2024 Skoda Kamiq review | CarExpert

Skoda’s most popular car in Australia is now in Run-Out.

I’m not talking about the Octavia, or the Kodiaq. We’re talking about the 2024 Skoda Kamiq Run-Out, which serves as a new entry point to the compact SUV range ahead of the facelifted model arriving in the coming months.

Last year 1985 Kamiqs found Australian homes, making the city-sized crossover the top selling vehicle in the brand’s range ahead of the larger Kodiaq (1555 units) and Karoq (1405 units) SUVs.

The Kamiq Run-Out returns the nameplate to the low-$30,000 bracket, with a sharp $32,990 drive-away sticker. It’s not quite as sharp as the Kamiq’s original sub-$30,000 positioning, but in an era of increasing prices it’s refreshing.

But with a facelifted model on the way, which will bring fairly minor design and tech upgrades, does is this sharply priced Run-Out model a good buy or should you wait for the new one?

Read along to find out.

How does the Skoda Kamiq compare?

View a detailed breakdown of the Skoda Kamiq against similarly sized vehicles.

Skoda

Kamiq

How much does the Skoda Kamiq cost?

The 2024 Skoda Kamiq Run-Out is priced from $32,990 drive-away, which is $5000 less than the existing Style and $11,000 cheaper than the flagship Monte Carlo.

Skoda is also plugging its Skoda Choice finance offer, which for the Kamiq Run-Out is $80 per week at a 6.99 per cent p.a. standard rate over a 60-month term with 20 per cent deposit. It also includes a Guaranteed Future Value (GFV) of $12,881 at the end of the finance period.

2024 Skoda Kamiq pricing:

• 2024 Skoda Kamiq Run-Out: $32,990
• 2024 Skoda Kamiq Style: $37,990
• 2024 Skoda Kamiq Monte Carlo: $43,990

Prices are drive-away

To see how the Kamiq lines up against its rivals, check out our comparison tool.

What is the Skoda Kamiq like on the inside?

If you were thinking this would be some stripped-out budget grade, you’d be pleasantly surprised.

The Kamiq Run-Out doesn’t feel $5000 cheaper than the Style, though there are some elements that have been taken out of this base model to achieve that sharper pricing.

Key changes include analogue instruments and manual air conditioning, but really there’s a charming simplicity that comes with the more old-school appointments.

The manual climate controls are the same as a base Polo, for example, and do the job just fine. Same goes for the analogue cluster, which has Skoda’s old-school typeface and layout. Speaking of Skoda signatures, the handy umbrella in the door is still a thing on the Kamiq Run-Out.

After some time on the road it’s not like there’s any impediment to visibility or information, though Skoda’s excellent 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit allows for a lot of configurability. That said, the basic monochrome multifunction display gives you everything you need.

While the black cloth trim in the Run-Out isn’t quite as fetching as the design featured on the Style, the seats themselves are pretty much the same offering good comfort and support, as well as a wide range of adjustment.

Skoda has maintained its quality touch points too, with leather trim for the steering wheel, shifter and handbrake, with the steering wheel retaining the perforated sports design standard in other grades for our market. The upper tiers of the dashboard and doors are also trimmed in squidgy plastics which is nice too.

You’ll notice some blanked out buttons on the centre console, and the slot under the centre stack fits a larger smartphone and offers USB-C ports, but the wireless charger has been deleted from this grade.

Kamiq strengths that aren’t necessarily a given for the class include big cupholders between the front seats, as well as a cubby under the trimmed centre armrest. The door bins are quite large as well.

Sitting atop the dashboard is a 8.0-inch ‘Bolero’ touchscreen which is standard on the Style and Monte Carlo grades. It offers wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth phone connectivity. Otherwise, it lacks satellite navigation or DAB radio.

According to overseas specs it looks like the new facelifted Kamiq gets wireless smartphone connectivity from the base grade; whether that’s worth waiting for is up to you.

Otherwise, it runs the familiar Skoda take on the VW Group interface, offering a clean and user-friendly design with nice graphics and good response times.

It’s hooked up to the same eight-speaker sound system as the Style, which offers good audio quality even with the volume turned up.

The Kamiq’s second row is another highlight, offering above average space for the class as well as decent amenities.

Head-, knee- and legroom are very good even for taller adults like me (I’m 6’1), and there are more convenience features like directional air vents, big door bins, and map pockets.

You also get the requisite ISOFIX and top-tether points for child seats, as well as a pair of USB-C charging ports to keep devices juiced.

There’s also no fold-down centre armrest for the rear, but that’s not a given in the segment, particularly at the price point.

You still get a 400-litre boot, which isn’t a standout for the class but still very good for this class of car given the Kamiq’s smaller exterior dimensions. Fold down the rear seats and you get 1395 litres of capacity (VDA).

There’s a space saver wheel under the boot floor, and there are some Simply Clever touches like the bag hook and side cubbies to hold smaller items in place.

What’s under the bonnet?

The Kamiq Run-Out is powered by the same 1.0 TSI petrol engine as the Kamiq Style.

How does the Skoda Kamiq drive?

It had been a while since I spent time in a Kamiq, and it was a lovely refresher of what makes this little crossover such a solid buy in the segment – especially with the Run-Out’s sharper pricing.

Keyless entry and push button start make getting in and getting started pretty easy, and the 1.0 TSI fires up with a muted thrum. There seems to be more insulation here compared to a VW Polo or T-Cross.

While 85kW doesn’t sound like much for even a small crossover, it’s that 200Nm of torque from 2000rpm that does a lot of the heavy lifting in normal driving. As we’ve seen in other VW Group models with this engine, the 1.0-litre turbo triple has an almost diesel-like feel with its relaxed shove.

