Skoda is expanding its range with a small electric SUV Photo: Skoda
Postage. The wind whips rain through the streets of Porto. The few passers-by struggle with their umbrellas and barely have a look at the four brightly decorated Skodas driving through the coastal town on this stormy day. It would definitely be worth taking a closer look.
Because under the camouflage foil is the new Epiq, the Czechs’ third electric car and probably the model with the greatest potential. For the first time, Skoda is announcing an electric car that won’t cost more than a combustion engine. The counterpart to the Epiq is the Kamiq, the brand’s smallest SUV with a gasoline engine. And it is currently in the price list from 26,000 euros.
The starting price of the electric SUV should also be in this range when the Czechs open their configurator in May.
However, this is not simply an electric version of the Kamiq. Rather, the car was completely redeveloped. It is part of the VW Group’s electric offensive announced for 2026, with which they want to finally make electric mobility accessible to a wide range of people.
VW ID.Polo and its Spanish brother Cupra Raval as well as their SUV offshoots ID.Cross and the Skoda Epiq are all based on a new architecture for small electric cars. They are built in Spain. Epiq and ID.Cross at the Volkswagen plant in Pamplona, ID.Polo and Raval at Cupra in Martorell.
Bigger than its corporate brothers
Within this quartet, the Skoda takes on a clear role: While the ID.Polo, which starts at around 25,000 euros, and the Raval remain more classic small cars, the Skoda is aimed at customers who expect a little more overview, space and variability.
At 4.17 meters long, it is around seven centimeters shorter than its brand brother Kamiq, but offers a significantly larger trunk at 475 liters. The battery in the floor also ensures a slightly elevated seating position. Compared to the ID.Polo, the SUV concept is even more noticeable. In the Czech Republic you sit a good three centimeters higher, with a correspondingly better overview in city traffic.
When the market launches in May, only the Epiq 55 can initially be ordered Photo: Skoda
The timing for the market launch is good. 2025 was a very successful year for Skoda. The Elroq was number two among the best-selling electric cars in Europe, and the now four-year-old Enyaq also remained consistently in the top ten.
In the entry-level segment, however, competition is now likely to become significantly fiercer. Small cars such as the Fiat Grande Panda, Citroen e-C3 and Renault 4 and 5 are already on the market, and Kia and Hyundai have put their models in the starting position. And when the Chinese brand MG sends its mini electric car in 2027, things will really get tight.
More features than the Kamiq
Nevertheless, the VW quartet as a whole and the Skoda Epiq in particular have good conditions to get started. The new MEB21 platform relies on front-wheel drive, compact units and a battery integrated into the floor to save space.
It also offers the option of one-pedal driving for the first time in the VW Group. We like to resort to this in the dense city traffic of Porto. However, the strongest recuperation level has to be activated in the on-board menu, which is somewhat complicated. In return, the car decelerates to a standstill in B mode, which is a welcome relief for the right foot in stop-and-go.
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There are also a few other technical details that put the electric car ahead of its combustion engine brother Kamiq. The optional matrix headlights have twelve LED modules, the Kamiq only has eight. The ability to preheat the car using an app or to install software updates wirelessly is also one of the advantages that you quickly learn to appreciate in everyday life.
A variant to start with
When the market launches in May, only the Epiq 55 can initially be ordered. 155 kW/211 hp, with 290 Newton meters of torque and an NMC battery based on nickel-manganese-cobalt, it is the top version. Of the 55 kWh of the battery, 51.7 kWh can be used, which according to WLTP should last for up to 430 kilometers.
In practice it is likely to be significantly less. On our test lap, the on-board computer settled at around 15 kWh per 100 kilometers, which makes ranges of around 300 kilometers seem realistic.
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In November the Czechs will introduce the weaker versions 35 with 85 kW/115 hp and 40 with 99 kW/135 hp. A cheaper LFP battery based on lithium iron phosphate sits in its base. The 37 kWh battery is officially good for 315 kilometers, which in everyday life should be around 250 kilometers.
Both battery types charge with 11 kW on wallboxes and AC chargers. Depending on the version, 50, 90 or 125 kW are possible on the fast charger. The charging process from ten to 80 percent takes around 23 minutes. A Sportline version will join the range at the beginning of 2027.
The price tag should be around 26,000 euros Photo: Skoda Epiq
Our test car rolls on large 18-inch wheels. Rims from 17 to 21 inches are possible. Nevertheless, the Epiq rides surprisingly comfortably over the poor roads of Porto. Despite the higher structure, it appears calm and stable. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they actually need 155 kW of power in city traffic.
The fact is: the engine delivers plenty of thrust. The smaller versions should be completely sufficient for everyday use. The seats of the medium Loft trim are rather comfortable and soft, matching the chassis. If you like something sportier, it’s better to go for the top Suite equipment with tighter, more contoured seating.
Space in the back seat
And behind? Things are relatively airy there for a car that is only 4.17 meters short. Long-legged passengers sit with their knees clearly bent, but there is enough space for their feet and they can easily slide them under the front seats.
In the cockpit, Skoda relies on a tidy layout with a large central display and real buttons for driving modes and climate functions. Additional switches are located on the steering wheel. Everything works in such a way that even brand newbies can get along with the car straight away.
There are also the brand-typical niceties such as the umbrella in the door or the ice scraper in the tailgate. The most practical thing, however, is the small pocket for the charging cable attached to the back of the back seat.
Even if the camouflage film still hides the design, it is clear what the Skoda Epiq stands for. For a calmly functional and affordable electric car that should make its way, even if, like on this stormy day in Porto, hardly anyone is looking.
First publication: February 9, 2026, 12:06 p.m.