Skoda Kamiq review - a practical, well-equipped small SUV

Verdict – is the Skoda Kamiq a good car?

As is often the case for the Czech brand, the Skoda Kamiq offers class-leading practicality that would worry cars from the segment above it. It’s not all just about practicality, though, and the Kamiq does a good job offering a fine balance between comfort and driving feel on the move. It’s well equipped, too, making it a compelling choice for a family after a competent small SUV, despite the fact that it lacks some individuality and flair.

Skoda Kamiq models, specs and alternatives

The Skoda Kamiq is the brand’s smallest SUV, sitting below the Skoda Karoq and Skoda Kodiaq in its lineup. SUVs appeal because of their raised ride height, good view of the road and great practicality – the latter is somewhat of a Skoda speciality, with the brand generally offering boot and interior space that gives cars from the class above a run for their money.

Rivals of the Skoda Kamiq include the Renault Captur, Hyundai Kona, Ford Puma and the closely-related Volkswagen T-Cross and SEAT Arona. While the Captur and Kona offer hybrid and – in the Kona’s case – electric variants, the Skoda Kamiq keeps things relatively simple with a range of petrol engines used elsewhere in the brand’s lineup. This includes two variants of the 1.0-litre turbocharged engine with either 94bhp or 114bhp, and a 1.5-litre model with 148bhp.

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A facelift in late 2023 brought a raft of mild changes to the Kamiq, including a slightly larger, more upright grille, and a tweaked bumper Skoda says gives it a slightly wider look. There’s also thinner daytime-running lights and chunkier headlight clusters available for the first time with Matrix LED tech. Higher-spec models also get a few added tech features such as a new foot-gesture control feature included with the power tailgate, allowing you to open it hands-free when carrying lots of shopping or a child.

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It’s a relatively small car but the interior is very well made and uses good-quality materials. It’s not quite as smart as the inside of a Renault Captur but the Kamiq’s cabin is a pleasant place to spend time and adds to the sense of value for money.

While the Kamiq is no driver’s car as such, we like its commanding, raised driving position that’s sure to be the main selling point for most buyers after a small SUV. It gives the Kamiq the feeling of a much larger car than it is but in a more compact, easy-to-manoeuvre package. 

When we drove the Kamiq, we found its setup was more suited to comfort, rather than sportiness. Its suspension delivers a smooth ride which soaks up road imperfections and potholes brilliantly. That’s not to say, however, that the Kamiq is bad to drive – it’s a great all-rounder, though rivals such as the Ford Puma, SEAT Arone and Mazda CX-30 offer a little more in the way of driver fun.

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Trim levels have changed slightly over the years, but the latest lineup has been simplified,  starting with SE, moving through SE L and onto top-spec Monte Carlo, which also gets a sportier look. With good value a Skoda staple, all models feel well equipped – an eight-inch digital gauge cluster and 8.25-inch infotainment screen come as standard, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. These screens are much larger at 10.25 inches for the digital gauge cluster and 9.2 inches for the infotainment screen when stepping up to SE L, though we think many buyers will be happy with SE’s standard features.

As we previously touched on, Skoda has built its reputation on practicality and clever features, and the Kamiq doesn’t let the brand down. Its boot is impressive at 400 litres – that’s more than a Volkswagen Golf – and there’s room for two six-foot adults to sit behind each other. With reasonably big windows, the Kamiq feels more spacious than its size suggests. There are myriad ‘Simply Clever’ features too, including an ice scraper in the fuel filler cap and an umbrella in the front door.