CZECH IT OUT
OUR CAR OF THE YEAR
Skoda’s new Kamiq has broken the mould to become the first small SUV — and the first three-cylinder vehicle — to win News Corp’s Car of the Year award. Until now, small SUVs have generally been more expensive yet less accomplished than the popular hatchbacks they’re based on. Despite their larger exterior dimensions, they don’t deliver the cabin space they promise.
But the Kamiq changes the game with a roomy cabin, loads of equipment and a sharp price. The Skoda won a closely-fought contest, edging Kia’s seven-seat Sorento SUV by a single vote when the verdicts of our seven judges were tallied.
Priced from $29,990 drive-away in automatic form, the Kamiq is competitive against both its rivals and conventional hatchbacks. It is loaded with gear including a classy digital display in front of the driver, powered tailgate, rear air vents and four USB points spread through the cabin — stuff other brands reserve for more expensive models. Affordable servicing costs and strong projected resale values help its case, while impressive driving manners seal the deal.
Expert tester Toby Hagon said the Skoda “adds a level of maturity and polish to the small SUV category.”
“It’s one of the few of those city SUVs that makes more sense than a hatchback,” he said.
Skoda’s “simply clever” touches helped the Kamiq’s cause. Umbrellas tucked into the doors, a pop-out light that functions as a rechargeable torch, shopping bag hooks and cargo nets make the SUV easy to live with.
Judges praised its willing three-cylinder turbo engine, but were less convinced by its sometimes jerky seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
There were no such problems for another Car of the Year contender, the VolkswagenTRoc. The T-Roc’s smoother conventional auto proved popular with judges, who also liked the T-Roc’s attractive looks, strong fourcylinder engine and superior driving dynamics.
Not so popular was the price, the compact cabin and the cheaper plastics throughout.
Cabin presentation also put paid to the chances of Toyota’s Yaris Cross Hybrid, which felt a little down-market in strong company. A lack of padded armrests spoke of cost-cutting, although it’s cheap to service and will have strong resale values.
Judges were divided by its hybrid set-up. Thrifty claimed fuel use of 3.8L/100km is achievable in the real world and customers don’t need to buy premium unleaded.
But the three-cylinder engine felt coarse and noisy under acceleration. At home in the city, the Yaris felt less suited to country roads.
It did do enough to take class victory in the City SUV category from Ford’s Puma, though.
Tested in entry-level trim, the cute little Ford’s sharp cornering ability and willing engine were let down by a jerky dual-clutch auto, poor projected resale values and a compromised cabin layout. There’s less space in the Puma than some rivals, and no air vents or power outlets for back seat occupants. Audi’s A4 had the opposite problem. Crisp if unadventurous styling, a beautifully finished cabin and best-in-class infotainment features worked in its favour.
But Audi’s anonymous four-cylinder engine and less than engaging dynamics counted against it, particularly at close to $90,000 driveaway for our 45TFSI quattro test car.
“The A4’s problem is that it’s not as good as the finalist we had last year, the BMW 330i,” Bill McKinnon said.
Grant Edwards felt the A4 belongs in “the friend zone”, as in “I like it, but I don’t love it”.
It’s fair to say our team were less than impressed by the best cars of 2020.
“This would be the most ordinary collection of cars that has fronted for Car of the Year, by a long way,” McKinnon said.
Two category winners — Isuzu’s D-Max ute and the Mercedes-AMG A45 S performance car — were voted standouts in their class, but too compromised to make the final seven. That’s not the case for the Kia Sorento, which is loaded with toys, safety gear and family friendly touches. It came close to winning our award.
Jules Lucht is a fan.
“I thought it was well thought out,” she said. “You’ve got USBs and cup holders for everyone, for a long trip with kids it’s just great.”
Iain Curry said “it is the benchmark in the seven-seat SUV class”. “For value for money I don’t think there’s anything better than that.”
But a lack of full airbag coverage to the third row of seats — a flaw found in most sevenseaters — worked against the Sorento.
In the end the value-for-money equation sealed the win for the Skoda.