New 2019 Skoda Kamiq: interior uncovered ahead of full Geneva reveal

The new Skoda Kamiq crossover’s interior shows a change of approach from the Czech brand, with a new tablet style infotainment system

This is our first look at the cabin of the forthcoming Skoda Kamiq small SUV – and it shows a change of approach from the Czech manufacturer.

As promised by the Vision X concept, the car which previewed the production Kamiq, the new interior treatment includes a central ‘floating tablet’ infotainment screen.

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The single image Skoda has released showcases a 9.2-inch version of this display, although smaller set-ups are likely to be offered further down the Kamiq’s line-up.

The screen is positioned higher up on the facia than is usual for the brand, in a bid to make it easier for the driver to interact with the system without taking their eyes off the road ahead.

Skoda’s picture also shows that the Kamiq will be offered with at least the option of a fully digital instrument panel – a ‘big car’ feature in a model that is, in effect, a rival for the likes of the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur crossovers.

The shape of the dashboard itself is designed to make the Kamiq’s cabin feel as wide as possible. As a result, the air vents are ‘stretched’ into the door panels, and there’s a single horizontal line which dips behind the infotainment screen but runs from one side of the car to the other.

The Kamiq is likely to be one of the larger and more practical vehicles in its class. It’s based on the same MQB A0 platform as the Volkswagen T-Cross and SEAT Arona, but uses a longer wheelbase than either of its VW Group cousins.

Skoda’s new SUV will make its debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.

What about the Chinese Skoda Kamiq?

The Skoda Kamiq name is also applied to a different car sold in China. The Chinese Skoda Kamiq was revealed at the 2018 Beijing Motor Show. In terms of size the car holds a similar position in the Skoda range as its European namesake, sitting below the Karoq and the larger Kodiaq, but it’s designed to be significantly cheaper to produce.

Instead of the usual VW Group MQB architecture, the Chinese Kamiq is based on the VW Group’s PQ25 platform, which also underpins the Rapid. Under the bonnet, the Kamiq makes use of an all-new 1.5-litre petrol engine developing 109bhp and 150Nm of torque.

Click here for all the latest in the build-up to the 2019 Geneva Motor Show…

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