We’re quite familiar with the 1.5-litre four-cylinder motor, offered on a wide variety of VW Group models. Even the 128bhp version pulls a Golf with conviction, so the 148bhp of this Kamiq makes for quite brisk performance balanced with respectable efficiency.
It’s perky from the off and mid-range punch is effective, which is good because this isn’t an engine that rewards chasing the redline with a zingy note and new-found verve. Rather, it becomes quite strained and intrusive beyond 5000rpm. It’s no vRS by any means, then, despite an overly responsive throttle that takes a little while to get used to.
Generally speaking, this engine and dual-clutch gearbox combo is a fine pairing. Once used to the abrupt throttle (and accepting that it isn’t as silky smooth at low speed as a traditional torque-converter automatic), this tester experienced none of the ‘kangarooing’ effect some readers have previously outlined, and with mild to middling throttle inputs, it slurs changes nicely enough and doesn’t hold on to cogs unnecessarily.
You can catch it out, however, if you aren’t in Sport mode and suddenly demand full power, when it sometimes throws a wobbly, drops one too many cogs then takes a fair time to change up again and maintain the pace. It's also a bit of a shame that there aren't any of the usual wheel-mounted gearshift paddles in the Kamiq. You can manually change up by toggling the gearshift, but it's not as satisfying or easy.
That’s one of relatively few gripes with the driving experience, though. Feeling much like the raised-up Scala it essentially is, the Kamiq offers steering that responds naturally to inputs, and body control is very respectable for a crossover. It feels taut and composed in most situations, although a Ford Puma is more agile and entertaining still.
Granted, putting 18in wheels on a smallish car, one already more stiffly suspended than the hatch on which it’s based to account for the taller body, is rarely desirable from a ride comfort perspective. And, sure enough, there’s just a fraction more low-speed bump-thump and awareness in the cabin of the road's sharp ridges than we’d like. Some road roar is noticeable at speed, too.
However, for the most part, the Kamiq Monte Carlo is a composed and sophisticated steer and its damping improves with speed to offer a tied-down feel on undulating roads that something like a Peugeot 2008 couldn’t hope to match. We also suspect the optional adaptive dampers (not fitted to our test car), which drop the car's ride height by 10mm, will help take the edge off the nastiest potholes.
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At present I drive a SEAT IBIZA FR with that engine and a 6-speed manual: an absolute delight to use the well-spaced ratios for relaxed or torque-rich or power application on demand!
It is a lot of fun to push the car into corners in 3rd, exit at about 100kph and slot straight into 6th for the long and boring straight with radar goons lurking... AND you should see the faces on some drivers left behind as the little car goes around limpet-like (I opted for 17 inch and dropped the pressures by 300 grams).
My only gripe is that the power delivery can be linear in 'Normal' mode and too gentle in 'Economy' mode; otherwise, a pearl of an engine and kind on the Insurance premium, too!
Cool story bro. I'm glad you're enjoying your car but I doubt those other drivers you mention are that bothered.
Thanks for this; I did say 'some' drivers: here, in Portugal, some drivers believe that they have the right to be 'intimate' with your exhaust pipe (I have actually been rear-ended once!) and it is those drivers who seem baffled when the little de-badged IBIZA scoots away at a rate...
Repeat at the next corner: the radar goons will charge you €150 on the spot if they catch you, so easy on straight lines! Quite satisfying...
Stay safe!
18in wheels! Gloss black plastic! Scrolling indicators! This is a miserable machine dressed up in predictable 'premium' features... all so depressing. I pity those who end up with one. Could you not make a better or more imaginative choice?
Skoda and Monte Carlo. Those are two names I never thought would go back to back.
That's clever subliminal marketing if ever was.