Skoda Kamiq review

While millions of people choose to live in cities, you can get much more for your money by not following the crowd. Likewise, the Skoda Kamiq is more spacious than many of the most popular small SUVs, yet it undercuts several of them on price.

Better still, it's had comprehensive facelift, with tweaks to its styling, equipment levels and engine range to help it stand out among an ever-growing number of rival car models. 

Well, we say stand out. The Kamiq has always lacked the visual wow factor of some SUVs, and the mid-life facelift has done little to change that. Instead, what you find is a slightly sharper exterior with slimmed-down headlights and a sportier-looking bodykit. Inside, you get plusher materials and upgraded tech.

Should you buy a Skoda Kamiq instead of, say, a Ford Puma, Nissan Juke, Renault Captur or Volkswagen T-Cross? Let's find out...

The Skoda Kamiq engine range kicks off with the 94bhp 1.0 TSI 95, which comes with a five-speed manual gearbox. It can feel a bit sluggish at low revs, but once you’re up and running, there’s enough power to sit comfortably at motorway speeds.

Officially, it’ll get from 0-62mph in 11 seconds – similar to an equivalent Seat Arona or VW T-Cross but just over a second slower than the entry-level Ford Puma. 

The extra power produced by the mid-range 113bhp 1.0 TSI 116 makes it our chosen Kamiq engine. It doesn’t cost much more than the TSI 95, but it cuts the 0-62mph time to 9.7 seconds and pulls better from low revs, making it more relaxing to drive. It's more than a match for the mild-hybrid Puma 1.0 Ecoboost (mHEV) 125.

At the top of the range is the 148bhp 1.5 TSI Evo 150. Its extra power helps deliver much quicker acceleration than either of the 1.0-litre units, but it pushes the Kamiq’s price into the territory of the VW T-Roc and other larger, more grown-up cars.

The 1.0 TSI 116 and the 1.5 TSI Evo 150 come with six-speed manual gearboxes as standard but you can option a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The manual's extra gear over the 1.0 TSI 95 five-speed box allows for more relaxed motorway cruising.

The Kamiq is one of the most comfortable small SUVs we've driven, with soothing motorway manners. In fact, when you compare rivals on their standard suspension set-ups, only the T-Roc is better at smothering potholes and ridges around town.

The Renault Captur, the Seat Arona and the T-Cross are not far behind, while the Puma is firmer but better tied down over undulating roads. The Lexus LBX and Nissan Juke are generally more agitated over all surfaces.

In Monte Carlo trim, Kamiq comes with Sport Chassis Control – i.e. adjustable suspension that can be stiffened or softened at the press of a button. We think the standard suspension is so good that it's not an essential upgrade.

Kamiq apparently means "something that fits perfectly" in the Inuit language. Skoda says that’s because this small SUV is a perfect fit for the city, and in many respects it's very well suited to the urban hustle and bustle.

It has a tighter turning circle than most rivals, and light, accurate steering that makes negotiating narrow streets or winding your way up a multi-storey car park a breeze. The Kamiq doesn't sway as much as a Renault Captur or VW T-Roc through faster corners, and feels just as agile as the Seat Arona.

For a small SUV that's genuinely fun to drive, get yourself behind the wheel of the much sharper Ford Puma.

Manual versions of the Kamiq are a doddle to drive, with a sweet gearshift and a positive clutch and brake pedal. The optional auto gearbox is a bit jerky if you're edging in and out of a parking space but it changes gear smoothly.

The 1.0 TSI 95 and 116 petrol engines are fairly smooth and emit a thrummy engine note that sits obediently in the background when you drive gently. If you work them harder, you'll feel a few vibrations filtering up through the steering wheel and pedals. The 1.5 TSI 150 is the smoothest engine in the range.

As with the Puma, you'll hear a little bit of wind noise at fast motorway speeds, while a few thumps from the suspension over bumps are more noticeable at lower speeds. If a peaceful journey is important to you, note that the Lexus LBX is quieter around town than every Kamiq because its hybrid tech allows it to run on electricity alone.

