Skoda Kamiq SUV Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI 150PS 5d Owner Review

Took delivery of the top spec Monte Carlo a few weeks ago. We love the look of the car and the wheels. The interior looks sporty while comfortable. There is room in the back for 2 adults comfortably or our 2 medium sized dogs. Boot space is reasonable although not as good as the previous Civic we had. Outside the LED lights, angular mirrors and blue paintwork all make it stand out. Inside, the up rated Infotainment screen makes a difference. The jury is still out on long journeys so far but the seats appear to be comfortable and supportive without being over bearing. I do like the panoramic roof and it's a good full length. The layout of the dash can be configured to your liking with a number of presets so you get an hour or so to sit and play. I also like the fact you can have the sat nav displayed right in front of you to save having to look sideways. The infotainment screen display is large bright and clear. The sat nav is relatively easy to use, unlike the Jeep we had or my friends Mazda. You can set up your own apps but think this is more a toy than something serious as we just use what's on the menu. I realise these days everything is streamed and your music is 'on your phone' but we still have like 500 CD's that are now redundant unless I download to a stick. Yes I know it's progress and save cluttering the car with lots of CD's but our moods change and on a long journey we like to take a selection with us. I can buy a portable I guess but be nice as a reasonably priced cheap option from Skoda. I also opted for electric boot release, climate control and heated windscreen options. As this is the top spec it would be nice to maybe have a couple of these as standard. Folding mirrors as well. The 1.5TSI 6 speed is nicely balance and responsive. Pulls well and through the gears. Very quiet and decent acceleration. I didn't get this engine for the fuel economy and it shows. Definitely the most thirsty engine version offered. Handling is precise and the VW chasis feels well balanced through the corners. Suspension is firm over bumps without being too rough. It's easy to drive, easy to like and so far has no issues. I like this car. I like the way it feels and looks. I look forward to driving it. It is not that involving but then it's not supposed to be. It is comfortable, well laid out and has a few nice touches. It also fits a 2.4metre length of timber in. The dash and surround feel like they come from a more expensive car and certainly better quality than VW, Renault or other vehicles in this genre. I hate the velour type rear parcel shelf as everything sticks to it but this is the same in every vehicle. Rear seats nearly fold flat as does the front seat but it's flat enough to carry bulkier items. One thing I don't like is the seat adjustment lever is nearer the console than towards the doors so I have to lean right across the seat to lift the lever and move the seat back. The previous car I owned had the lever towards the outside of the seat and made it much easier to move. I can't comment on the other versions but the Monte Carlo,spec, while a bit more expensive is certainly appealing. For my first Skoda, I am impressed. Time will tell though.