Skoda Scala vs. Skoda Kamiq

In the beginning, Skoda never had a compact midsize hatchback related to SEAT's Leon and Volkswagen's Golf, so the Czech relative of the Volkswagen Group decided to create a hatchback that is related to the ones mentioned and the result is the first-ever Skoda Scala, a compact midsize hatchback that ticks the right boxes of what a city car should be in the beginning...or is it?

2019 Skoda Scala

The first-ever Skoda Scala, priced at 377,900 Czech Koruna, is the result of what happened when the Skoda wanted to create a hatchback related to the Seat Leon and the Volkswagen Golf because it runs on the same platform used by these hatchbacks, making it a roomy, sporty, and tech-savvy city car that stays true to its Simply Clever tagline Skoda made.

Beginning on the design, the Scala looks more like an enlarged Fabia of some sort and when parked beneath the Fabia, you can't really tell the difference between them unless if the size is the factor. On the back, this is where serious stuff matters because the Scala is the first Skoda vehicle to ditch the logo and go for the SKODA letters spelled out in the middle, giving it a more strong image like what Volvo did to their cars.

2019 Skoda Scala interior

2019 Skoda Scala interior

Inside, all of the city car comforts are in the Scala, fit for the Generation Z drivers in the beginning. It's got a touch screen, climate control, smartphone connectivity, and so much more to toy with it and as for spacing, the Scala is worth sitting at thanks to its decent legroom and class-leading boot space for stuff to hoard and leave it at home in the beginning. Whether if its for personal use, family affair, or for TNVS purposes, the Scala ticks the right boxes of what a city car should be.

2019 Skoda Scala

The Scala offers city car performance fit for all, meaning it's got a modest choice of a 1.0 TSi, 1.5 TSI, and the 1.6 TDi, the one today's Europeans are avoiding due to their strong distaste for diesel. The 1.5 TSi with the available DSG is the fastest in the range thanks to its 150PS of power, 250Nm of torque, 0-100kph time of 8.4 seconds, and a top speed of 219kph. A Corolla Sport can't do that, of course.

Aside from that, the Scala's sporty character really spells business for people on the move and with the Sport Chassis Control with two chassis settings, drivers have plenty of reasons to fall in love with the Scala while driving it on the road. I know that the Scala is a proven city-class car full stop that can tickle the fancies of drivers wishing to take it for a spin but for the sake of responsibility, the Scala comes with a wide array of new assistance systems and a high level of passive safety. Too much to mention but you get the point.

Summing up then, the Scala is a city-class car that rides rather well with its sporty character, comfort, and looks. However, there are those who are shying away from Skoda's new hatchback because in today's world, in a grim reality speedo boys are facing all the time, there's one grim fandango the Scala's rebelling against and it's this.

2020 Skoda Kamiq

2020 Skoda Kamiq

This is the SUV equivalent of the Scala. It's called the Kamiq and it's another one of those crossover utility vehicles that doesn't make any sense to the speedo boys of today. Prices start at 387,900 Koruna, the Kamiq is slightly more expensive than the Scala but the price bump doesn't stop customers from buying this crossover because, in today's world, crossover utility vehicles are like superhero movies in the cinemas.

2020 Skoda Kamiq interior

2020 Skoda Kamiq interior

While it's not better looking than its Scala relative, the first-ever Kamiq offers the same stuff that you get from the Scala. The city-class car-like comforts, the sat-nav, near-similar boot space as the Scala, same engine choices, same assistance systems, and high level of passive safety, all into this city SUV that can easily overshadow the Scala in a pinch.

Drive-wise, it is still pretty much like the Scala and since it's front-wheel-drive like the Scala and no clever traction stuff that you get from the Citroen C3 Aircross, which is the compact crossover that fell in love with, it fails to be the elephant in the room.

Still, despite having similarities, people buying Skodas might be tempted to buy the Kamiq because of such practicality, but for those who are expressing rage against crossovers that are scared of getting dirty, the Scala is their best bet because by the way it feels, the Scala really is one of the most enjoyable Skoda hatchbacks to drive at the moment, full stop.

Photo: Skoda Auto