What’s it like?
Until the introduction of the all-electric Epiq in 2026, the Kamiq was the smallest of all of Czech manufacturer Skoda’s SUV lines – no matter what was under the bonnet. That makes the Kamiq an excellent used buy, because it has always been highly affordable (even when new) and so used examples are not up for sale at enormous prices as a result.
Yet, despite its diminutive exterior proportions, the Kamiq has all the Skoda hallmarks you’d expect: loads of space in the cabin and boot; serene driving manners; plenty of ‘Simply Clever’ touches to make living with the car easier; and frugal, smooth Volkswagen Group engines.
A rival to any small, B-segment crossover you can think of – such as the Ford Puma, Opel Mokka, Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008, Toyota Yaris Cross, Honda HR-V, Kia Stonic, Hyundai Kona and so, so many more, as well as related cars like the Volkswagen T-Cross and SEAT Arona – the Kamiq is nevertheless one of the best second-hand choices you can make if you’re in the market for this sort of vehicle.
Which model to go for?
There were four main powertrains for the Skoda Kamiq family, which were a 95hp turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine called the 1.0 TSI 95, a more potent version of the same unit originally with 115hp (later 110hp for emissions purposes, and then returned to 116hp for the 2024MY-on facelift cars), christened either the 1.0 TSI 115 (irrespective of whether it’s a very early or very late version) or 1.0 TSI 110 depending on its output, a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol option with 150hp sold as the 1.5 TSI 150, and then a solitary 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel with 115hp, simply known as the 1.6 TDI.
The Kamiq range was facelifted in 2023 and the 1.6 TDI was dropped, leaving the TSI petrol engines as the only options for our market. And yet, for all this variety, by far and away the most commonplace powertrain you will find in used Skoda Kamiqs here in Ireland is the 1.0 TSI 110/115. There are a handful of 95hp models, but when we were researching this piece, out of nearly 200 used cars, just five of them were TDIs and there was a solitary example of the 1.5 TSI 150 – showing how ubiquitous the 1.0 TSI is.
Luckily, that higher-output three-cylinder petrol engine is the one we’d suggest you’d choose for the Kamiq anyway, even if the other options were more widely available than they are. The engine is cultured in operation, its plentiful torque makes short work of the Skoda’s low kerb weight and delivers effortless everyday progress, and it’s fuel efficient in and around town, or when cruising along a motorway at sustained higher speeds.
All Kamiqs are front-wheel drive – making them more of a crossover than an SUV – and gearboxes were either a five- or six-speed manual, or a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG auto. Only the 95hp 1.0 TSI and the 1.6 TDI used the five-speed gearbox, while the DSG was an option on everything but the lowliest petrol engine, which was manual only.
Does anything go wrong?
The main issues owners report tend to pertain to diesel particulate filters (DPFs), which means buyers of used Kamiq will likely avoid such gremlins. After that, it’s mainly electrical glitches with the infotainment and the rear parking sensors, but overall, the Skoda is a sturdily built and dependable machine.
This is evinced by the fact there have been just two recalls issue for the Skoda Kamiq during its lifetime, which were for a software error in the eCall communication module which may render eCall inactive; and the seams of the seat covers potentially being defective, which could impair the function of the side airbags.