If you're looking for an SUV or a crossover, the Volkswagen Group will let you choose from a very wide range of cars.
Skoda already had the Kodiaq and Karoq, but they've added another contender to the range: the Kamiq.
With yet another crossover, the chaos seems complete, but it's not like that. The Kamiq is Skoda's interpretation of the segment in which...
is dominated by cars like the Renault Captur. Volkswagen has the T-Cross, Seat has the Arona and the Kamiq completes the trio.
So it shouldn't be a surprise that it's based on the same MQB-A 0-platform which is also the base for the VAG-crossovers, Polo and Ibiza.
However, just like a Superb is bigger than Volkswagen Passat, this Kamiq is bigger than the Arona and T-Cross.
If we move to the rear, you can clearly see it's influenced by the Scala. Just look at the rear lights and the name 'Skoda' on the tailgate.
Another nice feature is the fact that it now has dynamic blinkers, so it's not exclusive to Audi anymore. Also, the headlights have them as well.
I already mentioned that the Kamiq is bigger than the Arona and the T-Cross, and it shows. With its 4.24 metres it's ten centimetres longer than its brothers,
just like the wheelbase is ten centimetres longer, which means it's now 2.85 metres long. That's very advantageous for the interior space.
There's enough leg- and headroom in the T-Cross and the Arona, but if you add another 10 centimetres, it's very royal. Just look at this.
Fun fact: the wheelbase of this car is one centimetre longer than the wheelbase of the bigger Karoq. Skoda even admits that it's more spacious in here.
We shouldn't forget to mention the luggage space. It fits 400 litres, so it's not as big as the boot in the Peugeot 2008, which fits 434 litres.
For this segment however, it's just fine. Also, just like with every Skoda, it's filled with smart features, which Skoda calls 'simply clever'.
A small torch in the boot, a funnel for the coolant, a scratcher in the fuel filler cap which doubles as a tire depth measure,
an umbrella in the drivers door, and door protectors.
In the front, it's a typical Volkswagen-product. You'll notice that in the low seating position and the fact that you can pull the steering wheel towards you.
Finding a good seating position isn't hard at all. We recognize the dashboard from the Skoda Scala, so this is the second Skoda which has...
a standing out infotainment screen. It's not standard, but it's an absolute joy to use. Just like we're used to from these systems.
Partly, that's because of the semi-physical shortcuts on either side of the screen. Behind the steering wheel, we've got a digital instrument cluster.
That's not standard either, but it's very pleasant to use. A small 'but' then, because we know that Skoda's used materials usually...
are below the level of Volkswagen and Seat, but the door panels in here are rattling quite a bit.
Another typical Volkswagen-thing is the way this Kamiq drives, because it's not incredibly dynamic if I'm honest.
The steering is relatively light and there's a lack of feedback. It's not annoying, but it's not outspokenly comfortable or dynamic.
This particular car has been fitted with the optional Sport Chassis Control, which means you get an additional button on the middle console...
which allows you to put the car in Sport-mode. That doesn't mean the car becomes incredibly dynamic all of a sudden, but the steering...
becomes heavier, the throttle response becomes quicker and the automatic gearbox gets a little sportier, but the differences are small.
As expected, you can choose a range of different petrol- and diesel engines. The petrol engines start with the 95 horsepower 1.0-litre TSI.
That's not the car we're driving right now, because we're driving the 115 horsepower version. It's connected to a 7-speed DSG-gearbox,
but you can also get a manual 6-speed. The DSG-gearbox doesn't always shift at moments you'd think are ideal, so luckily you're able...
to use the flappy paddles. However, it'll remain in the wrong gear at some moments. You could put it in Sport-mode permanently,
but the automatic gearbox will become a little nervous, and that's not good for the driving experience.
The 115 horsepower TSI is more than enough for the Kamiq. We're driving through the hills now, so the roads go up and down a lot.
The engine knows what it has to do, but I can imagine you'd be alright with the 95 horsepower version in the Netherlands.
If you want a diesel, that's possible as well. You can get a 1.6-litre TDI, but Skoda says they don't expect a lot of sales from that.
Later this year, so probably at the end of 2019, there's going to be a G-Tech version, which runs on natural gas.
Around the same time, a more powerful petrol version will arrive as well. That's the well-known 1.5-litre TSI, producing 150 horsepower.
It'll be available with a manual 6-speed or a 7-speed DSG. We don't know the prices yet, but you should expect them to be very close to the T-Cross.
Our bet? Around €23.000.