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In-depth reviews

Skoda Kamiq review: great value and roomy small SUV

The Skoda Kamiq is one of the best small SUVs on sale – few can match its balance of practicality, value and comfort

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£24,010 to £32,040
  • Practical body shape
  • Long kit list
  • Frugal engines
  • Not much fun to drive
  • Some rivals offer greater safety technology
  • Lacks the character of its Skoda Yeti predecessor
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The Skoda Kamiq is a fantastic all-rounder; it’s one of the first compact crossovers to offer enough space and practicality to work as a family’s only car. Despite its dinky exterior dimensions, the Kamiq is a credible alternative to more conventional hatchback models from the class above. 

The cabin feels well screwed together, and there’s loads of kit no matter which trim you go for. All of Skoda’s usual ‘Simply Clever’ features remain – from the ice scraper and magnifier on the fuel filler flap to the umbrella in the driver’s door – making the Kamiq a fantastically adept family car.

About the Skoda Kamiq

The Skoda Kamiq is the smallest SUV in the Czech manufacturer’s stable. It arrived in 2019, taking the fight to a wealth of talented rivals in a hugely important segment in the UK.

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Based on the Volkswagen Group’s tried-and-tested MQB architecture, the Kamiq shares much of its mechanical underpinnings with the Volkswagen T-Cross and SEAT Arona. It sits a little higher than both of its siblings in terms of price, but is just as competent (and, in some ways, more so) in the areas that matter most.

The small SUV market is a hotly contested one. There’s the funky and soft riding Citroën C3 Aircross, high-tech Nissan Juke, fun-to-drive Ford Puma and Seat Arona, along with the well-rounded Renault Captur and Volkswagen T-Cross. There are also hybrid alternatives such as the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Yaris Cross, as well as all-electric options in the form of the Peugeot E-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric.

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The Kamiq’s connection to Volkswagen means there’s a familiar set of great engines to pick from. A 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine kicks off the range with 94bhp and a five-speed manual gearbox, while a 114bhp version brings a little more punch and comes with a six-speed manual, or an optional seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. A 1.5-litre TSI petrol tops the engine range and is available with 148bhp and a choice between manual or automatic gearboxes.

Skoda’s simple trim-level structure applies, with entry-level SE, followed by mid-range SE L, then top-spec Monte Carlo. We think the entry-level SE trim represents the sweet spot in the Kamiq range because it comes with all the equipment you’ll need, including 16-inch alloys, LED headlights, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, and an 8.25-inch infotainment system with wireless smartphone connectivity to cover the lack of sat-nav. You’ll need to upgrade to mid-range SE L for its larger 9.2-inch screen to get that. This version also adds 18-inch alloys, tinted windows, ambient interior lighting, auto lights and wipers, plus a 10.25-inch configurable digital instrument cluster. 

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Range-topping Monte Carlo has the sportiest look of the Kamiq range, with a unique 18-inch alloy wheel design, black exterior trim details, full matrix LED headlights (they adjust the beam pattern to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic at night), sports front seats and a multi-function sports steering wheel.

Engines, performance and drive

The Skoda Kamiq drives in a safe and predictable manner, but some rivals are more fun

Around town, we found the light steering set-up makes for a car that’s super-easy to park and manoeuvre in traffic, while the Kamiq strikes a good balance being neither too firm nor too soft, feeling pliant enough over rough roads, potholes and speed bumps. For those who may feel the Ford Puma or SEAT Arona are a little too firm, the Kamiq could be just the ticket.

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On faster B roads, you’d be hard-pressed to call the Kamiq fun to drive, but that’s not to say a journey in the small SUV is a dull or dreary experience. It handles safely and predictably, with a high amount of grip allowing you to confidently maintain your speed on a twisty road, while its slick manual gearbox means you can make the most of its small 1.0-litre petrol engines. It’s more satisfying to drive than the Nissan Juke, which we find is let down by a long-throw action on its manual gearbox, and some rather spongy feeling pedals.

At motorway speeds, the Kamiq is settled and doesn’t feel like it’ll make children in the back feel car sick going over undulations. There’s a little bit of wind noise around the windscreen and large door mirrors, but that’s a criticism we could also level at the Puma. If you need something quieter, try a Volkswagen T-Cross or a slightly plusher Volkswagen T-Roc.

