Skoda Epiq Review 2024

When a car company is planning to launch a new model that doesn’t directly replace one of its existing range, it will make a statement of intent by revealing near-production concept car around a year ahead of the showroom-ready version’s reveal. That’s exactly what’s going on here with the Skoda Epiq electric SUV.

With five models of varying sizes, the Czech firm’s line-up is already bristling with SUV choice even before the Epiq joins the fray. At around 4.1m long it’ll be the most compact of the sextet, nestling beneath the petrol- and diesel-engined Skoda Kamiq size-wise, plus with a starting price estimated at being £21,000, that’s a chunky £10,000 less than today’s entry-level Skoda Elroq.

That kind of pricing suggests the Epiq will undercut other newbies in the diddy electric SUV arena such as the all-new Vauxhall Frontera, a model due to arrive in showrooms in early 2025 that will also be available in mild hybrid petrol format.

Sharing the Vauxhall’s underpinnings — and some bodywork — is its sibling model, the Citroen e-C3 Aircross. Also looking to get a piece of this EV action will be the Ford Puma Gen-E, a battery-powered version of this already popular small SUV.

Where the Skoda Epiq potentially has the edge over those alternatives is because its platform is purpose-deigned to be electric-only, meaning the room inside the bodywork can be maximised safe in the knowledge that it’s not going to need to be modified to accommodate a space-robbing engine and gearbox.

How roomy are we talking? Well, bear in mind the Skoda Epiq we’ve seen so far is not in its finished form so the final number may vary a little, its boot capacity is quoted at 490 litres, which is frankly enormous for such a small car. If the designers have pulled off a similar trick with young families, this could be a big hit with young families.

As Skoda is part of the Volkswagen Group, those same MEB Entry front-wheel drive underpinnings will also form the basis of new, small electric models from Cupra and VW, with an Audi-badged version also being likely. Don’t be surprised if Ford uses it for a belated replacement for the Fiesta, either.

There’s always a risk that concept cars look so appealing that the finished showroom models underwhelm by comparison. However, Skoda has form for previewing cars in this manner where you initially struggle to spot the difference, so fingers crossed.

Although unenticingly dubbed Modern Solid, the new Skoda styling direction revealed with the Epiq looks good, with T-shaped lighting graphics front and rear, with clean, unfussy shapes lending it a sophisticated air. It’s far crisper than Skoda’s current range, yet isn’t so far removed as to make customers wonder if the Epiq’s from a different brand altogether.

It’s a similar story inside where the dashboard’s dominated by a large, central infotainment touchscreen, with a bank of physical buttons below. As with today’s Skoda Enyaq, the driver’s display is comparatively small for a minimalist look, yet amply proportioned to give all the relevant information with a fleeting glance.

What we know far less about at this stage is the Skoda Epiq’s drive system attributes, save that the intention is for it to have a driving range in excess of 248 miles, indicating a likely battery size in the region of 55kWh. That’s the same size as the entry-level battery in the next size up Skoda Elroq, meaning an additional smaller battery with a more modest range of around 200 miles is also likely for the Epiq.

We’ll bring more news about the production version of the Skoda Epiq when it’s revealed in the first half of 2025 so be sure to bookmark this page for updates. Order books for UK customers are likely to open in the second half of the same year, although deliveries may not commence until early 2026.