New Skoda Peaq reveal: my honest first impressions when the covers came off
Car changing is a big deal
This is the new Skoda Peaq, and it’s the brand’s answer to cars like the Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Peugeot E-5008. News editor Jamie Edkins is at the launch of the car, and he’s impressed by what he sees.
Skoda recently revealed its smallest electric SUV, the Epiq, and now it’s time to see its largest. The Skoda Peaq is a massive seven-seater flagship model with an all-new interior, an enormous boot and impressive range, and I’ve been to have a peek at it. Get it? Sorry.
I’m actually writing this from inside the Peaq at the launch in Geneva, and I’ve poked around the interior, tried its tech and checked out the space inside to find out if this will be a worthy rival to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. First though, here are some quick stats.
New Skoda Peaq: quick stats
- Price: from £51,980
- Range: up to 390 miles
- Charge speed (DC rapid): 199kW (10-80% in 28 minutes)
- Boot space (seven seats): 299 litres
- Boot space (five seats): 890 litres
- Available to order from: September 2026
Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.
New Skoda Peaq first impressions: design
The new Skoda Peaq looks strikingly similar to the Vision 7S concept from 2023, which comes as no surprise seeing as that was the precursor to this car. It’s sporting a whole host of new design features for Skoda, starting up front with the T-shaped headlights.
Down the side, this is the first Skoda to have flush-fitting door handles. The side profile is also more upright than the Enyaq or Elroq, but it has softer curves and bodylines than those cars.
The rear lights are similar to the ones you get on the smaller Epiq, and going for the SportLine model gets you more aggressive-looking bumpers and larger wheels.
But I reckon it looks a touch classier in standard form, and it looks especially good in the rose gold paint. It’s a handsome thing, if not as striking as a Kia EV9.
New Skoda Peaq first impressions: interior quality and infotainment
Stepping inside, the new Peaq has a completely different interior to any other Skoda model which, once again, is inspired by the 7S concept.
The portrait touchscreen is a first for Skoda – every other car in its range has a landscape-oriented display. There are also proper switches for the temperature and fan speed, which is nice to see.
The switchgear all feels nicely damped, and the Peaq feels like a step up in quality compared to the petrol-powered Kodiaq. That’s not a slight against the Kodiaq, a car which does feel posh inside, the Peaq is just even more upmarket. You get soft touch leatherette on the door cards and centre console, and everything is really nicely built.
Sitting proud in the centre is the 13.6-inch touchscreen, which features sharp graphics and easy, logical menus. You do have to dive into the screen for some of the climate adjustments, but they’re all easily accessible on the move.
There’s a pair of wireless charging pads up front, as well as a smattering of USB-C ports in all three rows to keep your devices topped up. There’s even a household plug point in the boot which you can use to power appliances like kettles.
New Skoda Peaq: space and practicality
The 890-litre boot trounces the 828 litres you get in the Kia EV9, although this is with the third row folded down. With all seven seats in place, you have 299 litres to play with – more than 30 litres down on the Kia.
Speaking of that third row, it’s pretty spacious. I’m quite tall at 6’3”, but if you slide the middle seats forward a touch I do have enough kneeroom without subjecting the passengers in front to some form of mediaeval torture. That being said, a Kia EV9 is slightly more roomy in the very back.
Moving to the middle row, there is acres of space. Kneeroom is really generous, and that boxy side profile means there’s enough headroom as well. The Peaq is also fitted with the largest panoramic glass roof of any Skoda model, making the cabin feel really nice and airy. Especially when paired with the white interior.
You can also get relaxation seats in the front which recline almost flat, and there’s even a footrest which folds out so you can have a proper nap while charging. If a cheeky Maccy Ds takes your fancy, you have a fold-out table which mounts to the cupholders. Clever stuff, Skoda.
New Skoda Peaq price and specs
The Skoda Peaq will cost from £51,980 when it goes on sale in September, placing it slap-bang in the middle of the Peugeot E-5008 and the Kia EV9. It’s similar in size to the EV9 as well, despite being around £15,000 cheaper.
You’ll be able to choose between three different trim levels: SE L, Edition and SportLine. The basic SE L comes with a 13.6-inch portrait touchscreen, a digital driver’s display, wireless phone charging, heated front and rear seats, a power tailgate and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The Edition costs £55,130 and adds things like matrix LED headlights, a surround-view camera, remote parking assist and a full-width front light bar. SportLine models add some styling upgrades, such as 20-inch alloy wheels and blacked-out trim.
It also gets a heated sports steering wheel and adaptive dampers for improved handling, and all this comes to £58,280. That’s still more than £8,000 cheaper than a basic Kia EV9.
New Skoda Peaq batteries, range and charging
All versions of the Skoda Peaq come with an 86kWh battery, but you’ll be able to choose between rear- and all-wheel drive variants. The latter has 299hp, while the two-wheel drive car has 286hp.
You get up to 390 miles of range in the rear-wheel drive model, 40 miles more than a Kia EV9. Skoda hasn’t confirmed a range figure for the more powerful version, but it’s safe to assume it’ll be slightly less.
New Skoda Peaq initial verdict: is this car worth waiting for?
After spending an evening with the new Skoda Peaq, I’m quite excited to get to drive it in the UK. The interior is lovely, and it’s hugely spacious as well. I’m also impressed with the tech, and at just over £50,000 it’s a bit of a bargain compared to the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. I reckon it’s going to be a cracking seven-seater electric car.
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.
Want to see the latest car content first? Add Carwow as a preferred source here. Click here to follow us on Reddit, where you can keep up-to-date with all the latest news, reviews, advice guides and videos. You can also subscribe to our WhatsApp channel to get the latest news sent straight to your phone.