Skoda NZ – ŠKODA‘s youngest member of its successful SUV family – the ŠKODA KAMIQ – has now landed on New Zealand shores, enabling the brand to enter the rapidly growing compact SUV segment for the first time.
“KAMIQ is the perfect fit to our SUV line-up and is set to become a pillar of our ŠKODA model range as a whole” says Rodney Gillard, ŠKODA New Zealand General Manager. “We are thrilled to have had the first cars arrive and are excited to showcase this distinctive and competitively priced new entrant to the market.”
The new ŠKODA KAMIQ incorporates the design language of the ŠKODA SUV, making it clearly identifiable as a member of the ŠKODA SUV family at first glance, while also exhibiting unique design details such as clean-cut split headlights and a precisely sculptured bonnet.
The all-new KAMIQ bears an upright radiator grille with distinctive double slats on its generously wide front section. The raised centre section runs down the entire bonnet, giving the new compact SUV a super-striking appearance. A prominent front spoiler and other add-on parts such as the rear diffuser accentuate this impression even further.
From the side, the KAMIQ looks both rugged and dynamic thanks to its distinctive tornado line, defined surfaces and roof rails. The KAMIQ Monte Carlo model is fitted with a panoramic roof and gloss-black roof rails as standard, intensifying the car’s bold appearance even further.
Setting the benchmark for space and comfort ŠKODA KAMIQ offers the elevated seat position that has proven popular in the compact SUV segment, thus increasing comfort and safety. The KAMIQ’s raised seats mean occupants are positioned 40mm higher than in the ŠKODA SCALA, for instance, enabling the driver better visibility of pedestrians and cyclists, as well as obstacles or the kerb when parking.
The interior of the KAMIQ is incredibly spacious – the driver and front passenger benefit from 1,051mm of headroom and 1,439mm of elbow room. In typical ŠKODA style, the amount of space in the rear is the most generous in the segment with headroom of 1,003mm, elbow room of 1,425mm and kneeroom of 73mm. The KAMIQ has a boot capacity of 400L, which can reach up to 1,395L with the 60:40 split backrests folded down.
Clever storage compartments in the interior provide an extra 26L of space for stowing items.
Interior features Soft materials on the dashboard and front door trims, as well as new seat designs and covers made of the exquisite Suedia microfibre, create a comfortable and stylish interior. Should the customer wish, the KAMIQ can be further customised with decorative trims, contrasting stitching, ambient lighting and a Dynamic package.
The level of comfort is boosted with Climatronic air conditioning available in the Ambition + and Monte Carlo, with optional electrically adjustable driver’s seat, a heated windscreen and steering wheel.
The KAMIQ offers built-in SmartLink technology for connecting devices via Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or MirrorLink and includes up to two USB-C ports in the front and two in the rear. Engines and chassis Two TSI petrol engines are available in New Zealand: The Ambition 85kW TSI and the Ambition + and Monte Carlo 110kW TSI with cylinder capacities of 1.0 or 1.5L, all coupled with a 7-speed DSG transmission.
ŠKODA has developed a new chassis that combines the advantages of an SUV with the agile driving characteristics of a compact car. In comparison to the ŠKODA SCALA, which is based on the same platform, the KAMIQ has longer springs and shock absorbers, a stiffer stabiliser for the front axle, a reinforced rear axle, larger wheels and power steering with a different gear ratio. As a result, the KAMIQ’s ground clearance has increased by a total of 39mm in comparison to the SCALA, 10mm of which stem from the tyres with a larger cross section and the rest from the new chassis geometry. With a total ground clearance of 188mm, the ŠKODA KAMIQ is setting a new benchmark in the compact SUV segment.
The KAMIQ Monte Carlo comes with additional Sport Chassis Control – a 15mm-lower sports chassis that can have its characteristics switched between Normal and Sport using Driving Mode Select. Sport Chassis Control can optionally be fitted to the Ambition models.
Safety The ŠKODA KAMIQ features Lane Assist, Front Assist including City Emergency Brake, Driver Fatigue Alert, and Cruise Control as standard.
Using a camera, Lane Assist recognises road markings and helps the driver to keep the car in lane. Front Assist with City Emergency Brake lends a hand in often confusing urban traffic by preventing or reducing the severity of a collision with pedestrians or cyclists, and the Driver Fatigue Alert system recognises a reduction in the driver’s concentration and recommends they take a break.
Simply Clever In typical ŠKODA style, a wealth of Simply Clever features makes everyday life that little bit easier in the new ŠKODA KAMIQ. The optional, automatic door-edge protection cannot be found anywhere else in the compact SUV segment. An electric tailgate including Tap-ToClose function is also available. The umbrella compartment (including umbrella) in the driver’s door, ice scraper in the fuel filler flap with a tyre tread depth gauge and the integrated funnel in the lid of the windscreen washer tank are all Simply Clever.
Priced from $30,990
