Epiq, Elroq, Enyaq – it’s pretty clear to see the nomenclature every electric Skoda SUV follows, but not so here. You see, this is Skoda’s new flagship or its peak, as the company says; ergo, we have the Peaq.
Skoda Peaq Exterior Design and Engineering -
Doubles down on minimalist style but looks premium, classy and has good presence.
While the entry-level model, the Epiq, utilises the front-wheel-driven MEB+ platform, the Elroq, Enyaq and Peaq are all built on the MEB platform that’s primarily rear-wheel-driven but allows for AWD, which the Peaq does offer. At 4.87 metres, the Peaq is the brand’s largest SUV and offers the largest boot, battery and sunroof of all Skodas.
Despite its size, the Peaq doesn’t look brutish like most large SUVs seem to be leaning towards these days. Thanks to Skoda’s new ‘Modern Solid’ design language, which is all about minimalism, the Peaq looks premium and classy, and the bodywork is quite aero-efficient too, with a 0.249 drag coefficient.
At the front, the lines are simple and clean. The fascia sports the company’s T-shaped DRL and headlight signature and the rather clever Tech Deck. The black panel, which hides all the tech bits such as cameras, radars and LiDAR, mimics a grille, thus avoiding that faceless look many EVs sport. Skoda has even hidden LED lights behind it that – to a small extent – mimic grille slots. Notably, the Skoda emblem is missing. The company is in the process of moving away from it, and the Peaq carries the new Skoda lettermark instead.
Over at the sides, the clean lines continue with flush door handles that can also be pressed at the edge to manually operate them. The alloy wheels on our car were 21-inchers, striking a neatly balanced sporty and classy look. A defining styling element in profile is the C-pillar, which is body-coloured, looks like a reversed fin and carries the Skoda lettering.
Like the headlights, the tail-lights are also T-shaped and connected via a stylistic loop running at the bottom of the tailgate. A roof-integrated spoiler and a shark-fin antenna complete the rear look, and here too, it’s just the Skoda lettering spelt out across the boot lid.
Skoda Peaq Interior Space and Comfort -
Minimalism carries on inside, but cabin could do with a dash of flair.
With a near three-metre wheelbase, there’s plenty of space inside, beginning with the boot, which is the largest on a Skoda so far. It offers 935 litres of space without the third row, but even in the three-row version and with the third-row seats in place, there’s 299 litres, which is more than enough for a few small bags. A handy little bit is a motorised cargo cover that rolls open or closes with the boot. At the front, there’s also a 37-litre frunk.
Passengers are well catered to as well, especially in the front two rows. The front seats offer plenty of space and will suit broader frames quite nicely. They also offer a ‘zero-gravity’ position wherein, at the touch of a button, the seat base dips, the seat back reclines and an ottoman-style leg rest extends upwards. They also offer heating, ventilation and a massage function. There’s also an app (which new EV does not have one these days?) to configure the cabin lighting, seats, climate and other elements across six modes, ranging from relaxing to energising ambience. On our drive in the cold Austrian mountains, we had a lot of rain, and the ‘warm feet’ HVAC setting proved to be very handy and welcome.
There’s plenty of space in the second row, and legroom is good, as is shoulder room. We did sit three abreast and didn’t have too much shoulder overlap. Headroom is very generous, and what’s nice is that you don’t sit in a knees-up position, as is the case in some EVs. The third row is decent; there should have been more room given the length of the car, but on its own, it is quite useable and more than enough for kids or short journeys. Like the second row, headroom here is also good.
In terms of styling, the cabin follows on with the exterior minimalist theme, and all the lines are simple and clean, with very little flair about. A bit of panache would have been nice and in keeping with the flagship positioning of the Peaq.
Skoda Peaq Features and Safety -
Well equipped and with a healthy dose of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ details.
Sitting at the very top of the Skoda range, the Peaq is well equipped. The dash carries a 13.6-inch, portrait-oriented touchscreen – a first for Skoda – that runs a new UI. There’s a hard-baked area for certain controls, and thankfully, physical controls are retained for main entertainment and HVAC functions; the latter are large toggle switches that are easy to use. These sit on top of an open charging box that has two illuminated magnetic Qi2 wireless charging discs with active cooling and a maximum output of 25W. The rest of the centre console is made up of many storage spaces and cubbies, with a neat pass-through slot for charging cables from the lower to the upper console.
Ahead of the driver is a 10-inch digital instrument panel, which sounds large but has a slim aspect ratio, and there’s also a head-up display (HUD). The steering wheel is the familiar Skoda unit, with the lettermark on the boss and buttons and scroll wheels on the two wings, and as expected, they operate with a satisfying click.
