Skoda Kamiq

The cabin layout of the Skoda Kamiq looks very much similar to that of the Skoda Scala hatchback. The overall layout makes the Kamiq look wide and spacious, with a touch of elegance as well. The top-spec Monte Carlo variant has a sporty all-black finish with faux carbon fibre touches on the middle layer of the dashboard. The other two variants are available with dual-tone black and beige upholstery.

The cabin of the Skoda Kamiq looks properly modern with the new-age three-spoke steering wheel with piano black touches, a full-TFT virtual cockpit display for the instrument console and a floating 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The lower centre console looks simple with a trapezoidal housing for the AC vents and a glossy rectangular panel for automatic climate control.

For its price, the cabin of the Skoda Kamiq is well-equipped with features like a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, push start-stop button, ambient lighting, powered driver’s seat, paddle shifters, electric tailgate, wireless charger and cruise control.

The overall design of the Skoda Kamiq is unmistakably Skoda, with all the taut lines and angular design for various elements keeping the Kamiq in the familial line. It looks like a mini version of the other two Skoda SUVs, Karoq and Kodiaq, which isn’t a bad thing at all.

At the front, the Skoda Kamiq has a bold looking trapezoidal grille with tapered upper edges. This grille gets chrome surrounds and gets vertical black chrome slats on its inside. Adjacent to the tiny upper edges of this grille is the sleek rectangular panel of LED lights, which have the dual functionality of turn indicators and daytime running LEDs. The all-LED headlamps are placed in a different trapezoidal housing just below the LED indicator bars, giving an impression of a split design for the headlamps. The air dam on the front bumper looks wide and is assisted with a nice looking satin silver scuff plate at the bottom of it.

The side profile of the Skoda Kamiq looks crisp with a sharp crease flowing right from the edge of the daytime running LED bar at the front to the edge of the tail lamp. This crease gives the Kamiq a sense of continuity. The window beltline too has a tapered edge towards the rear and gets chrome garnish which rises to the top of the rear quarter glass. The side profile further looks even more elegant with the silver side skirts and 18-inch multi-spoke grey alloy wheels.

The sharpness in the design of the Skoda Kamiq is carried out for the rear profile as well. The sharp and well-creased LED tail lamps to give an edgy look to the rear end of the Kamiq. Here too, there are a couple of creases on the boot lid, which blend in well with the tail lamp design of the Kamiq. The rear bumper comes with a heavy-looking skid plate, which is spread across its width.

The Skoda Kamiq is a gentler handler, and despite its raised ride height, the crossover feels stable and planted even at high speeds. The steering and suspension setup are well-damped and make the Kamiq a fine balance of a car for driving enthusiasts and comfort seekers.

The Skoda Kamiq is powered by a tried and tested 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI petrol engine, which has become the mainstay of compact offerings from the Volkswagen family of cars around the world. Featuring cylinder deactivation technology, this engine produces 150 PS of maximum power and 250 Nm of maximum torque, and is available with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox as standard.

The Skoda Kamiq is one of the most feature-rich vehicles in its price range for the number of safety features it offers. It gets front, side and curtain airbags, cornering fog lamps, electronic stability control, front assist with city emergency brake, park distance control, reverse camera, driver alert system, tyre pressure monitoring system, side assist with rear traffic alert, lane assist, adaptive cruise control and ABS with EBD.

The Skoda Kamiq might not look too different from other Skoda SUVs. But then, it is a handsomely designed SUV in and out, with a sensible balance of space, comfort, features and performance.