Skoda has finally taken the covers off its new Epiq electric SUV and confirmed what buyers have been waiting for: the price.
The new Epiq will start from £24,950 when order books open in July, making it Skoda’s cheapest electric car yet. More importantly, Skoda says that puts it at price parity with its petrol-powered Kamiq in the UK, which means buyers looking at a small Skoda SUV will be able to choose electric without facing the usual price jump.
The Epiq is designed to be small enough to be easy in town, roomy enough to work as family transport, and priced to sit right in the heart of the small SUV market.
It also arrives at a very busy time. The Epiq will go up against a new batch of compact electric cars including the Renault 4, the Kia EV2 and, most directly of all, the Volkswagen ID. Cross. That one is especially relevant because the VW shares much of its technology with the Skoda.
I’ve driven prototype versions of both the Epiq and the ID. Cross; with the Volkswagen I drove running final chassis settings that will be the same as the Epiq. That’s good news, as I’d criticised the Epiq beforehand for feeling a little too firm – it seems someone was listening as the Epiq will now match the ID. Cross’s comfort over bumps.
The Epiq will not just have European rivals to worry about, with cars such as the upcoming Geely EX2 and BYD Dolphin G also set to pile into this corner of the market. In short, this is quickly becoming one of the fiercest fights in the electric car world.
Skoda is not arriving empty-handed, though. Having driven an early disguised version of the Epiq in pre-production form, and even with the final showroom details still hidden away at the time, the basic ingredients were easy to spot. It felt a sensible, well-judged size, with good visibility, easy manners in town and the sort of useful packaging Skoda buyers expect. It was compact on tight streets, settled on faster roads and had a boot that is seriously big for a car of this size. However, rear passenger space was not quite as generous as Skoda usually manages compared with its Volkswagen counterparts.
Now we have the full reveal, UK pricing and proper specifications, the Epiq’s job is even clearer. It is the entry point to Skoda’s electric range, sitting below the Elroq and Enyaq, while the upcoming range-topping Peaq will help double the brand’s all-electric model line-up from two to four.
Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Skoda, said: “The Epiq is our most approachable step into electric mobility – compact, confident, unmistakably Skoda, and designed to deliver exceptional value for money. It sets a clear benchmark for what an entry-level electric model should be: clean, purposeful design, intuitive user experience, and genuine everyday value. As our first series-production model to fully adopt the Modern Solid design language, the Epiq brings technologies from higher vehicle segments into an accessible package. Developed as part of the Brand Group Core’s Electric Urban Car Family, it shows how shared development can create a highly attractive offer in a highly competitive segment, while further strengthening the Skoda brand.”
The Epiq is the first Skoda to fully use the brand’s new Modern Solid design language. That means a chunkier, cleaner look than we have seen before, with a glossy black Tech-Deck Face at the front and a new T-shaped light signature that will also appear on future Skoda SUVs.
The front end gets slim lights, a broad stance and a row of distinctive oval-shaped air inlets under the bumper. The back repeats the same simple theme with slim T-shaped rear lights and Skoda lettering across the tailgate. This is a small electric SUV designed to look tough, modern and easy to live with – all of which it pulls off handsomely.
At 4,171 mm long, 1,798 mm wide and 1,581 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,601 mm, the Epiq is nicely compact, but Skoda has worked hard on the packaging. There is a 475-litre boot, with a lot of that space coming from its depth, plus a 25-litre frunk under the bonnet. That is the perfect place for charging cables, so they do not end up buried underneath bags, coats, buggies or muddy football boots.
Aerodynamics have had plenty of attention, too. Skoda quotes a drag coefficient of 0.275, helped by active cooling shutters behind the front bumper, air channels around the front wheels, aero wheel trims, a smoothed-out underbody, a rear diffuser and a roof spoiler. Put simply, it has been shaped to use less energy as it moves through the air, which helps range.
UK cars will be offered in six colours: Marble Grey is the no-cost solid paint, with Timiano Green also available as a solid colour. Metallic options include Platinum White, Pebble Silver, Mystery Black and Jasper Red, which is exclusive to the Epiq. The SE L and Edition versions get 18-inch wheels as standard, while the First Edition gets 20-inch alloys.
Inside, Skoda has stuck with the same basic idea: simple, useful and not too flashy. There is a 13-inch central touchscreen and a five-inch digital driver display, along with wireless smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system is Android-based and offers online services, personalisation options and access to a dedicated app store. Owners will also be able to use the MySkoda app to check vehicle information, manage charging and control selected comfort functions remotely from their phone.
However, the closely related Volkswagen ID. Cross is set to use a version of the new ID. Polo’s infotainment system, which means a bigger 10-inch driver display and a more up-to-date 12.9-inch infotainment screen. The touchscreen in the Skoda is an updated version of the unloved screen used on older Skoda and Volkswagen models, even though it runs new software.
The Epiq will also be ready for a mobile digital key, which is planned to arrive in Skoda models later this year. That will let drivers use their compatible iPhone or Android device instead of a normal key, as well as making it easier to share the car with others.
Skoda has also paid attention to materials. Loft Grey trim is standard on SE L and Edition models, mixing grey fabric and artificial leather with grey stitching. Loft Mint is optional on Edition, with mint fabric, grey artificial leather and mint stitching, while Suite adds brown artificial leather and microsuede with brown stitching. The Epiq is the first Skoda production model to use only animal-free materials, while the textile seat coverings are made from recycled polyester fibres. In total, more than 34kg of recycled materials are used in the car.
