Skoda Kamiq Review 2024

Skoda has a proven record when it comes to compact but capable SUVs. The Yeti was a big success, before it was replaced by the larger Karoq in 2018, but the gap in the range was plugged with the impressive Kamiq. Admittedly, it’s not as plush as the Peugeot 2008 or as good to drive as the Ford Puma, but the Czech model is still one of the best small SUVs going and we’ll reveal why in our Skoda Kamiq review. 

Skoda is a major player in the family car market, thanks to its ability to build cars that are easy to drive, well-equipped, comfortable and supremely practical. Few models demonstrate this process better than the Kamiq. In our view, it's one of the best all-round small SUVs on sale today.

The Skoda Kamiq shares its engines, tech and mechanical platform with the Volkswagen T-Cross and SEAT Arona, but has a slightly longer wheelbase that provides more space for passengers in the rear and a 400-litre boot – the same as the Arona – increasing to 1395 litres once you fold the rear seats.

The Renault Captur and Nissan Juke beat the Kamiq for outright boot space, but the Skoda redeems itself on refinement and comfort. Wind and road noise levels are suppressed and the ride quality is generally good – even on 18-inch alloy wheels.

That focus on comfort and refinement does have a negative impact on handling, with the Kamiq’s overpowered steering and soft pedals providing vague levels of feedback. Skoda offers an optional sport chassis control system to lower the car by 15mm and add adjustable shock absorbers to sharpen the handling, but this is a car that’s clearly designed for drivers who value comfort over performance. 

Most buyers will opt for the excellent 1.0 TSI petrol engine, which officially returns up to 52mpg, while those seeking more power can opt for the 1.5 TSI petrol with 150PS. Up until 2021, the Kamiq was also offered with a 1.6 TDI diesel with 115PS. Most engines get a positive shifting six-speed manual gearbox as standard while a seven-speed DSG is available as an optional extra.  

All versions are generously equipped as standard. This means base models get alloy wheels, LED headlights and touchscreen infotainment. A mid-spec version adds a range of Simply Clever features, which include an umbrella in the driver's door and a removable LED torch in the boot. There's also an optional 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit in place of conventional dials behind the steering wheel, while ambient lighting in copper, red or white gives the Kamiq's cabin a more upmarket feel for a relatively cheap SUV. 

The only criticism that we can fairly level at the Kamiq is in its styling, which is derivative inside and out. However, while the Kamiq is somewhat anonymous to look at, we think it provides a classy and refined experience that few of its rivals can match.

If you want a comfortable small SUV, then you are unlikely to be disappointed with the Kamiq, with its light steering and soft suspension providing a laid back and relaxing driving experience.

Models with 16 or 17-inch wheels are the most comfortable, thanks in no small part due to the deep tyre profile and thick sidewalls. Potholes and speed humps provide a bit more of a thump with the 18-inch wheels, but the ride quality generally remains on the comfortable side of firm. 

The light steering and soft sprung suspension make the Kamiq somewhat vague when it comes to road handling. If you want to sharpen up the driving involvement then you can pay extra for the Sport Chassis pack, which lowers the suspension by 15mm and adds adaptable damping with different driving modes - normal, sport and individual.

We don't think the Sport pack is worthwhile, though, as it makes the ride quality very hard at low speeds and doesn’t really benefit the road handling all that much.

You don't get the option of four-wheel drive, which means the Kamiq is strictly front-wheel drive only. However, if you live in a rural location or need something to tackle wintry terrain, then the Kamiq is compatible with a wide range of all-season and winter tyres.

The Kamiq’s compact size makes it perfect for city driving. Most versions get rear parking sensors as standard, while a rear view camera and park assist - which automatically steers the car into parking space - are available as optional extras.

If you are buying a new Kamiq then your engine choices will be limited to the 1.0 or 1.5 petrols only. The 1.6 TDI diesel was phased out in 2021.

It remains to be seen if Skoda will add an electric model to the range. But the popularity of the Enyaq iV shows there is a market for Skoda EVs.

The 115PS 1.0 TSI petrol is the best engine in the Kamiq range, with zesty performance and affordable fuel costs. The turbocharged three-cylinder petrol is identical to the engine found in the Volkswagen T-Roc and we rate it as one of the very best 1.0-litre petrol engines, due to its punchy nature and low noise at motorway speeds.

The 1.0 TSI is also available with 95PS but this engine feels a little lethargic in the Kamiq, which means it can become vocal under hard acceleration. 

The 150PS 1.5 TSI is the most powerful engine in the Kamiq range, with 0-62mph taking around eight seconds - a figure that’s two seconds quicker than the 1.0 TSI. However, unless you really want the extra performance or plan to use your Kamiq for towing, we’d stick with the 115PS 1.0 TSI. 

The Skoda Kamiq is a very safe small SUV; it was given a maximum five stars for safety when it was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2019. That includes a 96 per cent score for adult occupants and 85 per cent for children. It was also given an 80 per cent rating for vulnerable road users and 76 per cent for its safety assist features.

There are two airbags at the front for the driver and passenger, along with automatic emergency braking and two Isofix child seat anchor points for the outer rear seats. You get an additional Isofix point for the front passenger seat. The Kamiq also gets Skoda’s Emergency-Call system that will automatically call 999 and relay the car’s position if it detects a serious impact.

