The 2027 Skoda Peaq has been revealed, but the edgy design of the all-new seven-seat electric SUV isn’t much of a surprise given the drip-feed of sketches, occluded images and even an aerodynamic schematic.
The Peaq will sit above the Enyaq in Skoda’s range, and is effectively an electric adjunct to the Kodiaq large SUV, as well as a direct rival to models such as the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
It’s Skoda’s biggest electric model yet, and it rides on an updated version of the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric car platform.
There will be a choice of powertrains and batteries, starting with a 150kW rear-wheel drive, single-motor version badged as the Peaq 60, with a battery capacity of 63kWh (gross) and a range in the region of 460km.
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Then there’s a rear-drive, single-motor model offering 210kW, called the Peaq 90, with a 91kWh battery (again, that’s the gross capacity; Skoda hasn’t issued a net useable capacity yet, but it’s likely to be around 89kWh for this version) and a range of 600km.
Finally, there’s the all-wheel drive Peaq 90x, which adds an extra electric motor driving the front wheels, delivers a combined maximum power output of 220kW, and gets the same big 91kWh battery offering the same circa-600km range.
DC fast-charging is claimed to result in a 10-80 per cent charge in no more than 28 minutes.
The Peaq’s styling takes clear inspiration from the Vision 7S concept car, and it also lifts liberally from the much smaller Skoda Epiq.
There are T-shaped LED running lights at the front corners, framing Skoda’s ‘Tech Deck’ light-up grille, which is more or less shared with the Elroq and Enyaq.
At the rear, there’s a bit of a departure, with a forward-curving pillar that also features the Skoda name in raised letters – silver for standard models, black for the Sportline version (pictured here in blue). The body’s surprisingly sleek aero package means the Peaq’s drag coefficient is a slippery 0.25Cd.
Inside, there’s also a departure for a Skoda – a vertical, portrait-style touchscreen measuring 13.6 inches across the diagonal and using the latest Google-based software that’s being rolled out to all Skoda models.
The screen itself seems broadly impressive (going by the brief time we had to play around with it in a closed session at Skoda’s HQ in the Czech Republic) but better yet is the re-introduction of physical buttons.
Look down on the centre console, and there are proper switches for controlling cabin temperature and fan speed, as well as a roller for stereo volume (and that stereo is, optionally, a high-output system designed by Sonos).
Meanwhile, the steering wheel – two-spoke for standard models, three-spoke for the Sportline – also gets physical buttons instead of haptic pads, and neat ‘scroller’ buttons, borrowed from the Octavia.
Looking back to the centre console, there’s a pair of wireless phone chargers, standing proud almost like flat-top mushrooms. These are actually magnetic, so they should hold your phone neatly in place. They’re powerful, too, with up to 25 Watts of charging power.
There are deep storage areas and door bins, and the roomy cupholders can be lifted out, inverted and re-inserted into their wells, forming a clamp which holds a fold-out table that stows flat under the armrest. Ideal for laptops or sandwiches, depending on your vibe.
The 10-inch driver’s digital display is backed up by an optional head-up display, projected onto the windscreen.
If you go for a Sportline variant, the front of the cabin is upholstered in ‘Suedia’, an Alcantara-like material which looks and feels very nice.
Sportlines also get high-backed front bucket seats, and for all models there’s an optional ‘Relax’ package which includes extending leg rests and incredibly soft pillows for the head restraints – ideal for a sneaky nap while charging.
The middle row of seats, thanks to a wheelbase that’s only a few millimetres short of three metres long, are enormously spacious, with stretch-out room for even the tallest passengers.
There’s space under the front seats for your feet, too. The sculpting of the outer rear seats (which are optionally heated) means the centre rear seat is on the narrow side, but it’s just about useable.
In row three, if the adjustable middle row is slid all the way back, legroom will only be adequate for children and young teens.
To get seven adults in the Peaq, you need to find the right compromise between the middle and third rows in terms of legroom. The third-row seats are comfortable, though, and each one gets a USB-C outlet, a cupholder and a small storage tray.
With all seats in use, the Peaq’s luggage space shrinks to 299 litres, which is small but useable. However, there is a five-seat model which stretches that all the way to a massive 935L if you prefer load space to seats.
There’s also an electrically powered rear luggage blind which, when you don’t want to use it, can be removed and stashed in the 37L ‘frunk’ storage area in the nose.
Cleverly, Skoda has found a way to do that without eating into the useable storage space for cables. That makes this the second Skoda electric model with a frunk as the Peaq was beaten to the punch on a technicality by the 25L tray – an accessory – that clips into the nose of the smaller Epiq.
How much will the Peaq cost? We don’t know for certain yet but given the Enyaq is priced between $50,990 and $76,490 before on-road costs, you can safely expect the Peaq’s base Australian price tag to start with a seven. The days of the bargain-basement Skoda are fast receding.