Subscribe Us

Upcoming Indian Skoda Kamiq vs Volkswagen T-Cross



The Volkswagen T-Cross and new Skoda Kamiq also mix supermini dimensions, more affordable pricing and SUV styling, adding more practicality on top. It’s easy to see why they’re so popular. The Kamiq has a lot to prove here, though, because the T-Cross one  of the best car in this class.

 They’re practical, good to drive and affordable, so the Skoda will have to be all of those things and more if it wants to win here.

 Skoda Kamiq
 Model: Skoda Kamiq 1.0 TSI 115 SE L
 Price: N/A
 Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl petrol, 113bhp 
 0-60mph: 9.4 seconds 
Test economy: 45.3mpg/10.0mpl 
CO2: 116g/km 
The Kamiq is a new name and a totally new model for the Czech brand. Here we’re testing a version that’s likely to be popular with buyers in the UK, the 1.0-litre TSI petrol with 113bhp and a manual gearbox.

 Design & engineering While the Kamiq might be an all-new model for Skoda, it has a familiar basis: the Volkswagen Group’s MQB A0 architecture. This platform is used in many models across the group’s stable, most notably in this case on the VW T-Cross (and the SEAT Arona, another rival in this class). This means the Kamiq shares many parts with the T-Cross, including the 1.0-litre TSI engine. 
Also under the Skoda’s skin are MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, which is a very typical suspension set-up for the supermini-SUV class. Indeed, all of the cars in this test have the same layout due to its lower production costs.
 The Kamiq can be fitted with an option called ‘Sport Chassis Control’, which costs £495 and adds selectable driving modes linked to adaptive suspension. This is rare on a small car, so it’s interesting to see, but our test car wasn’t fitted with this option and used a standard set-up. 
 The Kamiq’s interior has some cheap-looking plastics in certain areas, but there are a few key features that help add to its appeal. The seats are comfortable, and the large infotainment screen and standard digital instrument cluster give it a hi-tech feel. 
 Standard equipment includes a 9.2-inch touchscreen sat-nav with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality, which is a highlight of the interior. There’s also AEB, lane-keep and blind-spot assist, as well as climate and cruise control. Options available on the Kamiq include a powered tailgate and a rear-view camera , plus wireless smartphone charging .


 Driving 
 A higher driving position is part of the Kamiq’s appeal, and some buyers will prefer the upright position. Taller drivers may find that it restricts the available legroom, but there’s enough adjustment that we were able to get comfy behind the wheel eventually. The ride quality matches this; it’s comfortable and the car is easy to drive at low speeds around town, because here it deals with bumps and potholes well. This isn’t quite true of all three of these cars, but in the case of the T-Cross, the ride is similar to the Kamiq’s.
 Both cars have the same failing at higher speeds, though, which is that there is a noticeable amount of vibration and small body movements. 
 In our straight-line tests the Kamiq performed well, because it was quickest from 0-60mph and from 50-70mph in fifth and sixth gears, too. From a standstill the Czech model got to 60mph in 9.4 seconds, while the T-Cross took 9.7 seconds . In fifth gear the Karoq went from 50-70mph in 8.9 seconds, and in sixth this took 11.9 seconds; both times being faster than both rivals’. It wasn’t by much, though; the VW needed 9.0 and 12.4 seconds respectively in those tests. Practicality Skoda is known for building practical cars, and the Kamiq is no exception. It has an impressive 400-litre boot with the rear seats in place, and 1,395 litres of space (the most here) with them folded. But it’s the only model here that doesn’t have sliding rear seats. This means that even though it has plenty of room in the boot, the T-Cross can be configured to have up to 455 litres . Still, the Kamiq doesn’t compromise legroom and, with its fixed rear bench, there’s more than enough room for adults to sit comfortably in the outer seats. There’s lots of legroom and headroom is good, and the comfy seats mean it’s the model we’d pick to sit in the back of. However, it’s not by a big margin and any of these cars is a fine, practical choice for a family.

 Ownership

 EURO NCAP has already tested the Kamiq, and it received the full five stars from the crash-test experts, with a top score in the Adult Protection category. Its rating was helped by standard safety equipment that includes six airbags, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot alert and lane-keep assist. Skoda is also a consistent high-scorer in our Driver Power surveys, and in the 2019 poll the brand finished fifth overall. This was way ahead of both its rivals, because Volkswagen  finished 17th  in the makers’ chart. 