The Kamiq can be fitted with a rear view camera and blind spot monitoring, which will alert the driver of a vehicle or cyclist who may be alongside the vehicle. And it is available with a driver fatigue sensor, which will monitor the vehicle’s road handling and issue a warning if it detects the driver becoming tired. 

The Kamiq can be fitted with a tow bar that can be electronically folded or deployed at the press of a button. The braked towing capacity will very much depend on which version of the Kamiq you drive, but generally it ranges from 100kg to 1250kg. 

The Skoda Kamiq measures just 4.2 metres long and 1.8 metres wide, yet it has enough space to carry four adults in comfort. We think the Kamiq is one of the most spacious small SUVs, with good levels of head and shoulder room for those in the rear seats. 

The front seats have lots of space to stretch out and relax. Most versions of the Kamiq are fitted with height-adjustable front seats and a central armrest, which means it’s easy to get comfortable.  

The Kamiq can’t match the best small SUVs for boot space, but you do get 400 litres of storage that will easily accommodate two or three large suitcases. The boot shape is also square, which means it’s easy to make the most of the space on offer. 

The Peugeot 2008 is the best small SUV for interior quality, and the Kamiq can’t compare here with an abundance of hard and cheap-looking plastics that are robust, but not all that pleasant to the touch. Things do improve as you go up the Kamiq's trim levels, with the SE L Executive and Monte Carlo models getting ambient lighting, dual zone climate control and higher quality seat fabrics.

Despite the dull and scratchy plastics, the interior is easy to use and driver-friendly. You also get rotary dials for the heating controls and a leather multifunction steering wheel with buttons for audio volume, phone controls and the trip computer.

Skoda has some of the best infotainment tech in the business, and the Kamiq works really well with the 9.2-inch Amundsen navigation system. It is head and shoulders above anything you'll find in the Kamiq’s rivals, with a super crisp touchscreen display that provides instant screen changes and intelligent route directions. 

The 9.2-inch screen is fitted to the Kamiq in SE Drive trim or better and includes navigation, DAB audio and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which means you no longer have to plug your car into the USB socket to mirror its display in the car. 

The navigation system features live traffic updates, which means you are automatically rerouted to avoid delays or road problems. You can also have the map layered onto the driver’s instrument binnacle if you spec the Kamiq with the excellent Virtual Cockpit.

Basic versions of the Kamiq in SE trim are fitted with an eight-inch colour screen system that is quite slow to use and doesn't include navigation or smartphone connectivity for Android Auto.

With prices starting at under £23,000, the Skoda Kamiq is competitive on price. But the entry-level Kamiq in SE trim is a little basic for our liking when it comes to equipment. And the 95PS version of the 1.0 TSI petrol engine is a tad slow, too. 

We'd recommend spending £24,340 to get the Kamiq in SE Drive with the punchy 115PS 1.0 TSI and lots of useful tech - like touchscreen navigation and rear parking sensors - included as standard. 

Like-for-like, the Kamiq is generally more affordable than its rivals when buying new. It also undercuts many of them on the used market, with badge snobs overlooking the Skoda in favour of car brands that are perceived more upmarket. Their loss will be your gain, because the Kamiq is a small SUV that shares a lot of its tech with Volkswagen.

The Kamiq is also one of the cheapest to insure small SUVs on the market, which will be a boon for younger drivers. 

When the Kamiq was launched in 2019 buyers had the choice of 1.0 or 1.5 petrols and a single 1.6 diesel. The 1.6 TDCI was axed from the line-up in 2021, but it is still the most efficient engine on paper with official fuel economy peaking at 67mpg. 

If you cover shorter runs or want a petrol engine then the Kamiq is available with Volkswagen Group’s familiar 1.0 TSI engine. The three-cylinder turbocharged engine is very good and will return 48mpg - 52mpg, according to Skoda's official figures. Advertised economy drops to 48mpg - 45mpg if you specify the Kamiq with a DSG automatic gearbox. 

The 1.5 TSI petrol engine is the most powerful in the Kamiq range but you won't be punished at the pumps with Skoda quoting 50mpg - 46mpg for the manual and 49mpg - 46mpg for the DSG auto.

Road tax VED is charged at a flat rate and there are no models in the Kamiq range that exceed £40,000, which means you will only incur the premium road tax rate if you tick every possible optional extra.

The Skoda Kamiq is available in four trim levels – SE, SE Drive, SE L Executive and Monte Carlo. 

The Skoda Kamiq SE trim is the entry-level for the range and includes 17-inch Braga alloy wheels, LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights, black roof rails, black/silver cloth upholstery, a two-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, height adjustable driver’s seat, hill hold control, lane assist, Skoda e-Call, a DAB radio with eight-inch touchscreen display and Bluetooth.

Skoda Kamiq SE Drive adds darkened privacy glass for the rear windows, Amundsen satellite navigation with 9.2" touchscreen display, a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, traffic sign recognition and gesture control.

Skoda Kamiq SE L Executive includes 18-inch Vega alloy wheels, ambient interior lighting, dual zone climate control, virtual cockpit, heated front seats, a rear view camera, keyless stop and start, and rear LED lights with dynamic indicators. 

The Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo is the highest spec model and has 18-inch black Vega alloy wheels, full LED headlights with dynamic indicators, carbon effect decorative inserts, a multifunction sports steering wheel in black perforated leather with red stitching and sport seats.