It’ll tend to shift around 2000-2500rpm in normal driving, and you’ll see the tacho needle snap between ratios quickly. Yes some people may not vibe with the initial turbo lag or the occasional hesitation from the DSG transmission particularly after idle stop-start has disengaged, but it’s far from the worst implementation of this technology.

You can also get around some of these traits by flicking the gear selector into S or Sport mode, which primes the drivetrain for improved response, holds revs a little longer and downshifts sooner to keep you in the sweet spot.

Our drive program in the Kamiq started in Sydney, and took us down to Coalcliff via a range of city and suburban roads as well as freeways and winding B-roads – including a stint through Sydney’s Royal National Park.

Despite wet conditions and some wind, the Kamiq handled admirably and inspired the sort of big car confidence you don’t always find in this segment. It feels rock solid at 100km/h on the open road.

I didn’t really find myself wanting more grunt for the most part, but if you must have more shove you can get a more powerful 110kW/250Nm 1.5 TSI in the Kamiq Monte Carlo and Signature Edition – though both are over $10,000 more expensive than the Run-Out on test here.

Fuel consumption is another highlight, with the Kamiq showing an indicated readout in the mid- to high-5.0L/100km realm during our test drive. With some more combined urban use you’ll likely see that settle into the 6.0s, which means you can reasonably expect 800-1000km from the Kamiq’s 50-litre tank – not bad.

The Kamiq is typical Euro taut for better handling, but it bakes in a level of compliance that mostly irons out the sharper lumps and bumps of everyday life.

It communicates the road surface without jarring and thudding, even with a more basic torsion beam rear suspension setup compared to the multilink rears offered by some competitors. The Run-Out’s slightly smaller 17-inch alloy wheels and 55-profile tyres offer a bit more sidewall than the 245/45 R18’s of higher grades, too.

There’s a nice and accurate feel to the steering too, with a fairly quick ratio but well assisted to not have too much weight and make tighter manoeuvres a chore. That said, there’s a keenness to how it turns in and it’s almost sporty in demeanour without sacrificing comfort and refinement – it’s a really nice and mature thing to drive.

You may find up steeper inclines that the little engine has to work quite hard, but even at full noise the charming engine note is so well insulated that it’s far from unrefined, if a touch coarse. Still, I think it’s better than the equivalent Volkswagen.

One thing you’ll miss in the Kamiq Run-Out is adaptive cruise control, which is a key omission compared to the Style. The standard non-adaptive cruise works fine, though we found it can creep up the speed easily on descents and occasionally would over compensate up hills.

It’s otherwise nicely kitted out with lane-keep assist as well as Side Assist which bundles blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts – features that have previously been affected by component shortages.

Everything pretty much works as you’d expect, though the cruise controls integrated into the indicator stalk on the left might take some getting used to. The reversing camera and rear parking sensors all are good for the class and price point, too.

What do you get?

Kamiq Run-Out highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Auto LED headlights
• 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 side mirror
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Android Auto
• 8-speaker audio
• 4 x USB-C ports

Kamiq Style adds:

• 18-inch allot wheels
• LED tail lights incl. dynamic indicators
• 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit
• Dual-zone climate control
• Interior ambient lighting
• Power tailgate
• Privacy glass
• Wireless phone charger

Is the Skoda Kamiq safe?

The Skoda Kamiq wears a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on 2019 Euro NCAP testing.

It managed a solid 96 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupants, 80 per cent for vulnerable road users and 76 per cent for safety assist.

Standard safety features include:

• 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee
• AEB incl. pedestrian detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane Assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Rear parking sensors
• Reversing camera
• Tyre pressure monitoring

Kamiq Style adds:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Driver fatigue detection

How much does the Skoda Kamiq cost to run?

Like the wider Skoda range, the Kamiq is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Scheduled maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres – whichever comes first.

As part of its easy ownership pitch, Skoda offers pretty affordable upfront service packages, costing $1800 for five years or $2500 for seven. That works out to roughly $370 per year, which is pretty competitive.

CarExpert’s Take on the Skoda Kamiq

While it’s Run-Out in name, don’t think this little Skoda is giving cheap and cheerful vibes.

The Kamiq has always been a very capable small crossover that doesn’t always get the hype it deserves; offering a very upmarket and grown-up drive and packaging in a compact, affordable package. Recent price rises have dented that last part somewhat.

Even the base 85kW 1.0 TSI motor has plenty of go for most people, and it’s very thrifty on fuel in the real world despite no electrification. There’s also heaps of space despite the compact dimensions, which for those needing city-friendly dimensions will be very happy with.

What’s made even stronger with the Kamiq Run-Out is the value proposition – $32,990 drive-away doesn’t quite buy you a Mazda CX-3 G20 Pure or Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid, and it’s just $1000 more than a Kia Seltos S. None of its rivals offer as sharp a finance deal if that’s how you plan to pay for your car, either.

The Skoda makes an interesting case for itself. For the same price as something like a high-spec Chinese-made option, you can have a Euro-made equivalent with decent equipment levels, a more refined and efficient driving experience, better integrated technology and an arguably better finished cabin.

You also get a standard seven-year warranty that matches Kia and the Chinese makes, as well as an affordable capped-price service program that means it’s not the stereotypical pricey Euro long-term ownership that is often a barrier to purchase.

Unless you’re really keen on waiting for the facelift in a few months time, there’s a lot love about the Skoda Kamiq Run-Out, especially in an automotive world where prices are continually jacked up. If you’re after a compact SUV for under $35,000, there’s not much better than this.

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