When Skoda first introduced the Kamiq, it seemed odd because the Skoda Scala was already filling that segment very nicely. A year later, Skoda introduced the Kamiq Scoutline and everything changed…
There was nothing wrong with either the Scala – highly regarded as the Euro equivalent of a Toyota Corolla – but Skoda felt an SUV crossover was needed and introduced the Kamiq in its ‘sporty’ Monte Carlo spec.
So when Skoda announced the Scoutline version, it came as a surprise, especially since Scoutline meant a less powerful engine and some exterior body trim – not a lot to get excited about really.
And then we drove it.
Now we want to know why Skoda didn’t lead with this car. Yes, it has a few bits missing from the Monte Carlo spec – including about $9k in price – but nothing detracting from the five-star safety rating; cruise control is standard not adaptive, and you lose side and lane change assist with rear traffic alert, but everything else is there.
You get Skoda’s Bolero eight-inch colour touchscreen instead of the Amundsen 9.2-inch with satellite navigation inbuilt, but you keep Smartlink to give you access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so what’s an inch of screen between friends?
There are other minor losses; alloy pedals, sunroof, adaptive headlights (still LED on Scoutline) and a regular multifunction steering wheel over a Sports one, but really, you’re not short-changed with the Scoutline because…
…it’s a driver’s car. The Monte Carlo is supposed to be the sporty one and possibly it is with that adaptable suspension. The Scoutline on the other hand, launched itself at me like a tiger-cub when it came time to go for a drive.
It’s one of those cars which encourages you to go explore that road on the left as you head home, and if that road is a little curvy, so much the better! Let’s get those 85kW’s burning and the turbo singing!
The Scoutline doesn’t like straights with bumps or undulations. The short wheelbase tends to chop its way through these, but if there’s a corner anywhere close to hand, you won’t worry about the chop, because this car just lives for spirited cornering.
It is so well behaved you’ll forgive it any earlier criticisms if you’re driver enough to pedal it through and you may find as I did, that you’ll turn around and do that corner again if you feel you could have driven it better.
The Kamiq Scoutline is a Dark Horse from Skoda. It proved conclusively that less can be more – especially in terms of dollars verses driver satisfaction. And that should please the CFO as much as it does the Skoda Kamiq Scoutline driver. Yep, Scoutline is our pick – definitely!
