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Yeti gone - Kamiq here

2.9K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  ewarmington  
#1 ·
After my Yeti was flooded along with our house, it was declared uneconomical to repair (airbags module and wiring, etc) we decided to replace it and the Fabia with a new Kamiq SE Drive 7 speed auto. I was expecting "solid but staid" but I must admit that I am very impressed with it.
It is the same width as the Yeti which is fortunate for our driveway but a tad longer which makes getting it in an out a bit trickier until we get used to it.
There's a wealth of tech inside most of which we will never use and, being RH drive, means poking things with your left hand is a bit hit and miss although the gesture swipe is quite handy.
It has the 1.5 litre, 150 bhp petrol engine which seems to have more poke that I thought it would although it isn't run in yet having had only 8 miles on the clock when we collected it.
Oodles of storage space inside and in the boot which is fortunate because I thought I carried around a lot of clobber until I saw what my wife kept in her car but it all went in with space to spare. I think I will buy an aftermarket space save spare wheel though.
All in all the Kamiq is solid but definitely not staid. And you can switch off that awful lane keeping annoyance with one button.
 
#2 ·
Keep coming back and let us know how you get on. I went to the launch event at out local dealer for the Kamiq when it was first introduced. I thought it was the closest to the yeti of the more recent Skoda SUV incarnations but it lacked some of the versatility, so be interested just how you get on with it in day to day use.
 
#5 ·
An update after 2500 miles.
OK it isn't a Yeti but I am impressed with the Kamiq. Not 4WD like the Yeti but the 7-speed DSG gearbox is as smooth as a baby's bum and the kick-down for overtaking can be a bit rocket-like until you get used to it. I bought an aftermarket solar-powered wireless reversing camera from Auto-Vox because the rear view is a bit restricted although I personally use the mirrors for reversing - it helps the wife though.
We took a trip to France in it and it is a delight to drive on the uncluttered French roads, softer and infinitely quieter but I guess that depends on your tyre pressures.. The boot is bigger than the Yeti, it seems, at least we got more junk in than I used to be able to for our holiday. It was easy to switch to KPH, kilometers, etc on the displays.
We're averaging 52 to the gallon but most of our trips are short, to the shops, etc.
We had the paintwork protection thing which seems to shrug off the dirt but I miss the cornering headlights although the LED headlights are pretty good. I wouldn't have minded LED reversing lights but the CANBUS is a bit too sensitive although I tried a few from Amazon.
All in all I would say that the Kamiq is a good replacement for the Yeti if you don't want to afford a Karoq. Its equivalent VW is the T-Cross but they only do that in a 1 litre version which I thought was under-powered when I hired one in Germany.
Yes, the Kamiq gets a thumbs-up from me. 👍
 
#7 ·
One thing I forgot to add is the 2 cylinder Eco mode where the engine shuts off 2 of the 4 cylinders if you're just feathering the throttle to save fuel. They cut back in again when needed with no noticeable effect or is this just more to wrong further down the road.
Under the bonnet there is an awful lot of engine in there for a 1.5 litre. Gone are the days when there was more air than engine under the hood like a Triumph Herald for example. I worked out tha Kamiq is our 23rd vehicle but that includes 2 motorbikes one of which my wife said, after 35,000 miles, was still in one piece and that I was still in one piece so it ought to go. I miss it as much as I miss my old Yeti..