What's the difference?
The Skoda Kamiq might be one of Australia’s most underrated vehicles.
As you may or, more likely, may not know, the Kamiq crossover has always been positioned to compete with mainstream players like the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and Subaru Crosstrek in its own quirky way, which we’ve always quite liked here at CarsGuide.
That’s some tough competition, though, so what does this Skoda do differently to deserve your attention, what’s changed for this year’s update, and do we still think this Skoda should be on your shopping list if you’re considering those other cars?
Read on and we’ll find out.
GWM’s second attempt at launching the Ora brand in Australia seems much better planned than the first.
While the electric Ora hatchback wasn’t expensive, divisive styling and some messy ergonomics plagued what felt like an undercooked model both in terms of dynamics and packaging.
So this, the 2026 GWM Ora 5 SUV, is ‘take two’.
It arrives with similar pricing but updated tech, more features and an Australian ride and handling tune.
Can this ensure GWM’s cutesy electric car brand is taken seriously and help it catch up to its cousins Haval, Tank and Cannon?
We drove a Flamingo Pink example from inner-Melbourne out into the scenic Yarra Valley for its Australian launch to find out.
The Skoda Kamiq continues to be an overlooked gem. It’s cleverly designed and well equipped, even in base form, and what sets it apart from many other dull options in this segment is how fun it can be to drive.
Despite all of this and keen ownership terms it continues to account for a tiny number of sales in the segment, and I don’t think it’s destined to change as, value or not, its positioning remains the same in a small SUV space where it’s increasingly hard to stand out.
Still, for those who dare to choose something different, there’s a great little car to be found.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.
While the Ora 5 still has a relatively divisive design that will turn off a chunk of those looking for a small electric SUV, the improvements made when compared to the hatch launched years ago make it worth a second look.
The interior is much more user-friendly, there are more features and a more sensible variant line-up, and the ride and handling localisation means you might actually want to drive it out of the city on occasion.
Regardless, the Ora 5 needs to be a lot more competitive than the Ora hatch was, because the market is so much busier with affordable rivals now. Fortunately, the value proposition is indeed much better than before, especially given the Ultra is only $3000 more than the Lux.