646 km, 935 L and 7 seats for 41,900 €: we drive the new Skoda Peaq electric SUV

Skoda’s electric offensive is a reality—and it’s well underway. Proof of this is the launch of its new electric SUV manufactured in Spain starting at just 18,500 €, which we’ve already tested; this is accompanied by the introduction of the brand’s new electric flagship: the Skoda Peaq. With a length of 4.87 meters, width of 1.87 meters, height of 1.66 meters, and wheelbase of 2.96 meters, this new electric SUV marks Skoda’s first foray into the large SUV segment and is even the first 7-seater electric SUV from the Volkswagen Group.

Thanks to this, this SUV, available in Spain for 41,900 €, boasts an enormous trunk with a capacity of up to 935 L... in the 5-seater version with the rear seatbacks folded down. And keep an eye out, as it’s not the only storage space in this new — and better, as we’ll see now — Skoda electric SUV.

3 engines and 2 batteries: only two combinations of this new SUV will arrive in Spain

The Skoda Peaq is, after the Elroq — read our review — and the Epiq made in Navarra, Skoda’s next model and SUV to feature the brand’s latest design language, called Modern Solid.

Thus, alongside a very slim profile—the Skoda Peaq boasts a CX value of just 0.249, achieved in part because it is the first Skoda with door handles aligned with the body—there’s a body design featuring T-shaped front headlights and robust shapes, enhanced depending on the trim level with 19- or 21-inch tires. Two versions will arrive in Spain: the base Selection and the sporty Sportline.

And although Skoda’s new 7-seater SUV will be sold in Europe with three engine combinations — a single-engine version of 150 kW / 204 HP and 210 kWh / 286 HP; as well as a twin-engine all-wheel-drive version of 220 kWh / 299 HP — and two battery sizes, 63 kWh and 91 kWh; Skoda will bring only the versions with the two most powerful engines to Spain — named 90 and 90x — always paired with the highest-capacity battery, the largest ever installed in a Skoda, which offers up to 646 km of range.

The 646 km of range is offered by the rear-wheel drive version 90, while the 90x version has a range of 612 km; both figures are based on WLTP standards and cover mixed driving conditions. The performance of both SUVs arriving in Spain is more than satisfactory, with a common top speed of 180 km/h and acceleration times from 0 to 100 km/h of 7.1 seconds for the less powerful model and 6.7 seconds for the all-wheel drive electric SUV.

In any case, its 91 kWh battery features V2L technology that allows connecting and charging electrical devices at up to 3.6 kW from this SUV’s charging port as well as from a 230 V outlet located in the trunk. The battery offers a fast charging capacity of 199 kW, enabling it to go from 10% to 80% charge in just 28 minutes. The charging speed using alternating current or household power is 11 kWh.

Over 935 L of trunk space and up to 7 seats

The Skoda Peaq is Skoda’s flagship electric vehicle, and that is reflected in its interior. Its dashboard, with simple designs, consists of textured soft plastics on the upper part and fabric and hard plastics in the lower area.

The adjustments are notable, but the overall design, while practical, lacks appeal; it’s far too basic for a car that starts at 41,900 euros—including discounts—and which Skoda boldly labels as its flagship. In short, at least in our test unit with the dark interior, there was a lack of differentiation and refinement compared to other Skoda models.

Setting aside this impression, the Czech brand’s latest SUV features a 10.25” digital screen serving as a dashboard and a vertical 13.6” central multimedia screen. Both look good, with the latter offering a relatively intuitive and simple menu, along with up to seven buttons in its lower section for controlling functions such as climate control or seat ventilation/heating.

Beneath this screen are three physical controls for the hazard lights, volume — on a wheel-shaped control — and door locking. Slightly further down, Skoda has placed three physical modules for adjusting the temperature and air flow of the climate control system.

In addition, it’s worth noting that Skoda’s new and improved electric SUV is the first vehicle in the brand’s lineup to feature a 2.03-meter-long panoramic roof with dynamic dimming. The roof covers a total area of 2.12 square meters and sits above the two main rows of seats. The front seats can comfortably accommodate two passengers up to 1.95 meters tall. The center console includes up to two wireless phone chargers, two cup holders, and a compartment under the armrest. Divided into two sections, the lower part features USB charging ports and a slip-resistant surface for storing items.

The main focus of this new Skoda electric SUV is the comfort of its passengers. This is evident in its rear seating area, where a wheelbase of 2.96 meters — 17.4 cm longer than that of a conventional SUV like the Skoda Kodiaq and 12.4 cm longer than that of a benchmark model such as the Skoda Superb — makes it the best Skoda in this regard available for sale in Spain and Europe.

