2026 Skoda Kamiq review

Want to be your own person? A real rebel? Well, this could be the car for you.

The 2026 Skoda Kamiq Select is a five-door hatchback designed for running the mean city streets (and those equally cruel suburban roads) in comfort, but without spending buckets of money.

It seems like everyone is buying SUVs and dual-cab utes nowadays, but there is still a minority of the population who realise they don’t need to drive something the size of an apartment block to work each day.

Or, at least, the household doesn’t need a second large vehicle when only one person is using it most of the time.

The good people at Skoda call the Kamiq a small SUV, but sorry, I’m calling them out – it’s a hatchback, just like its sibling, the Skoda Scala. It’s a mere five centimetres taller and has some extra ground clearance over the Scala. So it’s a high-riding hatchback, at best.

They’re trying to tell you it’s a small SUV because people want SUVs. But really, as you’ll soon discover, this hatch is as much car as most people really need.

As the quirky Czech brand within the Volkswagen Group, Skoda has based the Kamiq on the company’s MQB A0 platform, shared with no less than a dozen models across four brands – including the Volkswagen Polo, Audi A1, and the aforementioned Scala.

While cynics will think this is just penny-pinching on the part of Volkswagen Group and its brands, what it really means is this platform has been developed to meet the needs of buyers spending Audi levels of money.

But are you really getting Audi quality for Skoda money? Let’s find out.

How much does the Skoda Kamiq cost?

The 2026 Skoda Kamiq Select is priced from $33,990 before on-road costs, making it the best-value variant in the Kamiq lineup – and the same price as the closely related Skoda Scala.

However, at the time of writing, Skoda is offering the Kamiq for $29,990 drive-away for a limited period – a roughly 16 per cent discount over the typical drive-away price – making the vehicle significantly better value.

To see how the Skoda Kamiq lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What is the Skoda Kamiq like on the inside?

The cabin is one of the best things about the Kamiq – and really, shouldn’t that be one of the most important things when deciding on a new car?

Close your eyes and you could easily think you’re sitting in a Cupra or an Audi, which is no bad thing. There’s lots of crossover between Volkswagen Group models at this end of the price scale, and – along with the company’s accountants – Skoda buyers are the ones who benefit most.

Not only are the materials of good quality, but the manufacturing has been completed to a high level, so no weird rattles or abstract parts that look as if they could be a problem in the future.

What’s more, everything falls to hand easily and is relatively intuitive to use.

A centrally located 8.25-inch infotainment touchscreen works well with the eight-speaker sound system, while the 8.0-inch digital display ahead of the driver relays plenty of information in an easily readable format.

Ergonomics are also top-notch, making for a comfortable long commute into work or a painless jaunt to the nearest shopping centre. I particularly enjoyed the seats and the pared-back cloth upholstery.

“This is all I need,” was the overriding thought every time I jumped behind the wheel.

My only minor annoyance came from the pedals, which were too close together. Not to the degree that it would turn me off buying one, but it raised a red flag a handful of times during my week with the Kamiq. However, my feet are a little wider than most, and my foot coordination isn’t about to win me a starring role in the Bolshoi Ballet.

The slightly raised ride height meant jumping in and out of the car was a breeze, making the Skoda a particularly good option for those with some laugh lines around their eyes or those with limited mobility.

Like most small hatchbacks (and light SUVs, if you insist on calling it that), the back seats are fine for transporting small people over small distances. Anything beyond that, and your passengers may spring a mutiny.

Boot space is 400 litres if you’re using the back seats, and 1395L with the seats down, which is about par in this segment and good enough for a few big bags and Ikea flat packs.

To see how the Skoda Kamiq lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What’s under the bonnet?

The Skoda Kamiq is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine producing 85kW and 200Nm, driving the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

To see how the Skoda Kamiq lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How does the Skoda Kamiq drive?

I’m old enough to remember when Volkswagen debuted the dual-clutch transmission, and it was a revelation. It suited the Mark V Golf GTI perfectly, and felt like the first proper advancement in transmission technology since the sixth gear became a thing.

Then, the Volkswagen Group fitted it to pretty much every car across all of its brands.

That was around 20 years ago, and more traditional automatic transmissions are now doing a better job than VW’s DSG ever did – at least, for commuting. And yet the German auto giant insists on its use, even when we know it only suits some types of cars.

Unfortunately, the Kamiq ain’t one of them.

There’s no doubt the dual-clutch has improved markedly in recent generations and is far more user-friendly now at low speeds. But rather than being good all the time – like a conventional automatic – it’s great sometimes, and sub-par the rest of the time.

My second drive in the Kamiq forced me to pull out into heavy, fast-moving traffic. No problem, I thought, just find a gap.

I found a gap, squeezed the throttle… squeezed a little more… still nothing… and then finally the turbo kicked in and the tyres squealed like I’d shown them an inappropriate picture on my phone.

Over the coming days, that situation repeated itself. Perfectly acceptable gaps in traffic quickly disappeared, putting me in danger and annoying the cars around me – or worse – simply because the powertrain couldn’t keep up with my perfectly reasonable demands.

The 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine is very laggy, and there’s a very real and noticeable pause between what is asked of it and what it delivers. None of which is helped by the dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Because of this delay, the temptation is to push down harder on the throttle, so when the turbo does kick in, it’s now running maximum boost and suddenly the front wheels are breaking traction – making you look like a fool, and putting your licence at risk in Australia, where wheelspin is a capital offence.

