Unveiled at the Auto China 2018 motor show, the Chinese Skoda Kamiq is part of a new Skoda SUV offensive that started with the Kodiaq and the Karoq.
With dimensions smaller than the other two models, the Kamiq is more at home in a busy city than on a rugged off-roading trail, which is why an all-wheel-drive system isn’t even on the options list. Despite having an identical name and being based on the same platform, the Chinese Kamiq differs substantially from the European Skoda Kamiq.

Even though it has rather compact exterior dimensions, the sub-compact crossover has a pretty spacious interior for up to five adults. The body is less than 4.4 meters long, 1,781 mm wide and 1,593 mm high for a commanding driving position, while the 2,610 mm long wheelbase should offer a reasonable amount of knee room. The only engine available on the Chinese market is a brand new, turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine that deliver 81 kW and 150 Nm of torque. Only the front wheels are powered through an automatic gearbox available as standard. Design wise, the Chinese Kamiq has a typical Skoda look, with the engine grille featuring vertical double slats, while the headlights simply flow from each side of the grille like an extension.

Despite having an identical name, the Chinese-only Skoda Kamiq doesn’t have that many things in common with its European counterpart.
That said, the international-market Kamiq is also a sub-compact crossover that will accompany the larger Kodiaq and Karoq as part of a Skoda crossover/SUV offensive. Not as a coincidence, all model names start with a K and end with the letter Q. Shown officially at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the new Kamiq will go against established models like the Renault Captur or the Nissan Juke.

Just like its two main rivals, the smallest Skoda crossover is a FWD-only affair, and despite sharing the same platform as its Chinese Doppleganger it’s a lot smaller, probably to mingle more efficiently on busy European streets. The model has a length of 4,241 mm, a width of 1,792 mm and a height of 1,531 mm for better improved head room and a commanding view of the road for the driver. Oddly enough, despite being shorter than the Chinese Kamiq, the international model has a longer wheelbase, so passenger knee room should be plentiful despite its sub-compact exterior size. The engine lineup consist of four powertrains in total, with three- and four-cylinder gasoline ones and a diesel four-cylinder version.