The Skoda Peaq is available in 5-seater and 7-seater versions, with the latter featuring a third row of seats that folds down into the trunk floor when not in use. The second row offers ample headroom for passengers up to 1.90 meters tall, though those taller may start to hit the ceiling with their heads. The best part is that the backrests of these seats can be reclined to a more horizontal position, ideal for relaxing on long trips.

Regarding legroom, it should be noted that the second row of seats can be adjusted longitudinally by about 16 or 17 centimeters. In the farthest back position, passengers who are 1.90 meters tall will travel with complete comfort; however, as in almost all trams, the seats are somewhat low relative to the floor of the vehicle, forcing passengers to sit with their knees slightly more bent than usual. What about the middle seat? With its elevated seat and backrest and narrow design, it is reserved for a child.

The third row of seats stands out for its height, suitable for passengers who are 1.85 meters tall; however, it offers limited legroom and difficult access for older adults. That said, these passengers do have amenities such as cup holders and USB C charging ports. In summary, these seats are designed for children or adults of shorter stature.

We’re left to discuss the trunk space of this Skoda Peaq. The 5-seater version offers a capacity of 935 L, while the 7-seater model has 299 L when the seats are folded down. Additionally, this new Skoda electric SUV includes a front frunk area providing another 37 L of space, ideal for storing cables and other items.

It features regular shapes and a flat floor, with separate side compartments on each side behind the wheel wells... which lack nets for holding items. However, the trunk is quite practical thanks to its four loops for securing cargo and its side hooks for hanging objects. Of course, it includes a 12 V outlet and a lighting fixture.

In action: How does this 7-seater electric SUV perform?

Híbridosyeléctricos had the opportunity to test a Skoda Peaq 90 Selection with 7 seats for one morning and over several kilometers across Austria and Germany. Overall, it is a comfortable car with graceful handling and easy to drive in any situation, though it thrives on wide roads and highways due to its size—4.87 meters, to be precise.

It offers a heavy-handed yet relatively precise handling feel, similar to many vehicles in the Volkswagen group; and it’s well-suited for long-distance driving. It also features several power modes—Eco, Normal, and Sport—but given its weight, which ranges from 2.3 to 2.4 tons depending on the version, and despite its 286 horsepower, it doesn’t stand out for explosive responsiveness, but rather for a gradual delivery of power. That said, it can easily maintain high speeds on the highway, where its weight works in its favor.

Regarding its suspension, it offers more comfort than the Epiq’s – read our review – and is more sensitive and responsive to the weight of this electric SUV. As a result, on rough surfaces, the body tends to sway slightly, but it never becomes uncomfortable or concerning for the driver. Overall, however, this is a vehicle with great composure and stability given its large size.

This Skoda Peaq is a comfortable long-distance driver on the highway, its natural habitat where it also doesn’t consume too much fuel. On more winding roads, the car handles body movement well without being awkward, but it’s not overly dynamic either. We liked its braking system, with a progressive response, and the control of regenerative braking. Like the Epiq, this Skoda Peaq features a B position in the automatic transmission that activates One Pedal mode, which can even bring the car to a complete stop if the accelerator isn’t pressed.

In addition, it has separate levers behind the steering wheel that allow activation of up to four levels of regenerative braking, evenly spaced among each other. These levels don’t cause sudden deceleration but rather increase resistance to movement, providing comfort for passengers.

Regarding consumption, we should note that this Peaq 90 version, with a certified range of up to 646 km, has an average power consumption of 15.0 kWh. During our test drive—which, admittedly, took place mostly on German highways at speeds between 130 and 150 km/h—we managed to reduce this figure slightly, bringing it down to 14.9 kWh/100 km.

However, this isn’t a very representative test drive since the terrain was slightly downhill; it’s quite likely that on more varied routes, this Skoda would consume slightly more energy. We await a longer test to confirm this.

Starting at 41,900 €: the price of the Skoda Peaq in Spain

As we mentioned earlier, the Peaq version with 150 kW / 204 hp will not be available in Spain, so Skoda’s new electric SUV lineup starts with battery capacities of 91 kWh and 210 kWh / 286 hp for rear-wheel-drive models, and 220 kW / 299 hp for models with dual motors and all-wheel drive.

The list price for this lineup begins at 44,950 euros for the 4x2 Selection version, which already includes trade discounts and an additional 1,000 euro discount from CAE; however, Skoda offers an extra 3,050 euro discount if the SUV is financed.

With all discounts applied, including the financing discount, the price of Skoda’s electric SUV in Spain is as follows:

Skoda Peaq Selection 90 rear-wheel drive: 41,900 euros.

Skoda Peaq Selection 90X dual-motor: 45,200 euros.

Skoda Peaq Selection 90 rear-wheel drive: 46,050 euros.

Skoda Peaq Sportline 90X dual motor: 53,450 euros.