renault Captur. These all have varying levels of hybrid assistance (as well as all-electric options). Other models offered with hybrid drive include the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Yaris Cross, while cars such as the Jeep Avenger, Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka have petrol, hybrid and all-electric choices.