There are plenty of proper ‘Simply Clever’ Skoda touches, too. Depending on trim and options, buyers can get the brand’s familiar umbrella in the driver’s door, an ice scraper, a bag for charging cables, bottle holders, bag hooks in the boot, coat hooks on the B-pillars and an Easy Open cupholder in the centre tunnel – these are the little things that make a car easier to live with every day.
Martin Jahn, Skoda board member for Sales and Marketing, added: “With the Epiq, we are addressing customers who are looking for a straightforward and attractive entry into electric mobility. The model combines compact dimensions with a surprisingly spacious interior, including a 475-litre luggage compartment, and a design focused on functionality. It delivers the quality and Simply Clever solutions our customers expect from Skoda, along with new features such as bidirectional charging. The Epiq is designed to fit naturally into daily life, whether in the city or beyond, making it an attractive choice for new customers as well as those already familiar with the brand.”
The Epiq uses the Volkswagen Group’s new MEB+ platform, designed for smaller, lighter, front-wheel-drive electric cars. That same basic hardware will also appear under the Volkswagen ID. Polo, Volkswagen ID. Cross and Cupra Raval. Unlike Skoda’s larger electric models, the Epiq drives its front wheels, which helps with packaging and keeps the car familiar for drivers moving out of petrol or hybrid small SUVs.
In the UK, there will be two battery versions and two power outputs. The Epiq 40 uses a 37kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery and is expected to deliver a maximum claimed range of around 190 miles. It produces 133bhp.
The Epiq 55 gets a larger 52kWh battery using nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry and stretches the range to as much as 272 miles. It produces 208bhp, which matches the output of the pre-production car I drove. In that early car, performance felt brisk enough rather than dramatic, with smooth responses and the easy feel buyers expect from a small EV.
Other countries also get a lower-powered 114bhp version using the smaller battery, but the UK line-up confirmed so far centres on the Epiq 40 and Epiq 55. Top speed is up to 93mph for the lower-powered versions and 99mph for the Epiq 55.
The Epiq 55 has a peak charging rate of 105kW, while both battery versions can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in under 25 minutes. All cars get 11kW AC charging as standard for home use.
One of the more interesting features is bidirectional charging. That means energy stored in the battery can be used externally through vehicle-to-load, or, with the right wallbox and infrastructure, supplied to a home or even the grid. It is the kind of tech we are likely to see much more of as more homes, chargers and energy tariffs catch up.
The Epiq also gets full one-pedal driving in B mode, with switchable regeneration intensity. As with almost all other EVs, that means the driver can slow the car by lifting off the accelerator, with energy fed back into the battery. It should be especially useful in town, in traffic and on longer downhill stretches.
Safety kit is strong, too. Standard equipment includes Front Assist, Side Assist with Rear Traffic Alert and Exit Warning, Lane Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Speed Assist and seven airbags, including a centre airbag between the front seats. Travel Assist 3.0 will be available as part of the Travel Package, bringing more advanced assistance features including Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist. With the Premium Package, the car gets Intelligent Park Assist, including trained and remote parking functions.
The UK range starts with the Epiq SE L 40 at £24,950. Standard kit includes 18-inch Plover alloy wheels, Loft Grey interior trim, LED headlights with daytime running lights, LED rear lights, manually folding door mirrors, the 13-inch infotainment screen, five-inch digital cockpit, wireless Smartlink, rear parking sensors, one-zone climate control, keyless start and adaptive cruise control. The SE L is also available with the larger battery, badged 55, for £27,700
Step up to the Epiq Edition 40, from £27,700, and the kit list grows with 18-inch Saola alloy wheels, electrically folding and auto-dimming door mirrors with boarding spots and floor projection, satellite navigation, a rear-view camera, front parking sensors, heated front seats, a heated two-spoke steering wheel, two-zone climate control, wireless phone charging with active cooling, tow bar preparation, drive mode select, keyless entry with walk-away locking, mobile digital key readiness, Travel Assist Plus and bidirectional charging. An Edition 55 will cost £30,450.
A limited £31,450 First Edition will also be offered from launch, based on the more powerful Epiq 55. It gets Navajo Orange details on the mirror caps, window trim, wheel covers and bumper openings, along with a black roof, black roof rails, a First Edition badge and exclusive 20-inch wheels. Inside, it gets orange stitching, orange seat belts, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, black headlining, sports pedal covers and decorative door sills.
The First Edition will be available in five colours and is intended to give the Epiq a brighter, more playful launch look. It also gets the Convenience and Tech packages as standard, with Travel and Light & View packages available as options.
Towing has not been forgotten either. The Epiq 40 can tow up to 500kg, while the Epiq 55 can tow up to 750kg unbraked or 1,200kg braked. The maximum nose weight is 75kg across all versions.
The Epiq is meant to be the electric car for people who do not want electric motoring to feel complicated, expensive or showy. Having driven an early version, I already know the basic car feels easy to use and nicely judged. Now, with a £24,950 starting price, a maximum 272-mile range on more expensive versions, a big boot and proper Skoda practicality, the finished Epiq looks like it could be one of the most important new electric cars of 2026.
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