This is the Kamiq, Skoda's new small crossover model, sitting below the Kodiaq and Karoq in the model range. The good news is that it's not a Fabia on stilts, as it matches or exceeds the space you get in a Golf.
We met up with the Kamiq at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, where the model is enjoying its debut. Sales should star in a couple of months, but for now, we have all the preliminary specs and first impressions to share with you.
The Kamiq is like a crossover version of the Scala compact hatchback that replaced the Rapid. At 4.24 meters, the Kamiq is about 120mm shorter, but the only drawback is a loss of 60 liters in the cargo department. While we were back there, we could help but notice the brace in the trunk, like in the Octavia, which means you're never going to get a flat load floor.
Somehow, the Kamiq ended up looking posher than its sister car because it has a lot more design frills: silver roof rails, a metallic chin, double headlights and side creases which seem copied from the Kodiaq. It's by no means a pretty vehicle. But what Skoda is, and since when does that matter?
The interior is conventional, save for the floating infotainment screen that we're seeing more and more VW Group cars adopting. We see noticed dull cloth seats and familiar switches - nothing to get excited about. Rear seat passengers should have more room than in rival models and are being treated to air conditioning and double USB ports.
We believe the most popular engine choices will be the 1.0 TSI and 1.6 TDI, though a 150 HP 1.5 TSI will be available too. Skoda most likely plans to add a G-Tec unit powered by natural gas, but you'll never have AWD.
How do you pronounce Kamiq? Since it's a made-up name, we had to go to Skoda for the correct way of saying its name. We recommend watching the video below, which should prove entertaining as well.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News