Road test review: Skoda Kamiq Ambition+

Thursday, 25 June 2020

Check out the Kamiq in action.

SKODA KAMIQ AMBITION +
Base price: $36,990
Powertrain and economy: 1.5-litre turbo-petrol inline-four, 110kW/250Nm, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, 2WD, combined economy 5.8L/100km, CO2 131g/km (source: Skoda).

As far as small SUVs go, the Kamiq is a pretty good-looking option.

Vital statistics: 4241mm long, 1988mm wide, 1553mm high, 2651mm wheelbase, luggage capacity 400 litres, 17-inch alloy wheels.
We like: Typical Skoda bang for buck, good on gas, stand-out exterior styling.

Skoda reckons it has a good thing going with the rear-end design of the Scala, and so has continued the look here.

We don't like: Interior a bit too conservative, standard kit somewhat lacking, cupholders too small.

Skoda has re-expanded its SUV line-up to include small crossovers, following the demise of the Yeti. The Kamiq has joined the family and we’ve had a play with the mid-spec Ambition+.

Analogue dials are a nice throwback but do feel a bit dated now.

Kamiq? What’s that mean?

According to Skoda, the name comes from the language spoken by the Inuit peoples living in Greenland and northern Canada. Kamiq is said to mean “something that fits as perfectly as a second skin in every situation”. Basically, Skoda wants its SUV to be the go-to machine for anything its buyers might throw at it.

The Kamiq takes Skoda's signature split headlights to new, even more angular levels.

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So what’s special about the Kamiq?

Skoda’s crossover comes in two engine flavours. The base Ambition gets a 1.0-litre turbocharged triple making 85kW/200Nm while the Ambition+ and Monte Carlo models get a 1.5-litre turbo four-pot with 110kW/250Nm. We drove the Ambition+ mid-ranger which, aside from the better engine, gets more standard kit and some minor style tweaks. There’s keyless entry, decorative silver inserts and black gloss air vents, dual zone air conditioning, an eight-inch infotainment system and red interior lighting along with larger 17-inch wheels.

Kamiq rides on the MQB platform, which means shares the same base as a lot of other VW Group models like the Audi Q2/Q3, Seat Ateca/Arona and VW’s own T-Roc and T-Cross, as well as the Tiguan. Those are just the SUVs too, there are heaps of other vehicles using MQB. Seriously, the Wikipedia page looks like a car list for Gran Turismo.

How does it differ from the rest of the crowd?

With regard to the VW stuff, mainly in looks. The Kamiq has a stout face with an upright grille and split headlights while the rear end is similar in execution to the Scala hatchback. There aren’t any visible tailpipes but Kamiq still relies on petrol for propulsion. However, it is quite efficient. Skoda claims an average consumption of 5.8L/100km and we often neared that figure, settling at around 6.5L/100km with plenty of rush-hour commuting.

Inside is a conservative affair, with the same analogue gauges Skoda has used for yonks and a small monochromatic digital screen sitting between. The silver inserts add a little bit of needed style while the infotainment display feels a bit out of date with large bezels and touch pads to switch screens. Some will appreciate the minimalistic approach but, personally, I think a design language update is in order for the interior.

What’s the drive like?

It’s a small SUV so the drive is focused on comfort over everything else. And it’s certainly that - the suspension is soft enough to absorb most imperfections but still stiff enough to prevent excessive body roll and the cloth seats offer adequate support for most people.

Helping reduce emissions is cylinder shut-off tech, which drops two pistons when cruising. The changeover is seamless, the only indication of two-cylinder operation being a notification on the small in-dash screen. Compared to other cheaper small SUVs, this is great mileage. And it’s the only VAG offering in the price bracket to offer the 1.5-litre engine; Seat’s Arona only uses the 1.0, as do the spec-appropriate T-Roc/T-Cross models (R-Line T-Roc uses a beefier 2.0-litre but pushes price into the $50k region).

Kamiq is a front-driver with eco-biased rubber so grip in the wet is compromised some but a light right foot and careful driving paired with the onboard driver aides are enough to stay shiny side up. It should be mentioned that Skoda won’t bundle active cruise control in by default, that’s a $900 option for the Ambition and Ambition+. The top-spec Monte Carlo gets it though. That’s a blow to Kamiq, given enough of the competition has it at the same price.

Any other cars I should consider?

If the lower-spec engine doesn’t bother you, then there's the Seat Arona FR which offers much of the Kamiq for $34,400 as opposed to $37k. Additionally, VW now has stock of the T-Roc and T-Cross small SUVs.

Moving out of Volkswagen world, Kia has the Seltos available, with the LX and EX trims sitting at $36 and $38k respectively. These both use Kia’s 2.0-litre atmo engine, good for 110kW/180Nm and a claimed 6.8L/100km.

If you're after something a bit bigger, then Suzuki’s capable Vitara is also an option with the 2WD Turbo kicking off at $33,990. For a grand more than the Kamiq you can get the AWD Turbo, which offers similar fuel consumption but a bit more performance thanks to weighing around 100kg less, despite the AWD system.