The addition of the automatic start-stop feature – which cuts the engine when at a stop to conserve fuel and reduce emissions – just increases the delay. The actual time on a stopwatch would be minimal, but at a green light in peak-hour, it feels like a millennium.

The supposed advantage of a three-cylinder turbocharged engine is that it offers the power of a four-cylinder, but with the fuel economy of a three-cylinder. Yet, in my time with the Kamiq, I only managed 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres – almost 22 per cent above the claim – which really isn’t any better than most four-cylinder engines.

Whereas a larger engine probably would have given me instant torque off-the-line, the turbo lag meant pushing the small engine harder – negating the benefits.

Having said that, those annoyances were relatively minor in the overall scheme. And while the powertrain didn’t suit my personal driving style, I have no doubt there are many people out there who would find it perfectly acceptable.

Once you’re moving, the Skoda is downright lovely. The shifts are responsive, the engine – when on boost – is responsive and strong, and the on-road dynamics are more akin to something in a much higher price bracket.

Perhaps it was because I was enjoying my time with the Kamiq Select so much that those issues with the powertrain were amplified more than they normally would have been.

Engine aside, the Kamiq actually rides and handles really well, and seems to be perfectly suited as a suburban commuter car.

The suspension is well-damped, but still provides relatively good response and feedback at all speeds, and – along with the easier ingress and egress – the raised ride height definitely gives it an advantage over more traditional small hatches.

The brakes are also decent and confidence-inspiring, all of which – once you’re moving – adds up to a genuinely enjoyable driving experience.

To see how the Skoda Kamiq lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

What do you get?

The entry-level Kamiq Select comes with most features expected nowadays, with the option to add more technology and styling with the $5200 Signature Pack.

Kamiq Select equipment highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Auto LED headlights
• LED front fog lights
• LED tail-lights, rear fog lights
• LED ambient lighting
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Keyless entry and start
• Power-folding exterior mirrors
• Auto-dimming driver’s side mirror
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster
• 8.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay
  • Wireless Android Auto
• 8-speaker audio
• 4 x USB-C ports
• Dual-zone climate control

Optional Signature Pack ($5200) adds:

• Travel Assist
• Lane Assist with Adaptive Lane Guidance
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Electric tailgate with hands-free operation
• Park Assist
• 18-inch black alloy wheels
• Rear privacy glass
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• LED ambient lighting
• Chrome roof rails
• Chrome window surrounds
• Fabric upholstery (lodge interior)

Kamiq Monte Carlo adds:

• Auto LED Matrix headlights with Dynamic Light Assist
• 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit
• 10-speaker premium audio
• Gloss black exterior trim and badging
• Aluminium pedals
• Power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Heated front sports comfort seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Panoramic glass roof with electric sunblind

To see how the Skoda Kamiq lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

Is the Skoda Kamiq safe?

The Australasian New Car Assessment Program – better known as ANCAP – lists the Skoda Kamiq as being unrated, with its previous five-star score from 2019 having expired in the time between us driving the car and publication.

Standard safety features include:

• 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) incl. pedestrian detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane Assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Tyre pressure monitoring
• Driver fatigue detection

Kamiq Monte Carlo adds:

• Lane Assist with Adaptive Lane Guidance
• Adaptive cruise control
• Travel Assist (adaptive cruise control and lane centring)

To see how the Skoda Kamiq lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

How much does the Skoda Kamiq cost to run?

The Kamiq is covered by Skoda’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Skoda offers service packs of five or seven years for the Kamiq, costing $2990 and $3990 respectively, with maintenance required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres (whichever comes first).

To see how the Skoda Kamiq lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool

CarExpert’s Take on the Skoda Kamiq

There’s plenty that impresses with the Skoda Kamiq, and particularly with its limited-time price of $29,990 drive-away, it comes across as a real bargain in this space.

While I like the exterior styling, it’s pretty generic by today’s standards, but that same pared-back ethos makes the interior of the Kamiq a lovely place to spend some time in.

Arguably, the design is a generation old now, but the quality of the cabin is about as good as it gets. Add to that the sub-$30k drive-away price, and it becomes a very likeable car indeed.

There are compromises, however. I found myself continuously frustrated with the powertrain, which seemed less suited to city driving than the rest of the package. Fuel economy also disappointed, and probably was the result of my sticking my boot into the throttle because I wanted more than what it was able to give.

Which makes me think the Kamiq Monte Carlo with the 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine is really the one you want. But at $44,990 drive-away, that ain’t small change.

For what is a 50 per cent premium for some performance and styling changes, I think I’d rather just pocket the money and learn to live with the Select’s shortcomings…

And that’s just comparing the Skoda Kamiq Select to the Kamiq Monte Carlo. Considering it borrows more than a sprinkling of magic from the likes of Volkswagen, Cupra, and Audi, the Skoda shines as one of the most impressive and likable cars in this bracket.

The Kamiq’s pricing means it’s now part of a very exclusive club, shared with one or two Japanese cars and a handful of Chinese vehicles. Parking the Skoda next to some of those in the price segment makes the Kamiq look like one of the best value cars on the market – certainly from European manufacturers.

For owners, it’s also flying in the face of the mid-sized SUV trend. Sometimes being a rebel isn’t riding a Harley-Davidson, but cruising around in a hatchback from Czechia.

Ultimately, if you want a cheap car that doesn’t make you feel like a cheapskate every time you drive it – and something you’d be happy to park next to your in-laws’ BMW X3 at Christmas – then the Skoda Kamiq is very hard to look past.

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MORE: Explore the Skoda Kamiq showroom