Nor'West News: July 06, 2023
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Thursday <strong>July</strong> 6 <strong>2023</strong> 17<br />
Incorporating<br />
best motorbuys<br />
www.drivesouth.co.nz<br />
Skoda’s Scoutline a stylish addition<br />
SKODA HAS created a Scoutline<br />
version of the Kamiq, its smallest<br />
SUV, to help raise the profile<br />
and sales of a model that’s flown<br />
under the radar of buyers since<br />
debuting here three years ago.<br />
The Scoutline adds more visual<br />
punch to the bland-looking<br />
Kamiq compact urban SUV. It<br />
does this with matte black wheel<br />
arch liners, silver bodywork elements,<br />
17-inch alloy wheels and<br />
full-LED taillights.<br />
Firing the opening and fairly<br />
pricey salvo in the two-model<br />
Kamiq catalogue is the $39,990<br />
Scoutline being reviewed here.<br />
Filling the closing chapter is the<br />
flagship $48,990 Monte Carlo<br />
version.<br />
Powering the Scoutline is a 1.0<br />
litre turbo petrol. Exclusive to<br />
the Monte Carlo is a nippy and<br />
eager to please 110kw 1.5 litre<br />
turbo petrol engine.<br />
Motoring with Bob Nettleton<br />
The spirited 85kw threecylinder<br />
turbo-charged motor is<br />
a little belter, and its distinctive<br />
three-cylinder throb music to<br />
the ears to anyone who appreciates<br />
cool sounding engines. A<br />
favourable power-to-weight ratio<br />
added a keener edge to the test<br />
vehicle’s acceleration.<br />
For a smallish SUV, this one’s<br />
easy and effortless to drive at<br />
open road speeds. A smart<br />
7-speed tiptronic auto utilises<br />
two clutches to consistently deliver<br />
swift decisive gear changes.<br />
A cabin that’s as spacious as<br />
you’ll find in the compact urban<br />
SUV market segment is a real<br />
bonus, along with an elevated<br />
driving position offering excellent<br />
all round visibility. Rear<br />
room legroom is better than a<br />
vehicle of this size has a right to<br />
be. A generously proportioned<br />
400-litre boot is extendible that<br />
can almost be trebled in size<br />
with the 60:40 split rear seat<br />
backrests folded down.<br />
The white, red and orange<br />
LED ambient lighting puts on a<br />
cool colour show, illuminating<br />
the centre console, door storage<br />
compartments, door handles<br />
and foot well. LED reading lights<br />
are standard and you can opt<br />
for a black roof lining. Staying<br />
in touch is well sorted with<br />
built-in SmartLink technology<br />
for connecting devices via Apple<br />
CarPlay, Android Auto or Mirror<br />
Link.<br />
Simply Clever is Skoda’s<br />
marketing is battle cry. In this<br />
vehicle there is plenty of evidence<br />
of that. The umbrella compartment<br />
(including umbrella) is in<br />
the driver’s door, and there’s an<br />
ice scraper in the fuel filler flap.<br />
This is more pure genius than<br />
simply clever.<br />
The test vehicle was laden with<br />
safety features. Among the more<br />
innovative are Lane Assist, City<br />
Emergency Brake, Driver Fatigue<br />
Alert, and Cruise Control. Using<br />
a camera, Lane Assist recognises<br />
road markings and helps the<br />
driver to keep to their traffic<br />
lane.<br />
The Kamiq rides confidently,<br />
offering the benefits of an SUV<br />
with the agile driving characteristics<br />
of a compact car. It shares<br />
the same platform as the Skoda<br />
Scala hatch. There are important<br />
points of difference between this<br />
pair. The Scoutline, for instance,<br />
has longer springs and shock<br />
absorbers, a stiffer stabiliser for<br />
the front axle and a reinforced<br />
rear axle.<br />
Spring and damper rates are<br />
tuned to soak up even the worst<br />
bumps and potholes. Over<br />
undulating roads the test vehicle<br />
remained steadfastly calm and<br />
composed. It’s not all perfection,<br />
with the steering a ‘work on’. In<br />
its current form it lacks the road<br />
feel, deft weighting and all round<br />
polish and finesse of some of its<br />
better rivals.<br />
Rating out of 10:<br />
Performance 7; Handling<br />
7; Build Quality 7;<br />
Comfort 7; Space 8; Fuel<br />
Economy – On road test<br />
average consumption<br />
6.5L/100km; Value for<br />
money 6; Safety – 5-star<br />
ANCAP crash rating; Clean<br />
car fee, neutral. Overall<br />
points out of 10: 7<br />
Vaughan pirie<br />
owner operator<br />
027 565 5577<br />
vpbaeries@gmail.com<br />
www.vpbaeries.co.nz<br />
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