Testers’ notes 

  “Other engines available for the Kamiq include a 1.5-litre petrol with 148bhp, a less-powerful 94bhp 1.0-litre unit, and a 1.6-litre diesel with 113bhp. The 113bhp 1.0-litre is the pick of the line-up, though.” 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8lzq_PIaMo


Volkswagen T-Cross

Model:    Volkswagen T-Cross 1.0 TSI 115 SEL
Price:    N/A
Engine:    1.0-litre 3cyl petrol, 113bhp
0-60mph:    9.7 seconds
Test economy:    43.8mpg/9.6mpl
CO2:    116g/km

Design & engineering

There is a lot the T-Cross shares with the Kamiq, including its 1.0-litre engine, six-speed manual gearbox and suspension layout. There are even hints inside as to the similarities of these cars, because certain bits of switchgear are virtually identical. This is because both models are based on the MQB A0 platform.

Performance is predictably similar in the VW and Skoda. Both cars have 113bhp and 200Nm of torque, and the weight difference is pretty small; the T-Cross weighs 1,175kg and the Kamiq 1,158kg. so all two cars here are relatively svelte, which has benefits for ride quality and fuel economy.


  To help the T-Cross stand out, from both its VW Group stablemates. VW offers different ‘design packs’ which bring together paint and trim colours, alloy wheels and tinted windows in pre-set looks. This will appeal to those who want to give their car a more individual look, a popular trait in this market. The Citroen has plenty of personalisation options, too. The colourful trim pieces in the cabin add some personality, but the interior still isn’t the strongest point for the T-Cross. Material quality is acceptable but nothing more; the hard plastics inside mean it feels a little cheap.

An eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, and SEL models add sat-nav.  Other standard kit includes autonomous braking, adaptive cruise control and AEB, plus 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights. Key options here are the Active Info Display (a digital dash) and wireless smartphone charging

Driving

The T-Cross’s 1.0-litre engine is a highlight of the driving experience. It’s very quiet; at idle it’s barely audible and even at high revs it’s not unpleasant or intrusive. The Citroen’s 1.2-litre engine has a slightly more characterful note, but it’s noisier overall. With 113bhp on tap, the engine delivers decent performance, and the VW was the quickest car here from 30-70mph through the gears, taking 9.2 seconds on our test track.
However, it fell behind its rivals in our 30-50mph tests. It took 4.6 seconds to do that in third gear, and 6.5 seconds in fourth, while the Kamiq took 4.2 and 6.0 seconds . The C3’s performance was competitive here, taking 4.0 and 5.4 seconds respectively.

But the T-Cross is good to drive. It’s agile, with a good amount of grip in corners and decent body control that matches the Kamiq’s. The steering is light, but accurate and easy to use, especially when driving around town, and when parking.

It’s a similar story with the Volkswagen’s gearbox, which has a light clutch pedal and gearlever action, but it’s very precise and is great to use.which has a long throw and doesn’t have the slick precision of the transmissions fitted to the VW or Skoda.
Like the Kamiq, the Volkswagen’s suspension is good at lower speeds, where it can deal with bumps in the road surface reasonably well, but at higher speeds there’s more movement as the dampers struggle to contain each imperfection. while its body control means you have more confidence in corners, just like in the Skoda.

These cars won’t hold much appeal for keen drivers, because they are less controlled, slower and not as agile as supermini equivalents such as the VW Polo. But in this sector, that isn’t too important, and at least the T-Cross and Kamiq’s satisfying gearshift and precise steering mean they’re good enough to drive.

Practicality

A sliding rear bench is standard on the T-Cross, allowing you to prioritise luggage room or passenger space depending on which is most useful. With the rear seat set as far back as possible, there’s 385 litres of boot space, which is the smallest amount here.
But if you slide the bench forward there’s an impressive 455 litres – more than in the Skoda, However, with the seats forward there’s a gap that items could drop through, and there really isn’t much legroom at all with them in this position. Tall adults won’t be able to get comfortable unless the bench is set back, although headroom is good.

Testers’ notes

“The T-Cross is characterised by its refinement, just like the Kamiq. These MQB-based models are more comfortable and refined over longer journeys.”




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8lzq_PIaMo

Post a Comment

0 Comments

CLOSE ADS


CLOSE ADS