Czech mate! Škoda NZ joins compact SUV market

The Škoda Kamiq joins the Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs in New Zealand. Photo: Škoda

Kiwis will be spoilt for choice when it comes to buying a European compact SUV with the announcement that the Škoda Kamiq is now on sale.

Priced from $30,990, it competes with the VW T-Cross and SEAT’s Arona.

The Kamiq is the smallest SUV for the Škoda family in New Zealand, sitting behind the Karoq and Kodiaq.

The Kamiq is like a crossover version of the Scala compact hatchback, which replaced the Rapid. 

It’s 4241mm long, 1793mm wide, 1531mm tall, and has a wheelbase of 2651mm.

The name Kamiq comes from the language of the Inuit people living in northern Canada and Greenland and translates to 'something that fits perfectly in every situation'.

And how do you pronounce Kamiq? Easy, it rhymes with hammock.

The Škoda Kamiq has clean-cut split headlights. Photo: Škoda

For Škoda NZ, it’s an ideal product to fit in the rapidly growing compact SUV segment.

“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 Czech brand’s SUV but has unique details such as clean-cut split headlights and a precisely sculptured bonnet. 

The interior of the European market Škoda Kamiq, we’re getting automatics. Photo: Škoda

The Kamiq has two TSI petrol engines. The entry-level Ambition has an 85kW engine and is priced from $30,990.

The Ambition + is $36,990 and Monte Carlo ($42,990) both get the 110kW engine. All have a 7-speed DSG transmission.

Contactless sales are now available from Škoda dealerships.