Other features include a 360-degree camera with a transparent 3D rendering of the body on the display to help in positioning the car, a 16-speaker SONOS sound system, park assist, a full connectivity suite, 10 airbags, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and, of course, a healthy dose of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ details such as a fold-out table for the front passengers tucked away in the centre console and umbrella holders in the doors. And topping things off is a large panoramic glass roof, which does not have a sunscreen; instead, there are nine electrochromic panels that can be darkened to keep out the light and heat, says Skoda. We’ll reserve that judgement for when we test it here in our hot climate, though.
Skoda Peaq Performance and Refinement -
Strong performance that does not feel characterless like most EVs.
There are three powertrain versions on offer, starting with the 60 trim, power for which comes from a 63kWh (gross) NMC battery that drives a 204hp rear motor. Next is the 90 trim, which has a 91kWh (gross) NMC battery – the largest on a Skoda – and power is courtesy of a 286hp rear motor. The range-topper is the 90X, also powered by the same battery as the 90 but driving a dual-motor AWD setup that puts out a combined 300hp. Either of the 90 series cars is what Skoda will bring to India, and for our drive, we had the 90X version.
As expected, power delivery is strong, and acceleration is brisk. The claimed 0-100kph time stands at 6.7 seconds, which is plenty quick for a large seven-seat family SUV. What’s nice, though, is that the delivery isn’t typically EV-like, which is to say power dumped in an instant and then linear all through. On the Peaq, throttle response feels quite ICE-like – it’s fed in progressively and builds nicely as you explore deeper regions of the throttle pedal. Top speed is limited to 180kph, which is very easy to get to; on the unrestricted section of the German autobahns, we hit an indicated 185kph. Wind and tyre noise is well controlled, especially over smooth tarmac sections, and even at high triple-digit speeds, the cabin was silent enough.
Skoda Peaq Ride Comfort and Handling -
Very stable at speeds, but Normal mode sees some body float over undulations.
The 90X comes with Skoda’s dynamic chassis control, and the adjustable dampers do alter the ride character noticeably. In Normal mode, it is very comfy and could do well over potholes and ruts, but at highway speeds and over undulations that we did see on some sections, there is some body float. Switching to Sport, however, tidies this up quite nicely, and it was the default setting I used for most of the drive. Being an AWD, the 90X also gets a few off-road modes, though we didn’t get to try these out, and I suspect most owners won’t either.
In terms of handling, this isn’t what you would call light on its feet; you do know you are driving a large SUV, but it’s never cumbersome. Through the mountain passes, we did have a bit of fun – not sporty but enjoyable enough is how I’d describe the handling character.
Skoda Peaq Range and Efficiency -
Charging speeds and range are par for the course.
The Peaq 60 has a battery capacity of 63kWh (59kWh net), and that’s good for a range of 450km, says Skoda. Max charging speed is 160kW on a DC fast charger, and that can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 27 minutes.
The 90 cars are powered by a larger 91kWh (86kWh net) battery, for which the max charging speed is 199kW and a 10 to 80 percent charge on a DC fast charger takes 28 minutes. On the 90X, range stands at 610km, while the two-wheel-drive 90 version has a slightly longer range of 640km. We’ll know the real-world range once we put the Peaq through our standard test cycle back home.
Skoda Peaq Expected Price and Verdict -
Priced at Rs 60 lakh, it would be a tempting option and does more than enough to call this peak Skoda.
Skoda is really doing a fine job with its EVs. We liked the Enyaq and were superbly impressed with the Elroq, and the flagship Peaq does not disappoint either. Yes, the ride does feel soft, and the interiors do lack flair – something you wouldn’t expect on a flagship – and we will, of course, have to wait and see how Skoda prices the Peaq when it comes to India sometime mid next year. Skoda says it will arrive as a completely built unit (CBU), and we expect it to cost around Rs 60 lakh (ex-showroom), where it will be able to compete with rivals such as the Tesla Model Y L. Above that, though, Skoda will face some heat from premium brands like BMW and Mercedes, which are also expanding their electric SUV portfolios.
The Peaq, though, does provide a very well-turned-out product. It looks classy and premium, which is important at this price point. There’s a good amount of space inside, especially for the front two rows, and it’s well equipped with typical Skoda clever bits. The drive experience is mature and enjoyable. These are all hallmarks that we’ve come to expect from the brand. All in all, then, the Skoda Peaq does more than enough to safely call this peak Skoda.