Peaq and Epiq: meet the cars shaping Skoda’s electric future

There are two trim levels, SE L and Edition, and the standard equipment roster on SE L is lengthy; it includes LED lights at both ends, a digital driver’s display and 13-inch central touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, keyless start/stop and adaptive cruise control. Single zone climate control and rear parking sensors are also standard. Edition trim enhances the offering by adding sat-nav, a heated steering wheel and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging and a rear view camera. And of course, you can stay in touch with your Epiq at all times using the MyŠkoda app.First Edition models – which are only available in a limited number at launch – come with a number of unique styling touches, including orange door mirror caps, a strip on the wheel trims, a black roof, and 20-inch alloy wheels.

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[SUBHEAD] Škoda Peaq

Even for a brand that’s known for designing and building exceptionally spacious vehicles, the all-new Škoda Peaq is the company’s definition of ‘going big’.

The Peaq is an all-new electrically powered seven-seat SUV designed for the sort of families who prefer spending their weekend adventuring rather than sitting at home. To that end, it’s the biggest car Škoda has ever made at nearly 4.9 metres in length – and that means you can bring all of the family along, as well as the next-door neighbours. There’s more than enough room for seven adults to be perfectly comfortable on a day out. Indeed, the nearly 3.0-metre wheelbase also translates into a vast amount of legroom for all concerned.

And the Peaq has your back if you want to carry luggage along with the living and breathing cargo. So, with all seats in use there is still 299 litres of boot space behind the rearmost seats, a huge 890 litres when the two rear seats are folded flat, and a van-like 2075 litres when all the seats are folded down. And if that isn’t enough, there’s also a 37-litre frunk under the bonnet, which is perfect for storing charging cables and suchlike.

The word ‘large’ doesn’t merely describe the Peaq’s dimensions, because it can also be used about the car’s battery, which is the largest ever fitted to a Škoda EV. This huge 91kWh battery allows the car to cover up to 395 miles between charging stops, and it can be recharged at speeds up 199kW, which means a 10-80% top-up takes around 28 minutes, barely enough time to consume a sandwich and a brew.

Better still, like the Epiq, the Peaq is a car that likes to share, so you can use its battery to power other electrical devices, such as a caravan or an electric bicycle. Or a kettle. Whatever suits you, in truth.

This gargantuan battery powers a choice of powertrains, called the 90 and 90x, the latter of which offers the security and extra traction of four-wheel drive. Power outputs range from 286PS to 299PS, which means any Peaq is properly fleet of foot, covering the 0-62mph sprint in as little as 6.8 seconds.

There are three trim levels available, called SE L, Edition and SportLine. Even SE L cars are well equipped with items such as a 13.6in central infotainment touchscreen with haptic controls, a 10in digital driver display, wireless smartphone charging, a heated windscreen, heated seats in the front and rear, and electric tailgate with Virtual Pedal, LED headlights and a mobile digital key that allows you to use your smartphone or smartwatch to access the vehicle.

Edition cars add a mix of real and artificial leather upholstery, matrix LED headlights, an illuminated Tech Deck face, Remote Park Assist and Trained Parking. SportLine models feature 20-inch alloy wheels, gloss black detailing, sports seats, a heated steering wheel and cloud-like Dynamic Chassis Control.

There are several options that can elevate your Peaq experience further. Spec the Relax Package and your Peaq will be transformed into a portable airport lounge. The upgraded relax front seats are officially certified for back health by the German AGR institution and come with massage functionality, electrically adjustable leg rests and Comfort pillows. In other words, you can stretch out, put your feet up and get properly chilled while waiting for your car to top-up on a public charger.

The Peaq is also available with the biggest sunroof ever fitted to a Škoda, flooding the cabin with natural light and adding to the light, spacious feel. Better still, it’s fitted with Škoda’s new Dynamic Shade Control. At the touch of a button, you can change the glass from brilliantly clear to perfectly opaque, like something you'd see in a Star Wars film.Moreover, the roof is split into nine independently controlled segments, so you can adjust the opacity of different sections individually. That means rear passengers can block out the light if they're having a snooze while those in the front can keep the view open.

Finally, as you’d expect of a Škoda, value for money is key, which is why the Peaq’s pricing starts from just £51,980, which undercuts many of its direct seven-seat electric rivals by thousands of pounds. In fact, the price is about the only thing about the Peaq that isn’t big.

With the launches of the all new Epiq and Peaq models, Škoda has doubled its electric-vehicle offering in one swoop, and in the process has made a Škoda SUV available to a far wider customer base.

The new Epiq is a small SUV par excellence, because as with many other Škodas, it packs a vast amount of space and luxury into a comparatively diminutive footprint, which makes it both great to spend time in and completely unintimidating to drive. It’s the perfect car for the small family of today.

Meanwhile, with the new seven-seat Peaq, Škoda has entered the luxury-SUV arena with a car that offers a vast battery range, a huge amount of cabin space, copious amounts of standard equipment, and high-end ambience that makes you feel great about simply being in it.

These two new models are indicative of a Škoda that’s looking to the future. And with them it has every right to feel confident about that future.