Skoda has rung in 2026 by teasing an “Epiq new year”, and confirming the reveals of two all-new electric SUVs.
CEO Klaus Zellmer presented the two cars under wraps in a new video published to the Czech brand’s media site today, both of which will be revealed this year.
The first is the production version of the Skoda Epiq, a compact electric crossover roughly the same size as the existing Kamiq.
Revealed in near-production form last September in Munich, the Epiq boasts the Czech brand’s new ‘Modern Solid’ design language and has been tipped by Skoda to offer price parity (at least in Europe) with the Kamiq.
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The Epiq will offer a 475-litre boot – more than the Kamiq’s 400L – and an electric driving range of 425km (WLTP), but Skoda did not share any additional powertrain details.
While no official details of the powertrain have been revealed, it’s understood the Epiq will draw upon the same MEB+ affordable electric vehicle (EV) architecture as the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo and Cupra Raval, in the same way as the similarly sized Kamiq rides on the MQB A0 underpinnings shared with the Volkswagen Polo.
That means the potential for three different electric motor outputs – 85kW, 99kW and 155kW – with the option of 37kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and 52kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) battery packs.
Despite its entry-level positioning, the Skoda Epiq could be a technological showcase for the brand, given the ID. Polo will debut a “significantly enhanced” Travel Assist feature that can “can enable assisted lateral and longitudinal guidance and assisted lane changes on motorways” as well as traffic light and stop sign recognition – though this may be reserved for the VW initially.
More will be revealed when the production version of the Epiq is revealed in mid-2026, but we already know that Skoda Australia will release it here – just not when, yet.
Mr Zellmer confirmed that following the Epiq’s debut Skoda will reveal a “brand new seven-seater for families and everyday explorers”.
Set to be the production version of the Vision 7S concept first shown in 2022, the large electric SUV will be Skoda’s new flagship and the battery-powered companion to the existing Kodiaq.
Not much is known about the as-yet-unnamed new model, but we do know it’ll offer three rows of seating and, based on the teaser images, an exterior design very much like the concept car’s.
Expect it to also ride on a stretched version of the MEB platform that underpins the smaller Elroq and Enyaq, as well as the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, and ID. Buzz.
Mr Zellmer said in the video that the new EVs will bolster the brand’s electrification range within a portfolio that offers “freedom of choice, including highly efficient combustion models, and mild and plug-in hybrids”.
Speaking of mild-hybrids, 2026 will see Skoda Australia finally introduce its latest and most efficient 1.5 eTSI petrol engine with 48V mild-hybrid technology, beginning with the Octavia liftback and wagon, as well as the Kodiaq SUV.
As with the European market, the 1.5 eTSI (or mHEV) produces the same 110kW/250Nm as the outgoing 1.4 TSI turbo-petrol engine, but drops combined fuel use in the Octavia from 6.1-6.2L/100km to 5.1-5.2L/100km – a gap that will only get larger in mostly urban conditions.
In the larger Kodiaq, the 1.5 eTSI replaces the old 2.0 TSI 4×4 drivetrain in the base Select trim level, dropping outputs from 140kW/320Nm to 110kW/250Nm and losing drive to the rear axle, but reducing combined fuel use significantly from 9.2L/100km to 6.0L/100km. The Kodiaq mHEV Select will be available with both five-seat and seven-seat cabins.
Further, Skoda’s local arm will add its first plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models this year in the Kodiaq and Superb flagships, which will sport the 150kW version of the VW Group’s 1.5L turbocharged PHEV system which already features in the Cupra Leon Sportstourer and Terramar in Australia (albeit in higher-output 200kW guise), and will also be rolled out to the Volkswagen Tiguan and Tayron this year.
In addition to the extra power over the 1.5L engine with mild-hybrid tech, the PHEV’s large ~20kWh (net) battery back offers over 100km of EV driving range regardless of the model.
Last year Skoda sales fell by 4.1 per cent in Australia due to reduced volume across key model lines including the Octavia, Kamiq and Karoq.
After arriving in new-generation form locally in April, the Kodiaq quickly became the brand’s top-seller (1255 units), notching up annual sales growth of 5.9 per cent.
Smaller wins were posted by the Enyaq EV range and Superb large car, with growth of 695.8 per cent (to 382 units) and 30.1 per cent (to 199 units) respectively, albeit off low bases.
With the launch of anticipated electrified versions of popular models, and the further expansion of its EV range, Skoda no doubt hopes maintain solid growth Down Under in 2026 and beyond.