Skoda Kamiq Select 2024 Review

You might baulk initially at the $33,990 price, considering this is for the entry-level 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select. Especially given it started out in 2020 as a sub-$30k proposition and some Chinese rivals undercut the small Euro SUV by a significant margin.

However, the quoted figure is drive-away, and the Select model grade is fairly generously appointed. The tangible increase in quality is also significant against most Asian rivals.

There’s a less-conventional way to purchase the Kamiq Select too, with Skoda delving into its European roots and offering a lease-style contract.

You can read all about it from the launch review, but essentially it allows you to pay a weekly fee for five years of ownership. Then you can either buy the car at the agreed value from the time of purchase, trade it in on newer wheels, or simply walk away.

If the Kamiq Select doesn’t tickle your fancy, there is the top-spec Monte Carlo variant to consider at $44,990 drive-away.

The small SUV segment is jam-packed with competitive rivals; a few of the key contenders are the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30 and Toyota Corolla Cross.

The 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select is decently equipped, largely eschewing the feeling you’ve bought ‘the cheap one’.

Outside you’ll find 17-inch alloys, dusk-sensing auto LED headlights, LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators, LED front and rear fog lights, and heated, electronically folding wing mirrors.

Inside, there are height-adjustable cloth front seats with lumbar support, LED ambient lighting, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control and a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel.

Backing up the company tagline of ‘Simply Clever’ are some crafty touches like an umbrella located in the driver’s door, an A-pillar ticket holder, B-pillar clothes hooks, shopping hooks in the boot and a windscreen washer reservoir with integrated funnel.

While not fitted to our test car, you can opt for the $4200 Signature Pack that comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome roof rails, rear privacy glass, Park Assist, Travel Assist with adaptive lane guidance, powered tailgate, adaptive cruise control, Suedia upholstery, 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit and LED ambient lighting.

Yes, it’s a substantial amount of cash. However, considering the many extra inclusions, the benefit outweighs the monetary hit. It’s an option worth considering.

The Kamiq is covered by Skoda’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty that also includes a year of roadside assistance. Servicing is every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first), with the estimated cost coming in at $2650 across seven years or 105,000km.

The 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select holds a five-star ANCAP safety rating that was awarded in 2019.

Seven airbags are standard (including full-length curtain airbags and a driver’s knee bag). Rear ISOFIX mounts are installed for the outboard seats, complemented by top-tethers anchorage points.

In terms of active safety systems, the Kamiq Select features autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear-view camera, parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring, lane assist and side assist with rear traffic alert.

The Kamiq Select is missing an adaptive element for the cruise control and there’s no 360-degree camera. Speed sign recognition isn’t offered either, yet that could be seen as a positive for some, given there’s no incessant audible warnings.

Yes, the Kamiq Monte Carlo packs punchier tech highlights, but the 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select is far from a poverty-pack offering. And for a model that’s no longer a spring chicken, the Kamiq Select remains up to date.??

The 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster is a high point. The display is configurable with several different screen arrangements. At this price point, it’s a nice touch.

In terms of infotainment, the Kamiq Select uses an 8.25-inch touch-screen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Yes, it does look small in its housing, but the dedicated menu selections flanking the screen are appreciated, as are the physical volume and seek dials.

There are four USB-C points (two up front and two in the back), Bluetooth, DAB+ digital radio, native satellite navigation and an eight-speaker sound system. The only real misstep is the lack of a wireless charging pad.

Overall, the technology in the Kamiq is easy to use and pleasing to navigate, with clear instrumentation and classy graphics.

After a brief hiatus, the popular turbocharged triple is well and truly back in the 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select. It’s hard not to be endeared by this engine, in light of the way it performs and its thrummy soundtrack.

Despite a cubic capacity under a litre, the three-cylinder unit punches above its weight and makes swift progress to belie its 0-100km/h claim of 10.1 seconds.

Yes, the performance numbers of a small SUV mean little, but it’s nice to know that it has a peppy nature; the comparatively modest 85kW and 200Nm outputs are only required to shift 1310kg. While there are rivals with twice as much capacity, the little Kamiq allays any fears in practice.

The 1.0-litre engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends drive to the front wheels – four-wheel drive isn’t an option here; you’ll need to step up to the Skoda Karoq for that.

No hybrid – no electric? No worries. The 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select is competitive in the small SUV segment for its frugality and comes in with an official combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 5.5L/100km.

In our week with the Kamiq Select it did prove slightly thirstier than that however, returning 6.4/100km. In fairness, the driving conditions included city and highway use mixed in with some winding country roads. Further aiding economy during our test was the standard stop-start system.

