Skoda Peaq Review

Introduction - New Skoda Peaq

Skoda is reaching new heights with the Peaq! Sorry… I couldn’t resist. This is the Skoda Peaq; a seven-seat electric SUV that, at 4.9-metres long, is a fraction longer than the Peugeot E-5008 and Mercedes GLB, and a bit shorter than the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, but you could argue that all of these big, posh seven-seaters are rivals to the new Peaq, so it’s got some serious competition. You can also think of it as the new, electric version of the popular Skoda Kodiaq.

We’ve now driven a disguised version of the Peaq (for a very brief time!) and also had a good look around it in the studio, so we’re here to tell you if this is the seven-seat EV that you should be buying. 

Range, battery and charging 

It’ll be offered in many European markets with a smaller 61kWh battery for a range of up to 286 miles (460km). For now, the UK is only getting the long range Skoda Peaq 90 and all-wheel drive 90X models, both of which use an 86kWh NMC battery for a WLTP range of up to 390- and 372 miles respectively.

For now, we won't be getting the smaller battery Skoda Peaq 60 in the UK - which is a shame, as a 61kWh battery with a range of 285 miles (460km) could be a great entry model. Still, most of the major European markets will be able to get the Peaq 60. 

In the UK, we get the 90 and the 90X, which both get an 86kWh NMC battery for a WLTP range of up to 390 miles, or 372 miles if you go for the all-wheel drive 90X. 

As for charging, you get peak DC rapid charging of up to 199kW, which is almost as quick as the charging on the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9, and will get you a 10- to 80% charge in 28 minutes. Skoda is also offering vehicle-to-load, with a nifty domestic socket in the boot (just like the one in the wall at home) that can charge any of your electrical devices from the high voltage battery. Perfect for running a portable fridge when you’re camping. Or just really want cold drinks.

There’s also a standard heat pump, which should help with real-world range and efficiency in winter conditions.

Practicality and boot space 

This is the bit that matters on a car like this, isn’t it! The good news is that you won’t be disappointed if you are looking at this because you’ve got three (or more) kids. There’s 222 litres of boot space behind the third row of seats, which will easily take a lightweight buggy and a few soft bags, and kids or average-sized adults in those fold-down rear seats will be relatively comfortable. Taller teens or adults will struggle for legroom – as you can see from Nic’s video! But I’m 5ft 4in and I fit back there just fine, and you get charging ports and cupholders, too. 

Drop those rear seats flat into the boot, and you’ve got a big five-seat SUV with an 890-litre boot capacity, which is pretty vast and will take your chunky double buggy, a couple of big dogs and just about anything else you can throw at it! 

Oh, and you get small frunk that also has a dedicated slot to take the loadbay cover, which is absolute genius. I can’t stand having to leave the loadbay cover rattling around in the boot or the porch of the house, or whatever. All seven-seaters should have a hidden space for the load bay cover, alright?! I insist.

The middle seats slide and recline, and the outer ones tilt forwards with a one-handed, spring-loaded system so it’s easy to access the back seats. There’s masses of leg- and headroom in the middle row, as well, and there’s a removable storage tray for your odds and ends where the middle person’s feet go, so that you can either prioritise storage or passenger space. Which is neat, isn’t it? I always wonder why other manufacturers aren’t a bit more like Skoda with all of its clever, practical little touches around the cabin. Like the umbrella in the door! I love that, so much. This is the stuff that makes you buy a car, and that really sways how much you like living with it.  

Anyway, suffice to say that the Skoda Peaq is just as practical as the excellent Peugeot E-5008 and a touch roomier than the Mercedes GLB Electric – but not quite as spacious as the bigger (and more expensive!) Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9. 

Up front? Well, obviously there’s loads of space and the driving position is good. And if you add the optional panoramic roof with its fancy, selectable opacity sections, it really does feel properly posh and classy. Definitely a bit posher than the Peugeot E-5008, I’d say, but a step down from the perceived quality you get in the Merc GLB Electric.

Interior, styling and technology 

I’ve already mentioned that gorgeous panoramic roof (Nic really liked that, too), and the materials and general sense of quality in the Peaq are really impressive. I suspect that the interior quality will be a big selling point, although I’d add that I’ve only sat in a high-spec car! 

In the UK, we’re getting SE L, Edition and Sportline trims. Even the entry-level Peaq SE L gets the 13.6-inch portrait-style touchscreen infotainment with an Android operating system that offers configurable shortcut buttons, an intelligent charger search function and streaming services. You also get a digital driver’s readout, naturally, not to mention 19-inch alloy wheels, powered tailgate and heated front- and rear seats. There’s no option to get the all-wheel drive 90X with this trim, though – you have to go for one of the higher specs to get that.

Edition trim adds part-leatherette interior, matrix LED headlights (which automatically give you main beam illumination at night without blinding oncoming traffic), 360-degree parking camera and automatic parking system. Sportline adds the sporty stuff, of course! That’ll be 20-inch alloy wheels, sports seats and adaptive dampers as standard. 

Safety kit is really impressive, too. Blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and traffic jam assist are all standard. Isofix fittings, I hear you ask? Well, you get three pairs of Isofix fittings – one in the front passenger seat and one in each outer seat in the middle row.

Motors and performance

We drove the Skoda Peaq prototype car very briefly earlier this year, and it was exactly as you’d hope. Very smooth, confident and easy-going. For now, there are only two variants for sale in the UK. The Peaq 90 gets rear-wheel drive and 286hp for a 0-62mph of 7.1sec, while the dual motor Skoda Peaq 90X gets 299hp for 0-62mph in 6.9sec, and it certainly felt quick enough! 

Our test car also had adaptive dampers which, in Skoda speak, is called Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). It rode really well, with decent body control and crisp steering responses, but like I said – it was a short drive at restricted speeds, so I’m reserving final judgement until we’ve driven it properly. 

There are also a few different brake regen modes that you can toggle through, including an adaptive mode and and a one-pedal mode. It’s all nice and predictable, too, and doesn’t feel grabby. Should be nice and easy to get used to, even if the Peaq qill be your first EV. 

Pricing and on sale date 

The Skoda Peaq isn’t as affordable as the Peugeot E-5008, but it’s still pretty competitive on pricing. The Peaq 90 SE L starts from under £52,000 for the 90 SE L, while Edition models start from just over £55,000 and the Sportline from just over £58,000. You'll pay a £2,100 premium to get the all-wheel drive 90X, and you'll also have to pay extra for those massaging seats and the pano roof, regardless of which trim you choose.

Monthly costs are yet to be confirmed, and of course the PCP and leasing costs will be key, so remember to shop around for a good deal if you’re looking at buying your Skoda Peaq on monthly finance. 

Verdict

The Skoda Peaq is a great seven-seat electric SUV that hits a lovely sweet spot in the market between the larger Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9, and the more affordable Peugeot E-5008. We really need to drive it some more, and we need to work out if the finances stack up as the Peugeot is good and it is quite a bit cheaper…. 

Peugeot E-5008 Review

Mercedes GLB Electric Review

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Hyundai IONIQ 9 Review