“Overall, the Kamiq is fractionally noisier than a T-Cross. However, if you crave peace and quiet, I'd recommend the T-Roc.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

In most respects, the driving position in the Skoda Kamiq is very good. You get plenty of adjustment (including adjustable lumbar support) and the seat offers good side support in bends and is comfortable for long drives.

The steering wheel has a lot of travel for height and reach and the dashboard buttons are arranged logically. For the climate controls, Skoda has sensibly decided to keep traditional buttons and knobs – which is quite rare among small SUVs. That makes them a breeze to operate while you're on the go, and it's refreshing in a world where more and more rivals are loading such routine adjustments into their infotainment systems.

So why not a five-star rating in this section? It all comes down to height – the Kamiq places you not much higher off the ground than a family hatchback. If you want a high-up driving position, you'll be disappointed. In the small SUV class, the Renault Captur, Ford Puma, VW T-Cross and VW T-Roc all place you higher.

Although you don't sit particularly high up in the Kamiq, you still get a better view out in all directions than you would in many of its rivals, including the Puma and the Toyota C-HR. That's because the front pillars are quite narrow and there's a huge expanse of glass, cutting down on blind-spots.

Rear passengers will find the Kamiq easier to see out of than many of its rivals. In fact, its tall side windows mean even the kids get a good view of the outside world – handy if they're prone to travel sickness. Rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are fitted on all trims, while front sensors are available as part of the Convenience package on SE Edition and Design Edition cars.

All versions get ultra-bright LED headlights and there's the option of upgrading to matrix LED main beams on SE and SE L models (they're standard with Monte Carlo trim). They can be left on full beam at all times without dazzling other drivers.

Four USB-C ports come as standard (two in the front and two in the rear) allowing you to charge plenty of devices at once.

All Kamiqs get a 9.2in infotainment touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. The Skoda voice assistant, called Laura, can recognise natural speech and set commands, but didn't always understand us.

The touchscreen graphics look smart and the operating systems are easy enough to use, but the response to your prods can be slow and the system is prone to software crashes.

The interior of the Kamiq has improved significantly since its original launch. Many of the hard, scratchy plastics across the dashboard have been replaced with soft-touch materials and recycled fabrics. That’s not to say there are no cheap-feeling plastics, but you have to search lower down in the interior to find them.

We also like that you now get the choice of multiple materials and colours to help lift the interior ambience. They come as part of Skoda's Design Selections. Three configurations are available: Loft, Lodge and Monte Carlo (which has red stitching and a carbon-fibre pattern on the seats). 

As a whole, the Kamiq's interior feels well screwed together and is a step up in quality from previous versions. However, if you want a truly luxurious interior, we’d point you in the direction of an Audi Q2 or Lexus LBX.

“I’ve yet to sample the 8in digital driver’s display that comes as standard on SE trim, but the 10in screen in SE L cars and above is superb, with crisp graphics and lots of configurability.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

You’ll have no problem fitting in the front of the Skoda Kamiq. Indeed, if you're really tall, it's one of the small SUVs to check out. Leg room is generous and there’s a very useful amount of head room, even with the optional panoramic glass sunroof fitted.

The front door bins are not the biggest but they do have room for a large water bottle, and there are also two smaller cupholders. In front of the gearlever, you get a cubbyhole that doubles as the area for the optional wireless phone-charging pad that comes as part of the Charging package (standard on Monte Carlo Edition).

There's also a decent-sized glovebox, a small recess for loose change and a large cubby behind the handbrake.

While the Kamiq uses the same underpinnings as the Seat Arona and VW T-Cross, they've been stretched so the front and rear wheels are further apart, giving you more space inside, especially in the back.

That means there's loads of rear leg room – noticeably more than in the Ford Puma, the Arona, the T-Cross and the Lexus LBX, and slightly more than in the VW T-Roc. Even if you’re a six-footer sitting behind someone else of a similar height, you’ll have a gap of several inches in front of your knees.

