Sensible small SUV gets sharper styling outside and upgraded technology inside On sale Early 2024 Price from £23,500 (est)
Alasdair Rodden alasdair.rodden@haymarket.com
LONDON IS A desirable place to live, but everyone knows you get more for your money by moving farther afield. Likewise, the Skoda Kamiq has always drawn buyers away from rival small SUVs by offering more metal for your moolah. Now, to help it stand out among ever-intensifying competition, its styling has been freshened and its equipment levels and engine range have been tweaked.
At the front, the most obvious changes are a taller, more upright grille and a sharper bumper design.The headlights have also been reshaped and are now available with Matrix LED technology as an option; this enables them to shape their main beams in order to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. Meanwhile, the rear bumper now looks chunkier than before, while the ‘Skoda’ lettering on the tailgate appears slimmer and more angular.
Skoda has also made subtle changes to the interior. As standard, all Kamiqs now get an 8.0in digital instrument panel, as well as an 8.25in central infotainment screen (up from 8.0in in the old car). Both of these can be upgraded – the former to 10.25in and the latter to a 9.2in display, which comes by default on cars fitted with sat-nav.
The discreet nature of these changes is no bad thing, though.The outgoing car had a high-quality interior, with plenty of attractive, appealing materials in places you’d see or touch regularly. However, it still didn’t match the Nissan Juke or Volkswagen T-Roc when it came to visual flair.
Importantly, the updated Kamiq should be every bit as practical as the old model; that car offered plenty of front and rear seat room for even the loftiest of occupants, not to mention having a wealth of useful storage cubbies. Boot space should remain excellent, too; the old car’s load bay took up to seven carry-on suitcases – the same number as the T-Roc’s and one more than the Juke’s.
Along with its cavernous interior, the outgoing Kamiq’s smooth ride was a real plus. It was second only to the T-Roc – our reigning Small SUV of the Year – when it came to gliding over potholes aroun