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed

There are three engines to choose from; each are turbocharged for a little extra shove. The entry-level 1.0-litre TSI features an adequate but somewhat lacklustre 94bhp. It should be fine if you mostly stick to urban driving, but its 0-62mph time of 11.2 seconds means you’ll need to work it hard beyond the city limits. Plus, it’ll be revving higher at motorway speeds with its five-speed gearbox compared with the six-speed gearbox of the more powerful 1.0-litre model.

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The more powerful 1.0-litre has always been our preferred option because it’s more than quick enough for a car of this type, offering plenty of punch around town and decent refinement at motorway speeds. The revised Kamiq gets a more potent 114bhp version of this engine, up from 109bhp. Performance figures haven’t been finalised, but expect it to be a little swifter than the 0-62mph of 10.2 seconds the previous version manages. This engine is available with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, though we’d stick with the former because it’s light and precise to use.

Above this sits the flagship 148bhp 1.5 TSI. It’s a smooth and punchy performer, managing 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds. This engine has neat cylinder deactivation fuel-saving technology, so it isn’t much thirstier than the smaller 1.0-litre engines. That being said, it does cost more to buy compared with the already excellent 1.0-litre petrol, so you’ll need to be sure you need the extra performance before committing to the additional costs.

MPG, CO2 and running costs

The Skoda Kamiq lacks a cheap-to-run hybrid or electric option, unlike some rivals; depreciation and insurance are on a par with its competition

The Skoda Kamiq is gaining some revisions to its existing range of engines as part of some mid-life updates, but the official figures for these engines have yet to be announced.

We don’t expect any big changes in numbers, so you should expect 50mpg from the 1.0-litre engines and over 45mpg from the 1.5-litre. Likewise, anticipate about 125g/km of CO2 emissions from the 1.0-litre engines, and between 130g/km to 140g/km for the 1.5-litre, depending upon whether it has a manual or automatic gearbox.

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The revised engines should compare well with petrol-engine rivals such as the Peugeot 2008, but there are hybrid alternatives, such as the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Yaris Cross, which offer significantly better fuel efficiency. 

For company car drivers paying Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) company car tax, the Kamiq’s emissions should compare favourably with its main rivals. However, the electric-only range and ultra-low emissions of the Renault Captur E-Tech plug-in hybrid could save you a significant amount of money every month. Then there are the fully-electric alternatives like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Peugeot e-2008, and Vauxhall Mokka Electric to consider, which could all save you even more money.

Insurance groups

The insurance group rankings for the refreshed Kamiq have yet to be announced, but we suspect there won’t be a huge change from what they are for the current car. That should mean it’ll cost a similar amount compared with the Ford Puma, Renault Captur, SEAT Arona, and Toyota Yaris Cross

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation

Our experts predict that the Kamiq will retain around 52% of its value after three years and 36,000 miles of ownership. That’s mostly in line with rivals, although the broadly similar Volkswagen T-Cross in 1.0 110 Move trim will hold onto 61% over the same period, so there’s a bit of a gulf to consider.

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To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

Interior, design and technology

The Skoda Kamiq’s interior is logically laid out and full of tech, but its design could be more adventurous

While few will criticise the Kamiq’s exterior design, fans of the older Skoda Yeti might think this newer car is just a bit too conventional in its shape and style. Like many of its rivals, it looks like little more than a hatchback on stilts. There’s a choice of two free exterior colours and seven metallic alternatives – and not all are a dull grey. 

The Kamiq has a flexible cabin with space for five adults. Its dashboard design may lack some visual flair next to the Peugeot 2008, but the Kamiq’s layout is easy to understand and feels better built than the Ford Puma

There are loads of really clever features inside the Kamiq, including a cooled glovebox to keep a water bottle chilled on a hot day, a handy clip in the windscreen to keep a parking ticket on display, and even an umbrella in the driver’s door.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The entry-level SE trim has an 8.25-inch display, while SE L and Monte Carlo models include a larger 9.2-inch screen. Both touchscreen sizes have sharp graphics and an easy-to-understand user interface. The system responds quickly to your inputs, and while it’s not the quickest for loading times, it’s fast enough that it’s never frustrating. You get Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay included as standard. 

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All Kamiqs come with a digital instrument cluster. In SE, it’s a basic eight-inch display, while SE L and above come with a larger 10.25-inch display that’s fully configurable, much like Audi’s virtual cockpit

We particularly like being able to alter the display to show navigation information on a map right in front of you, which is easier to understand at a glance than having to turn your gaze towards the central screen to get direction updates while driving.

