Skoda’s compact SUV isn’t especially compact, packing a lot of space into a footprint not much bigger than its Fabia sibling. Peter Anderson ponders if it's one of the best on the market.
2023 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Signature
As with most Skodas, the brand’s compact SUV offering is an if-you-know-you-know proposition. Skodas are famous for thoughtful specification, even more thoughtful touches (like the umbrella storage in the doors) and good value.
At face value, the Kamiq Signature does rather let the side down on that final Skoda virtue. It’s the most expensive car in the range but is missing out on the bling of the cheaper Monte Carlo. It’s going for a more luxurious vibe, but one has to ask the question – who or what is it for?
How much does the Skoda Kamiq cost in Australia?
The Kamiq range usually consists of three variants – the entry-level Style with an 85kW 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder at $37,990, the 110TSI Monte Carlo at $43,490, and the 110TSI Signature at $44,990, all prices are drive-away.
At the moment there’s a fourth model, the Kamiq 85TSI Run-Out. Based on the Style, the Run-Out model's price tag is five grand cheaper, putting a Kamiq on the drive for $32,990, which is a lot of car for the money. As the name suggests, this version of the Kamiq is on the way out. Later in the year there’s a lightly facelifted model on the way, with guaranteed safety gear supply and light visual and specification tweaks.
The range-topping Kamiq Signature on test here has 18-inch alloys, an eight-speaker stereo, digital dashboard, dual-zone climate control, reversing camera, keyless entry and start, front, rear and side parking sensors, active cruise control, satellite navigation, auto LED headlights, a mix of leather and textile suede-look trim, power tailgate, auto parking, auto wipers, heated and folding mirrors, heated front seats and steering wheel, heated rear seats, powered driver’s seat, wireless charging and a space-saver spare wheel.
Key details 2023 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Signature
Price $44,990 drive-away
Colour of test car Phoenix Orange metallic
Options Phoenix Orange metallic – $1100
Price as tested $46,090 drive-away
Rivals Mazda CX-30 | Kia Seltos | Volkswagen T-Roc
How much space does the Skoda Kamiq have inside?
Where the Kamiq stands out is the embarrassment of occupant space. This is one of the aforementioned Skoda virtues, from the current Fabia light hatch (which is huge) right through to the Kodiaq seven-seat SUV.
Starting with the front seats, they’re covered mostly in a leather-like material with a few slivers of a suede-like material, both of which feel like the real thing. The seats are very comfortable and have plenty of adjustment, along with a well-placed armrest over a decent-sized console bin. There are two cupholders, bottle holders in the doors, a slim glove box and a wireless charging pad to take care of your phone. While there is wireless charging and connectivity, there are also two USB-C ports.
The dash is a bit grey-on-grey with a few flashes of metallic finishes, but the big screen and digital dashboard more than make up for the dourness.
Moving to the back seat, we’ll start with the cons. It’s a bit of a step in over a high-ish sill, and once you’re in there’s a pretty hefty transmission tunnel to keep port and starboard well separated. It does mean that a middle passenger won’t be super comfy. The outboard passengers will be, however, with air vents and heated seats. Sadly, there’s nowhere to put a cup or an elbow, but there are bottle holders in the doors and two USB-C ports to help you stay charged.
Boot space is a very competitive 400 litres with the seats up. As ever, there are some useful compartments, anchors and holding straps to tie things down. With the seats folded, you’ll have 1395L to fill.
2023 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Signature
Seats Five
Boot volume 400L seats up
1395L seats folded
Length 4241mm
Width 1793mm
Height 1531mm
Wheelbase 2651mm
Does the Skoda Kamiq have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
The Kamiq Signature features a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen replacing the lower models’ 8.0-inch unit. The Kamiq’s system is not the much-maligned version found in other Volkswagen Group cars on this platform, but it could still do with more buttons. At least the steering wheel features proper physical buttons rather than those sometimes-maddening, palm-warming ones again found elsewhere in the Group and are slowly being banished.
The bigger screen adds satellite navigation as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which pairs nicely with the wireless charging. This is the second Kamiq I’ve driven, and once again the wireless connectivity was flawless for me, although my wife found it a bit hit-and-miss, having to lock the car once or twice when it refused to connect to her phone. That gets old pretty quick, and is a common complaint on these and other related cars.
A weird omission in the spec list is digital radio. While Sydney-based owners who have to use tunnels won’t care, it does seem a trifle cheap at this level to miss out on such a common bit of kit.
Is the Skoda Kamiq a safe car?
The Skoda Kamiq scored a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2019. It scored very well in the adult occupant protection at 96 per cent, dropping to 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 80 per cent for vulnerable road user protection and 76 per cent for safety assist.
That last score is due to a lack of standard rear cross-traffic alert (now standard) and blind-spot monitoring across the range when tested. Both of those are standard on the Signature.
