The Skoda Kamiq lines up against some big players in a competitive small SUV segment and it doesn’t come cheap, even for the entry-level Ambition, so is it worth the coin?
- Standard features are plentiful
- Spacious interior with ample boot space
- Modern styling is a head-turner
- The dual-clutch transmission is jerky and no match for the engine
- No DAB digital radio
- Costly for an entry-level small SUV offering
Introduction
We recently got the keys to the Skoda Kamiq. There are three models on offer, and the one I’ll tell you all about here is the 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition, which opens the range.
A small SUV attracts a broad audience – not just working as the bridge from a small hatch to a city car, but it serves as a family car and everyday urban runabout too.
While not saturated, buyers are spoiled with choice with 17 brands swimming in the small SUV pool. Interestingly, it’s not just the mainstays filling the top spots, with challengers such as MG dominant in the class with the now popular MG ZS.
The Skoda Kamiq may not be frequenting the top three positions, but the brand owes a lot of its success in Australia to this car, with 33 per cent of last year’s sales attributed to this compact SUV.
As mentioned, the one we tested was the base model. It starts at $37,990 drive-away with an automatic transmission.
This sounds fairly costly for a non-prestige small SUV, seeing as though its competitors open their ranges at a more cost-effective price point, with the MG ZST Excite starting at $25,490 drive-away, but sits closer to something like the Mazda CX-30 G20 Pure that starts at $33,376 drive-away (in Melbourne).
For a fairer comparison, though, we’ll put the Skoda Kamiq up against the range-topping MG ZST Essence at $33,490 drive-away and the Mazda CX-30 G20 Evolve, one step up from the Pure, at $36,770 plus on-roads.
While the Skoda is not the cheapest offering in the category, there’s plenty to sway you if you’re shopping down this aisle. A stylish, sporty-looking SUV, it’s not just its looks worth boasting about, it’s a pragmatic vehicle too.
In the way of standard features, you get bang for buck as they’ve really packed plenty into a lower-grade model.
These include interior ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, keyless entry and push-button start, height-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, power tailgate, multifunction flat-bottom steering wheel, automatic headlights, privacy glass, silver roof rails, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, to name a few.
If you want to add some extra frills, then you can pay for a panoramic roof that will set you back $1300, plus there’s the optional tow bar for an additional $2000.
| Key details | 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition |
| Price (MSRP) | $37,990 drive-away |
| Colour of test car | Candy White |
| Options | None |
| Price as tested | $37,990 drive-away |
| Rivals | MG ZST | Mazda CX-30 | Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross |
Inside
First impressions last, and I got a really good feeling when I first jumped in the cabin of this Skoda. The interior is a really pleasant place to be, keeping in mind that this isn’t one of the available higher-grade models.
With clever contrasting of materials on the dash, seats and doors, they’ve managed to cover any nasties well. While not leather, the fabric upholstery on the seats is aesthetically pleasing and the seats themselves offer plenty of support – the front-row seats aren’t electric, but do offer lumbar support.
What’s more, the cabin is simplistic with very few buttons and dials cluttering the surfaces. The steering wheel has a real presence – flat-bottomed, sporty-looking and wrapped in leather. The steering wheel buttons are just enough and not too convoluted like many other brands.
The front row scores ample storage for a vehicle of this size with a cubby in between the two cupholders, decent-sized door bins, centre compartment and glovebox. Other accoutrements include a wireless charging pad and the pop-out umbrella in the door – a nice surprise and very Rolls-Royce-esque.
The rear seats offer more than enough space for adults in the way of leg and head room. You’ll only find seat heating in the higher-grade models; however, there are two USB-C ports, seat back pockets, dedicated air vents, door bins, and ISOFIX mountings points on offer.
The 400L boot can be accessed via a power tailgate. With the rear seats folded there’s 1395L on offer. A real winner up against its head-to-head rivals with the MG at 359L and the Mazda at 317L.