The Kamiq’s boxy shape means there’s a frankly ridiculous amount of rear head room.

The Kamiq doesn’t have the sliding rear seats that feature in the T-Cross and Captur, the useful ski hatch the T-Roc comes with, or the handy folding front passenger seat that some Skoda car models have. The rear seats split 60/40 to fold down.

This is a strong area for the Kamiq. We managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases under the parcel shelf of its 400-litre boot – the same number as a T-Roc took. The LBX, Juke and Captur managed six carry-on cases, while the T-Cross took five.

That said, the T-Roc had a bit more room to spare because its boot is slightly longer and wider. Only the Puma's clever boot, which has a massive trough under the floor, can do better, swallowing eight cases.

Unless you add the optional height-adjustable boot floor to the Kamiq, there’s a fairly hefty lip at the boot entrance, as well as a step in the floor when the rear seats are folded down. It's not an expensive addition so it's worth ordering. An optional hands-free electric tailgate is available on all models.

“The Kamiq's floor-mounted storage box for the rear-seat occupants is a really handy addition, and I also liked the wireless phone-charger, which can keep your mobile cool as it tops up.” – Dan Jones, Reviewer

The Skoda Kamiq in SE Edition trim costs about the same as an equivalent Seat Arona and undercuts the Ford Puma, Lexus LBX and VW T-Cross. PCP finance deals are usually pretty tasty if you're paying monthly, but for a slightly cheaper cash buy, have a look at the Kia Stonic.

Officially, the 1.0 TSI 95 and 116 can achieve an average fuel economy figure of around 50mpg, and the 1.5 TSI 150 isn’t far behind. CO2 emissions are competitive, with each engine emitting a similar amount.

Resale values for the Kamiq are predicted to be solid, although not as bullet-proof as the VW T-Roc's. If you're a company car user looking to keep BIK tax bills low, you'll pay a lot more for a Kamiq than for a hybrid or plug-in hybrid. An electric car will cost even less in tax.

Our favourite trim is the entry-level SE Design. It comes with 17in alloy wheels, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, a front armrest, an 9.2in infotainment touchscreen, an 8in digital driver's display and keyless start/stop.

Design Edition just adds some black detailing, so unless you really like them it's not worth the extra. SE L, though, is well worth considering because it introduces larger (18in) wheels, 10.3in digital driver's display, heated front seats and rain-sensing wipers. 

Top-spec Monte Carlo trim offers a sportier look with 18in black alloy wheels, black roof rails, sports front seats and a panoramic sunroof. It also offers useful features such as full matrix LED headlights, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and wireless smartphone charging.

The Kamiq didn't do very well in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey – it finished in 18th place out of 23 small SUVs. Skoda as a brand performed a little better, finishing 13th out of 31 car makers ranked.

Like other Skoda models, the Kamiq comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard. You can extend that up to five years for an extra fee. Hyundai gives you five years as standard, Kia gives you seven, and Toyota and Lexus extend that to 10 years if you get your car serviced annually at an accredited workshop.

Standard safety kit includes lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, traffic-sign recognition and seven airbags. The airbag count is raised to nine if you spec the optional driver’s kneebag and rear side airbags.

An optional Safety Package includes a feature called Crew Protect Assist, which automatically closes open windows and immediately tightens the front seat belts in the event of an imminent collision.

You can also specify an Assisted Drive Plus option package that introduces adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist and Adaptive Lane Assist, which can recognise temporary lane markings and, if necessary, make steering movements to help keep the vehicle in its lane.

When it was tested for safety by Euro NCAP, the Kamiq proved very effective at protecting its occupants in a crash and was awarded the full five stars. It achieved higher scores for adult and pedestrian protection than the Kia Stonic but the VW T-Roc was deemed safer still, with a lower risk of child whiplash injury.

“I love that all Kamiqs come with Skoda's Simply Clever features, including include a parking ticket holder on the windscreen pillar, an umbrella in the driver's door and a cap for the screen-wash bottle that turns into a funnel.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

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