Skoda Kamiq review

No major missteps in here, just the usual Skoda gripes of hard plastics cynically chosen to widen the perceived quality gap between this and its VW Group classmates. However, the mid-life facelift responds to this criticism in some areas, not least with the option of cute fabric dashboard trim to lift the ambience.

And if you can live with the fact that the cupholders and door handles go for toughness rather than tactility, then the Kamiq’s simple cabin will find favour. Lower and mid-spec cars have a curious two-spoke steering wheel which looks and feels a bit OTT in a car so proudly prosaic inside, mind. But then a bit of extra glamour hurt nobody. Monte Carlo spec brings a more traditional-feeling three-spoke wheel.

You can have fully digital dials – standard across the range, post-facelift – which offer a useful array of layouts while the main touchscreen’s tile-based interface is logical and snappy. Before you plug your phone in and mirror its interface instead, of course.

Beware that the nine-inch top-spec version is so obsessed with minimalism that there are no manual volume and zoom knobs for maps and lists, and tweaking the interface on the move is a pain. Happily, Skoda has kept physical knobs and buttons for the climate control, and thoughtfully chromed them. Nice touch.

How about roominess?

Skoda’s claim of having the most capacious car in its class is borne out once again. Where a Juke feels focused on those in the front, the rear here is roomy enough for three adults and the back seats are unusually comfortable for an entry-level crossover. Homework has been done. In fact, unless your offspring is of the overnight-lanky teenage variety, you’d probably get away with a Kamiq instead of going for the bigger Karoq.

A Gen Z twist on Skoda’s trademark ‘simply clever’ flourishes sees a host of phone and tablet pockets on the back of the front seats, with clamps even available on the Monte Carlo spec’s (very comfy) sports seats and a fair of fast-charging 45W USB-C ports optional in the back (they’re standard up front).

Legroom is generous, the windows are big and while the removable ‘VarioFlex’ back seats of the Yeti are a distant memory, the Kamiq still plays a strong practicality card against vainer rivals.

And Skoda hasn’t nicked litres from the boot to give this bizarrely commodious cabin a boost – you get 400 litres of cargo room. With no 4x4 or hybrid options, boot space is consistent across the whole range, too.