It’s worth noting that the little Kamiq doesn’t drink the cheap stuff, requiring at least 95 RON when refuelling its 50-litre tank. Still, that’s good for a maximum driving range of 1020km.

The 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select runs a Polo-based platform, which means its underpinnings are derived from Volkswagen’s ubiquitous MQB A0 architecture. This is a very good thing.

The Kamiq is even a little bit of fun through the twisties. It certainly rises to the top tiers of the small SUV segment in terms of dynamics, with all the controls feeling accurately weighted and responsive. The steering is light enough to twirl around car parks, while the Sport mode firms up feedback on the open road – although we’d just stick to the Comfort setting.

Want adaptive dampers? You’ll need to step up to the Monte Carlo for that. However, they aren’t required. The Kamiq Select’s passive suspension and damper arrangement is both compliant and sufficiently controlled for safe and secure composure on the road.

Body roll is present, but kept in check well enough given the tall body. Rebound from the suspension through undulations is minimised, with the only slight misstep being some audible sounds through the cabin when you encounter larger road imperfections.

The Goodyear Efficient Grip tyres might have an eco-focus, but they provide decent all-weather traction for the front-wheel drive layout (some of the test conditions included heavy rain).

The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission can be hesitant at slow speeds. The main issues centre around a lack of finesse from take-off or while reversing on an incline. Yet, everywhere else, the gearbox returns a smooth and swift character (which can also be tailored via the drive modes).

Can the Skoda Kamiq Select go off-road?

Yes, the 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select could feasibly go off-road with its 188mm ground clearance.

However, tackling anything more than a bit of dirt isn’t really part of the Kamiq’s brief. After all, it’s front-wheel-drive only, and there aren’t any dedicated off-road electronics to help you out either.

Let’s just say a gravel driveway to a weekend sporting event or an unsealed road to a country cottage is about as hardcore as you’re going to want to get.

The 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select is a veritable Tardis. It is only 4241mm long and 1793mm wide, but the credentialled small SUV with a pragmatic personality really Czechs out inside.

Jump in the back and even tall adults are greeted by ample legroom, a consequence of the 2651mm wheelbase. Headroom is generous given the 1531mm height.

Flick open the boot and it’s the gift that keeps on giving, with the 400-litre capacity offering greater cargo space than most hatchbacks. Stow the 60/40-split folding rear pews and the useable area swells to 1395 litres.

The only downside is that it doesn’t create a completely flat floor, since there’s a significant step created by the rear seats and the spare tyre is of the space-saver variety.

It isn’t only about being roomy and practical; there’s a distinct feeling of quality to the Kamiq’s cabin, as if care has gone into its construction. Included in the update is the new ‘Loft’ style interior theme that includes cloth dashboard padding; it really lifts the aesthetic. Yes, cheap plastics can be found, but overall, the vibe is upmarket.

The leather-clad multi-function steering wheel is tactile and intuitive with easy-to-use controls. Even the cruise control, which is housed on the left indicator stalk, is simple to operate, and there are plenty of storage compartments for various bottles and paraphernalia.

All-round visibility is excellent, making city parking a breeze even if you choose not to use the cameras and sensors. General NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) is adequately suppressed for what is a ‘cheap’ model, and the rear air vents are a welcome surprise.

There’s something very likeable about the 2024 Skoda Kamiq Select. It doesn’t try to pull the wool over your eyes. The Kamiq Select is a spacious, practical and frugal small SUV delivering a welcome dollop of charm.

While the Kamiq Select is very much 'cheerful', it’s hard to ignore the fact the base model is no longer as 'cheap' as it once was. When it arrived in 2020, the price of admission started at $27,990 before on-road costs (add $2000 to drive away).

The reason for the rise is naturally due to the extra kit. However, we wish some of the options stacked into the Signature Pack were listed as standard. The same goes for a few in the safety suite.

Still, the Kamiq Select is significantly less expensive than the range-topping Monte Carlo, rendering the Select the smarter choice on balance.

It will be interesting to see how the weekly payment plan tracks with buyers, but there are hardly any reasons overall to doubt the Kamiq’s ability to continue selling strongly for Skoda.

For such a box-ticking exercise, the Skoda Kamiq Select injects a surprising amount of character into the mix and should be high on your small SUV shopping list.??

2024 Skoda Kamiq Select at a glance:

Price: $33,990 drive-away
Available: Now
Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 85kW/200Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 5.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 125g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five stars (ANCAP 2019)

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