Not only is the boot large but it’s deep too, with storage on both sides, plus it comes complete with top tether points and hooks for added convenience. One thing it lacks, though, is a space-saver spare wheel.
| 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 400L seats up / 1395L seats folded |
| Length | 4241mm |
| Width | 1793mm |
| Height | 1531mm |
| Wheelbase | 2651mm |
Infotainment and Connectivity
There’s good and bad news – let’s start with the bad first. I still can’t get my head around the fact that a lot of the Volkswagen Group vehicles still don’t offer DAB radio.
So no, the Kamiq is not equipped with this. Good news, it does have both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired). Note that if you don’t have a newer iPhone, this car is equipped with updated USB-C ports only… Time to upgrade your cable!
All of this can be accessed within the 8.0-inch infotainment display – a high-resolution and easy system that you should become familiar with pretty quickly. Functions such as connecting Bluetooth and flicking through menu options are all simple to grasp.
One nifty addition is the full-sized 10.25 digital instrument cluster, which is a real stand-out in the cabin and allows for effortless switching between the different screens.
Safety and Technology
In the way of safety, the Skoda Kamiq is equipped with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, fatigue detection, multi-collision brake, rear manoeuvre braking assist, adaptive cruise control, and rear-view camera.
None of these functions startled me or were too intrusive, which is a tick in my eyes. Similar to vehicle styling, though, this comes under the personal choice column.
The Kamiq was awarded five stars from ANCAP in 2019 and is rated a 9/10 from How Safe Is Your Car. Keep in mind that since 2019, ANCAP scoring has becoming much more stringent.
| 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2019) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP |
Value for Money
Every Skoda is supported by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Services occur every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first). The warranty is on par with industry standards and in line with Mazda; however, brands like MG and Kia offer seven years, and Mitsubishi up to 10 years.
In terms of servicing, buyers also have the option of service packs – three years/45,000km for $800, or five years/75,000km at $1400.
| At a glance | 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | Three years (45,000km) for $800, or five years at $1400 |
Fuel consumption is an area where the Skoda Kamiq shines with the brand claiming a combined 5.6L per 100km. We returned a very respectable reading of 5.5L per 100km.
While there are a bunch of alternatives on offer in the market, the price tag seems fairly justified for the ample features on offer. Depending on how far you can stretch your budget, you won’t have to go trawling through an options list to add bits and bobs. It’s economical, has ample safety, and is a stylish alternative to others in the segment.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 5.6L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 5.5L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 50L |
Driving
First things first, let’s take numbers. The Skoda Kamiq packs a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which is capable of 110kW at 6000rpm and 250Nm at 1500–3500rpm. This is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission driving the front wheels.
The ride height and seat positioning are near perfect making for comfortable outings. The front and side visibility get a tick, but the rear is a little hampered due to its smaller rear window design.
While the turbo provides some bite, the engine isn’t always well-matched to the transmission. The dual-clutch is jerky in some conditions and stops you from gaining that immediate power that would otherwise be there off the line. That’s the only real shortfall.
Once you get up to speed, the response improves remarkably providing a smooth, much more sporty drive. Even without a Sport drive-mode option, it cruises with plenty of punch and delivery feels linear.
The ride is impressive offering a balanced and defined drive, with the 18-inch wheels capable of plenty of grip through corners, with tyre noise rarely plugging into the cabin when on coarser roads.
Speaking of which, there’s no throw-around on the bumpier surfaces either. The Kamiq takes to harsher roads well, proving to be more than just an urban hopper – it works on longer drives out of town too.
Bottom line, my gripe with the Skoda is its transmission. That aside, you’ve got yourself a pretty neat drive – nice steering, a good engine, and an overall pleasant cruise behind the wheel.
| Key details | 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition |
| Engine | 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 110kW at 6000rpm |
| Torque | 250Nm at 1500–3500rpm |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission |
| Power to weight ratio | 88.9kW/t |
| Weight (tare) | 1237kg |
| Tow rating | 1250kg braked, 630kg unbraked |
Conclusion
The Skoda Kamiq, while a little costly in its class, has plenty of impressive facets that might win you over even in this entry model. Its standard features alone speak for themselves.
It’s also a more stylish and sporty offering in its segment, offers ample safety, is economical, and overall a very handsome package.
The post 2022 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Ambition review appeared first on Drive.
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