Practicality, comfort and boot space

The Skoda Kamiq is one of only a few compact crossovers that feels big enough inside to act as a proper family car

Despite the fact it sits in the small SUV class, the Skoda Kamiq has the space to rival some models from the segment above. It’s been designed to focus on practicality, making it an easy car to live with daily.

There’s just one body style to choose from, and all versions get five seats. There’s a 60:40 split/fold for the rear bench to help when loading larger items. The Kamiq doesn’t feature sliding rear seats like some versions of Citroën C3 Aircross and Volkswagen T-Cross, although that’s unlikely to matter – both boot space and rear seat room are generous. Cabin storage is good, with many places to store odds and ends.

The driving position is excellent, with plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel. Standard seat height adjustment helps with visibility, as does the large glass house, allowing a good view in every direction. If you spend a lot of time in town, we’d recommend the optional Convenience Pack because this adds front parking sensors and a reversing camera – the latter is standard with Monte Carlo trim. Unlike the Nissan Juke you can’t add a 360-degree camera system to the Kamiq.

Size

At just over 4.2m long and almost 1.8m wide, the Kamiq isn’t a particularly big car. That said, it’s marginally bigger in both directions than a Volkswagen T-Cross, and slightly (31mm) longer than a Juke.

Leg room, head room & passenger space

There’s loads of space in the back of the Kamiq for taller people to sit comfortably on longer trips. There’s also plenty of leg room and the high roofline affords excellent head room, plus those in the back benefit from a couple of USB-C charging ports to keep devices topped up and some handy pockets on the back of the front seats to store smartphones in.

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There’s an Isofix point on the front passenger seat and two further Isofix points on the outer rear positions.

Boot

The Kamiq’s 400-litre boot is, on paper, smaller than the Juke, which has 422 litres with the rear seats in place. In reality, the Kamiq’s boot is more useful, with a larger opening, square shape, and tall roof, making it easier to load up. Furthermore, the Skoda’s maximum 1,395-litre boot capacity with the rear seats folded flat shames the Juke’s pitiful 1,088-litre total cargo space.

Reliability and safety

Skoda has a strong record for safety, so the Kamiq should follow suit

Skoda, as a brand, returned a mediocre 20th place finish out of 32 manufacturers in best car manufacturer rankings of our 2023 Driver Power survey. That puts it ahead of rivals like SEAT, Vauxhall, VW, Ford, and Renault, but behind Hyundai, Toyota, Citroën, Peugeot, and Kia.

The Kamiq comes as standard with a good level of standard safety and driver assistance kit – all models get six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), a driver attention monitor, traffic sign recognition, and lane-keep assist. It is a shame you can’t add blind spot monitoring or adaptive cruise control, both of which are standard on the Volkswagen T-Cross.

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The Kamiq achieved a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP in its crash tests, with a stellar 96% score for adult occupant safety. It scored 85, 80 and 76% in the child occupant, vulnerable road users and safety assist categories. The closely related T-Cross is safer still, beating the Kamiq by a few per cent in each category.

Warranty

All Skoda models are covered by a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty that can be extended up to five years and 100,000 miles at extra cost. Prices range from £300 to extend it to four years and 80,000 miles, up to £630 for a five-year, 100,000-mile policy.

The latter matches the Hyundai Kona, but there are other rivals, like the Kia Stonic, which has a standard seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Then there is the Toyota Yaris Cross, which can be covered for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles – although you will have to keep getting your car serviced annually at a Toyota main dealer to maintain the warranty over that extended period.

Servicing

Servicing for both versions of the 1.0-litre engine and the 1.5-litre is required every 12 months or 10,000 miles. All engines have a timing belt that needs changing every 112,000 miles.

You can purchase a service plan which covers the first two services for either a one-off payment of just under £500, or for £20 per month.

For an alternative review of the Skoda Kamiq visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

Frequently Asked Questions
The Skoda Kamiq has an excellent balance of passenger and boot space, a well-made and logically laid out interior, and a decent amount of equipment, making it one of the top choices in the small SUV class.
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Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.0 TSI 95 S 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £18,625

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.0 TSI 95 S 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £18,625

Fastest

  • Name
    1.5 TSI SE 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £24,180
Online Reviews Editor

Max looks after the reviews on the Auto Express website. He’s been a motoring journalist since 2017 and has written for Autocar, What Car?, Piston Heads, DrivingElectric, Carbuyer, Electrifying, and Good Motoring Magazine.

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