FIAT’S PRICE PROMISE IS REALLY NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL
spending the extra money.There’s a diesel option with a 1.6 TDI for those sensible enough to still consider compression ignition.
Presumably in the not too distant future there’ll be a mild hybrid version along, too.
Skoda is already ramping up its electrification programme with a plug-in hybrid Superb with us by the end of the year.
The car maker has only just announced prices for its new Kamiq, which for our SE-L spec test car comes out at £21,980.
As usual Skoda’s productplanning wizards have been busy with their calculators to make sure that the car is well equipped I WOULDN’T be surprised if a few other car companies follow Fiat’s lead with promising that prices for all Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Fiat cars will remain the same after enough to make it good value when compared against not just its rivals from other companies, but from otherVW brands such as Seat andVolkswagen itself.
You’ll find some of Skoda’s Simply Clever gadgets such as a rubbish container complete with liner in the driver’s door bin.
I’d have preferred a soft liner in the bin itself so that items don’t rattle about.WirelessApple CarPlay and Android Auto is available which is a first for this class (and most others).
The fewer cables strewn around the place the better. Interesting how in the modern world new technology often appears first on October 31 whether we leave the EU or not and with or without a deal.
The pledge relates to cars that are ordered before ●
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● ★★★★★★✩✩✩✩ October 31 although delivery can be any time after that regardless of whether exchange rates change or if tariffs are added in the event of a no deal. ■ cheaper cars. I’ll bet it’s a while before a Rolls-Royce has wireless smartphone mirroring.
There’s an option of a sports chassis which features variable damping (notVW’s more sophisticated DCC Dynamic Chassis Control) but I can’t see the point of it on a SUV aimed at the urban user. Selecting Sport makes a small difference to the ride, stiffens the steering in an artificial way and does little to throttle response. Few customers would bother with it.
Neither should Skoda, a brand that proudly proclaims ideas as being “Simply Clever” shouldn’t be fitting pointless systems to their cars. Just build a comfortable car and leave sports to the Porsche arm of the family.
The Kamiq is easy to drive and comfortable.There’s a lot of wind noise from the A-pillars at speed but otherwise there’s little about the driving experience to criticise.
The young adventurous types who are the fantasy customers for compact SUVs in the minds of car company marketing sages (and in their unimaginative launch videos) will find the Kamiq a bit dull, missing the flashes of colour and detail that make a crossover stand out. Or the quirkiness that made the Yeti such a well-loved car.
Even Jeremy Clarkson is a fan.