2023 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Signature
ANCAP rating Five stars (tested 2019)
What safety technology does the Skoda Kamiq have?
The Kamiq ships with seven airbags, stability and traction controls, forward autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot sensors, driver attention detection and lane-departure warning. Again, that’s a lot.
The forward AEB features cyclist and pedestrian detection at city speeds but is not available at higher speeds.
You also get three top-tether points and two ISOFIX anchors.
It’s a pretty solid list, as it should be at this price and in the company it keeps. All the safety systems behaved themselves impeccably over the week, to the point where I was mildly surprised that lane-keep assist was part of the package. I’d had a Hyundai that overlapped with the Kamiq, and compared to the Skoda, the Korean car was like wrestling a lion so pushy was its lane-keep/lane-departure warning.
How much does the Skoda Kamiq cost to maintain?
Skoda offers two prepaid service packs, with five years priced at $1800 ($360 per year) or seven years for $2500 ($357 per year). The latter neatly matches the warranty period, and one of the ideas of prepaid packs is that you can roll it into your finance. That’s a little on the high side, but in line with its VW cousin T-Roc, yet usefully cheaper than a 2.0-litre Mazda CX-30 or Kia Seltos.
The pay-as-you-go pricing is also available, however it's a more expensive way to pay. Over five years service costs add up to $3096 and after seven years you'll pay $4226. The Kamiq also comes with a year of roadside assist that extends with every service with a Skoda dealer.
An insurance estimate of $1725 annually seemed a little stiff based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
At a glance 2023 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Signature
Warranty Seven years, unlimited km
Service intervals 12 months or 15,000km
Servicing costs $1800 (5 years, prepaid)
$2500 (7 years, prepaid)
Is the Skoda Kamiq fuel-efficient?
Skoda says the Kamiq will drink 5.6 litres per 100 kilometres of 95RON premium unleaded patrol, which is on the optimistic side. Our week with the vividly orange machine delivered 7.2L/100km. That’s not a bad result in a mostly urban and suburban week along with a swift highway run.
It’s worth pointing out that the official figure for 1.0-litre three-cylinder 85TSI Kamiqs is the same 5.6L/100km as the 110TSI according to Skoda, so running costs are probably not going to be a major factor if you’re tossing up between them.
What is the Skoda Kamiq like to drive?
The Kamiq’s 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo isn’t a hugely powerful engine but it’s a very nice one. Smooth and quiet, it’s one of the more unobtrusive engines you’ll come across, which is pretty impressive given how good most engines are now. It pulls well and feels like it knocks a few kilos off the Kamiq’s 1335kg tare weight.
Sadly, in the year or so since I last drove one, the transmission is still a bit pernickety. Most of the time it behaves itself, but every now and again it seems a little surprised at the 250Nm on offer at such low revs (1500–3500rpm). It can sometimes lurch a bit before settling down again. That same seven-speed twin-clutch seems perfectly at home in the 85TSI-engined VW Group cars, so it’s a little baffling that with more to work with it’s less impressive.
Once underway, the very light steering is perfect for its obvious home ground, the city. While not a boy racer, the extra kick it has over most of its rivals means you can go for a few more gaps than you might in other compact SUVs, even at this price.
It’s also very quiet, with little wind or road noise at pretty much every speed, which again is not something you can say for other cars of this type. It will cruise cheerfully and no doubt frugally, and you’ll likely arrive at your destination in good shape.
Vision is good in directions apart from the letterbox-slot rear window, but when you need that vision, the rear-view camera will look after you.
Key details 2023 Skoda Kamiq 110TSI Signature
Engine 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Power 110kW @ 6000rpm
Torque 250Nm @ 1500–3500rpm
Drive type Front-wheel drive
Transmission 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power-to-weight ratio 82.4kW/t
Weight (tare) 1335kg
Spare tyre type Space-saver
Tow rating 1250kg braked
630kg unbraked
Turning circle 10.8m
Should I buy a Skoda Kamiq?
The Kamiq Signature remains a slightly perplexing prospect, with the Monte Carlo costing less and looking a little better to my eyes. Obviously the Signature is more interested in luxury and comfort, while the Monte Carlo looks a little more sporty. The spec difference is hardly a yawning gap, either, so the Signature-only stuff is down to your taste and requirements rather than anything that will truly have you kicking yourself.
Other considerations are the imminent but very minor facelift on the way. There’s also the cheaper-and-loaded Skoda Fabia with similar interior space but a more traditional hatchback vibe.
The Kamiq is a good car, however. It’s refined, spacious, well equipped – if missing some useful things like a rear armrest and digital radio – and it’s very nice to drive. Ownership isn’t expensive, and it’s the kind of car that turns up for work every day, does the job, and lets you get on with worrying about other things.
