YOU HAVE TO BE INUIT TO WIN IT!
EDWARD STEPHENS GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF SKODA’S TARDIS-LIKE KAMIQ
SKODA’S Kamiq might be the smallest of the company’s trio of SUV models but it still has a lot in common with its larger siblings. Stating the obvious its name - just like the larger Kodiaq and Karoq – starts with a K and ends with a Q and it derives from the Inuit language of Canada and Greenland.
What’s less obvious is – just like the larger models – how it manages to offer far more interior space than it would appears from the outside.
For its size this Tardis-like car is a generous five-seater with exceptionally good headroom not to mention leg and elbow room all contained in a deceptively compact body.
And with boot space under the tailgate of 400 litres rising to 1,395 litres with the rear seatbacks folded you’re never going to have any problem packing in the holiday luggage.
The Kamiq is one of those cars that’s just really nice to drive. Because of its height it offers good all round vision yet despite its tall stance it still corners well with little body roll thanks to well balanced, slightly firm suspension.
And with its Volkswagendeveloped 1.0-litre, threecylinder engine and one of the smoothest gearboxes n the business it offers a nice combination of surprisingly lively performance and smooth, high-speed motorway work. At the same time, the cabin is refined and quiet ensuring that journeys are less stressful, while plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment combined with a sensible left foot rest allow you to get an ideal driving position.
Skoda claims an average fuel consumption of around 47 miles per gallon and I found long motorway journeys were often producing closer to 60 mpg.
A full glass panoramic sunroof (£1,350) on the car tested here added a nice touch of luxury as did the heated front seats and heated steering wheel.
But even without optional extras the SE is a well equipped car with cruise control, LED headlights, an eight-inch touchscreen, roof rails, an eight speaker audio system and air conditioning, not to mention a hill holder clutch.
Virtual dials mean you can select from a variety of display settings in front of the driver and a suggested gear change monitor can prove useful in saving fuel.
I did, however, find that switching off the lane assist every time I started the car – my choice – was an irritant as it involved four separate actions on the touchscreen. Visually the Kamiq is a striking car with plenty of road presence thanks to its sculptured bonnet, very upright radiator grille and sleek swept back headlights and daytime running lights, not to mention the dramatic contours in the door panels.
It’s got a nice chunky, solid feel to it and unlike on a lot of three-cylinder cars you don’t get that distinctive engine note.
And like all Skodas it comes with the brand‘s “simply clever” features which make life simpler, like an umbrella fitted into the driver’s door, a re-chargeable torch in the luggage area and an integrated funnel in the window washer bottle to prevent spillage.
The Kamiq is a car with wide ranging appeal for anyone looking for an SUV or hatchback that stands out in the crowd and one which makes driving enjoyable rather than simply a vehicle to get you from A to B.