Driving a prototype of the Skoda Epiq made me excited for the production model

When Skoda asked if we wanted to drive the new Epiq electric SUV, of course we said yes straight away. Then they told us the car would be totally camouflaged both inside and out… and we still said yes, because the Epiq looks like it’s going to be one of the coolest and most practical electric SUVs of 2026, and we wanted to experience it.

The Epiq is the new baby of Skoda’s electric car range, a small SUV which features an interior full of clever touches, a handsome design and a huge boot. It’s impressively practical, but while we’ve only driven a prototype so far, our first impressions are that alternatives are more comfortable.

You can think of the Epiq as the electric alternative to the beloved, petrol-powered Kamiq (hence the ‘-iq’ at the end of its name), and it’s smaller than the Carwow Award-winning Elroq EV. It has a larger boot than the Elroq, though, and the cabin has more clever features up front.

Think of it as a piece of Ikea furniture, because it’s affordable and far more practical than its larger, posher alternatives. In fact, you can consider it against the Kia EV3 and Nissan Leaf, as well as the fancy Peugeot E-2008 and the funky Citroen e-C3 Aircross.

While Skoda has yet to unveil the final production car, we had an early glance during a prototype test drive, and the Epiq looks anything but cheap. There’s a slight resemblance to the larger Enyaq; the ‘tech-dech’ panel between the lights which hides the front sensors. Beneath the bizarre camouflage wrap it appears to be a very handsome thing, with bulky wheel arches, crisp lines and sharp corners.

It’s not just outside where Skoda’s designers have nailed it, because the cabin earns some kudos, too. The front seats in our test car were comfortable and supportive, while there’s adequate rear headroom and under-seat space for your feet. Knee room is tight in the back, but the doors open wide for child seats and there are three ISOFIX points inside.

You get clever storage spaces all around, with a wireless phone charger, a separate phone stand with a slot to plug a charger in, a lower centre console shelf, hidden storage below the armrest and well-sized door bins.

The 475-litre boot is hugely impressive for a car of this size, five litres larger than in the bigger Elroq and 15 litres more than a Kia EV3. The boot floor height is adjustable, there are handy storage bags for the charger cables and there’s loads of under-floor space, as well as an optional 18-litre front boot on high-spec models.

Starting out with the 55 model at launch, this top-rung Epiq comes with a 52kWh battery for 267 miles of range, and fast-charging of up to 125kW. It will be joined by 35 and 40 versions down the line. They feature a smaller 37kWh battery for up to 193 miles between charges, and DC charging of 50kW and 90kW, respectively.

Our prototype ‘55’ test car was impressive on the road, despite the fact it’s not fully representative of the final product. The electric motor is powerful and smooth, though the throttle is a little bit spongy when you first press it. The steering is sharp and agile, while the brakes are easy to judge with none of the vagueness that often plagues electric cars. The one-pedal driving mode is strong, too, bringing the car to a swift stop in traffic.

While you do get jiggled about by sharp potholes and uneven roads, the Epiq does a good job of absorbing speedbumps and minimising any thuds into the cabin, and it feels surprisingly sporty around bends as a result. The 9.8-metre turning circle is impressive for manoeuvring around tight bends.

We only had a small motorway stretch on our Portuguese test route, but the Skoda got up to speed easily, remained quiet and felt stable at high speeds.

Skoda hasn’t confirmed pricing for the Epiq yet, but we expect the dinky little Skoda SUV to cost under £25,000 by the time it reaches our shores – similar to the petrol Kamiq.

That puts is largely in line with what we expect the forthcoming Kia EV2 to cost. It may be more expensive than the Fiat Grande Panda Electric and Citroen e-C3 Aircross, but it’s also much more practical and feels posher, too.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

Click here to follow us on WhatsApp, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos.