The 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that exclusively powers this Kamiq is probably one of its best assets. Not only is it relatively smooth in its running, but it also returned around 52mpg over my 7000 miles with it, which is a match for many hybrids (such as the Honda HR-V) that I’ve driven recently.
It is also above Skoda’s claimed average of 47.8mpg. On top of that, its decent-sized fuel tank (53 litres) means that brimming it will cost around £70 and provide just over 600 miles of range.
Finally, we come to the thing I most love and hate about the Kamiq: its six-speed manual gearbox. To have a shifter in a new car in 2024 is a real delight, given so many car makers (sibling Volkswagen is one of the biggest) have ditched them in many models on cost grounds.
In the Kamiq, the clutch had a good weight and spring to it, but the gearbox’s gating always felt a tad closer than it needed to be – especially compared with rivals such as the Kia Stonic – and I found myself pulling away in third instead of first too many times to count.
To sum up, the Kamiq is no-frills wonderful, with minimal gripes to report. It does so much well and is priced so sensibly, but it will often be overlooked for more fetching alternatives.
If you’re a footy fan, this is the Michael Carrick of the car world: it does everything really well but in an uncomplicated and unshowy way so it will never get the credit it deserves. So with clever hybrids and futuristic electric cars dominating the headlines, don’t forget about the plucky Kamiq.
Skoda Kamiq 1.5 TSI 150PS Monte Carlo specification
Prices: List price new £30,680 List price now £30,680 Price as tested £31,580
Options: Moon White metallic paint £660, towbar preparation £240
Fuel consumption and range: Claimed economy 47.8mpg Fuel tank 53 litres Test average 53.6mpg Test best 65.2mpg Test worst 31.9mpg Real-world range 613 miles
