2020 Skoda Kamiq breaks cover

It’s set to be a big 2020 for Skoda, as it prepares to launch a pair of key products into the Australian marketplace.

Alongside the all-new Scala hatchback, the Kamiq small SUV will give Skoda its third SUV alongside its large Kodiaq and mid-sized Karoq.

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No real surprises when it comes to the spec and design of the Kamiq – we have a little while to wait until final details of the Mazda CX-3/Mitsubishi ASX/Hyundai Kona rival are revealed, but we know it’ll be built on the same underbits as the Volkswagen Polo hatchback and forthcoming T-Cross SUV.

That means the five-seat SUV will be front-wheel-drive only, and will offer at least a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine for the Aussie market.

The overseas press release also details other engines, including a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine as well as a 1.6-litre diesel.

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The local arm of the company has said that the Kamiq is due to land around March or April of 2020, but specs and pricing are not yet confirmed. One issue it will have is around the fitment of what are known as petrol particulate filters (PPF); all of the engines listed by Skoda are fitted with the device which is designed to bring petrol engines up to Euro 6 emissions standards.

Skoda has indicated that it has no PPF-equipped engines “in the pipeline” at present, as it awaits news of a potential change to the standard of petrol being brought to Australia (which you can read about at WhichCar soon).

Otherwise, the Kamiq bears a lot of resemblance to Skoda’s Vision X concept that debuted this time last year in Geneva. LED lighting on higher grades will feature heavily, while the Kamiq’s profile looks similar to that of the more squared-off Karoq.

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The Kamiq sits 36mm higher off the ground than the similarly sized Scala hatchback, but conversely, it can then be dropped back down by 10mm via the use of optional adaptive dampers. Its seats are also mounted higher in the car than the Scala.

Inside, the Skoda Kamiq has 400 litres of boot space with the seats up, and 1395 litres when the seats are folded down. A digital dash will be an option on upper-grade cars (we’d guess by way of an optional Tech Pack), while the Kamiq will be stacked with safety equipment.

AEB with pedestrian detect and lane keep assist are standard across the board, according to Skoda, while driver aids like adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and side assist will be optional.

Outside, the Kamiq will pick up the very clever door bumper system from the Kodiaq, which extends a small plastic guard to protect the outside edge of the door from bumps and knocks.

You’ll see the Kamiq in March or April next year.

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