POSITIONED below the Kodiaq and Karoq in Škoda's three-model SUV line-up, the Kamiq is yet another of the brand's multi-award winners.

It's no real surprise that the Kamiq has won awards because it perfectly combines practicality with agility, good looks, low running costs and lots of equipment for a sensible price - exactly what many buyers of small SUVs will be looking for.

There's five trim levels in the range - S, SE, SE Drive, SE L and Monte Carlo - but there's loads of kit no matter which you go for.

Opt for the SE model and you get 17-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, roof rails, an infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen display and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.

SE models also come with rear parking sensors, cruise control, light and rain sensors, LED headlights and taillights, aircon, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, all-round electric windows and an automatically dimming rear-view mirror.

Skoda's renown ‘Simply Clever' features include a removable LED torch in the boot and an umbrella in the driver's door.

Despite its compact dimensions, a generous amount of space - plenty enough for five adults, in fact. In the rear, for example, headroom, elbow room and kneeroom are class-leading.

The boot can hold 400 litres of luggage, which can be increased to a very useful 1,395 by folding down the 60:40 split rear seat. Storage compartments in the interior provide an extra 26 litres of space for stowing items.

Three 1.0-litre or 1.5-litre petrol enginesproducing 94 to 148bhp are available. These can be coupled with a five- orsix-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed DSG.

The 109bhp version here comes as a six-speed manual or with the optional DSG. In manual guise it officially returns 52.3mpg though I only managed 41.2mpg. It also takes the prize for the lowest CO2 emissions in the range.

Buyers can also be smug in the Kamiq's high level ofactive and passive safety. Standard equipment includes six airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane assist, multi-collision braking and predictive pedestrian protection. For that extra peace of mind, it's also been given the full five stars from Euro NCAP.

The driving position is excellent, with plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel while the raised ride height helps with visibility, which is also good in all directions.

The Kamiq feels perfectly secure and stable on the motorway and cruises along in a very pleasantly refined way. Small and nimble, on country roads the handling is sharp and rides corners with surprising ease. The rorty three-cylinder engine also offers plenty of punch for nipping around town.