Skoda Kamiq 2023 review: Signature

The lines of the Skoda are clean and stylish. The car features a wide front grille and split headlamps which gives the Kamiq a distinctive front-on look.

From the side you can see the sensible (slightly boxy) lines, but from the back it’s very clean, the grey rear bumper adding a modern touch and highlighting the ground clearance.

Inside, the car has leather-appointed seats, a digital instrument display and ambient lighting which you can’t really see until you’re in the dark, then the thin LEDs give a soft red hue which complement the car’s sleek interior. Tinted windows are included with the Signature, along with 18-inch alloy wheels.

The lines of the Skoda are clean and stylish. (image: Dean McCartney)

Other design features to note are the heated seats in the front and the back. It’s rare in this class for the two window seats in the back to have this feature, which the kids will love, particularly on a cold morning.

The car has a confident feel, especially in the optional Velvet Red paint, but this eye-catching colour costs an additional $1100 compared with the other options. Skoda calls the glass roof ‘a panoramic sunroof’, it’s $1300 extra, but keep in mind, it doesn’t open.

From the back the Kamiq is very clean, the grey rear bumper adding a modern touch. (image: Dean McCartney)

Storage is limited in the Kamiq, there’s a small centre console and the glove box. The two drink holders in the centre are a tight fit, I could fit some keep cups but not others. All four doors have space for a small water bottle, as well.

The driver’s seat has electric controls, including lumbar support which make for a comfortable drive, but the passenger seat is adjusted with manual levers.

One big tick for the Signature is the comfort for passengers in the back. I’m 177cm (5'10"), and sitting behind my driving position I still had quite a bit of room.

In the back, the seats near the windows are heated and the air conditioning vents are directional which is great for rear passengers.

There's plenty of room for back seat passengers. (image: Dean McCartney)

If you’re open to buying the Skoda accessories you can get a clothes hanger which mounts behind the headrests. If you have kids, check out the multimedia device holder so you can set up a movie for long trips.

The boot space is 400 litres, meaning it can fit a pram and you would still have room for some groceries. I packed a large suitcase and a couple of smaller items and still had room.

There are two bag hooks, one on each side of the boot and I loved this feature because the hook is deep enough that my bags actually stayed in place without anything spilling.

Boot space is rated at 400 litres. (image: Dean McCartney)

The Skoda Kamiq is a lot more practical than it might seem because it has a decent amount of space inside, more than I expected. It feels roomy in the front and more surprisingly in the back, which isn’t common for a small SUV of this size.

The clear roof add-on helps to give the feeling of more space as well. I took the Kamiq for a long drive up the coast, and had more than enough room as the driver. I also had space as the passenger, even with a small bag near my feet.

I love the fact the driver’s door has a small hidden umbrella that pops out of the side. If you don’t know it’s included it’s hard to spot!

The Skoda Kamiq line-up comes with a whole kit of safety features such as adaptive cruise control which means the car automatically slows when you approach another vehicle.

Auto emergency braking detects cars and pedestrians, the car also has lane keeping assist, rear parking assist and adaptive lane assist which is particularly helpful on the freeway. 

The Skoda Kamiq line-up scored a maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2019. (image: Dean McCartney)

The car has three ISOFIX points and three top-tether child seat anchorages. If you have a young child and need a rear-facing child seat, be mindful that because the car has a relatively short cabin, it will make it a tighter fit for the passenger in the front, which is normal in this class.

The Kamiq’s airbag coverage is standard for its class, but doesn’t have a centre airbag or rear side airbags like some newer or more expensive models. The Skoda Kamiq line-up scored a maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2019. 

The Skoda Kamiq Signature costs $38,090, before on-road costs and options. And standard equipment highlights include, adaptive cruise control, ambient interior lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearshift, sat nav, a power tailgate, partial leather upholstery, auto rain-sensing wipers, and the previously mentioned digital instruments and multimedia display.

In terms of fuel use, I drove the car for a week around the suburbs and for a few hours on the highway in wet and windy conditions. My average consumption was 8.6 litres per 100km but the official number is 5.6L/100km on the combined cycle.

The Skoda Kamiq Signature costs $38,090, before on-road costs and options. (image: Dean McCartney)

The car comes with a five-year warranty with unlimited kilometres which is standard for its class. The Signature needs a service every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres.

There is a capped price servicing plan so you can be sure of how much you should be paying each time you take it in for maintenance.

A seven-year 'Service Pack' is $2100 with the first three services free and the warranty extended for two years. A five-year pack is $1500.