Skoda's seven-seat Peaq electric SUV sets a more luxurious standard for what one of the brand's family-sized models can be. Jonathan Crouch.

Background

We've been used to big Skodas for some time now - with the success of the brand's Kodiaq seven-seater. And to electric Skodas - with the company's widening line-up of crossover EVs. So perhaps it was inevitable that at some point, we would be offered a big electric Skoda - and this is it, the Peaq. Though it shares the same electrical architecture as the company's mid-sized Enyaq EV, at 4.9-metres long it's the Czech brand's biggest model yet of any kind and claims to be one of the few electric family SUVs available that can comfortably seat seven people. It's also full of design features we've never seen in one of this manufacturer's models before. This is, in short, a statement of what the brand is capable of. And is about as aspirational as a Skoda gets. Let's take a closer look.

Engines and Tech Spec

Peaq customers are going to be looking for a cosseting rather than an involving driving experience. And they're going to want a decent range between charges. You might wonder whether either will be delivered by VW Group MEB platform underpinnings primarily developed for smaller models than this - like the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Audi Q4 e-tron. The batteries bolted to the various designs using that chassis have become much longer-ranging in recent times and, sure enough, the 86kWh battery pack used by all UK versions of the Peaq can offer up to 390 miles with the volume rear-driven model. That '90' variant's back axle-mounted e-motor develops 286PS and allows for 62mph to be reached in a relatively brisk seven seconds. There's also twin motor '90x' model that uses the same battery but adds another electric motor up-front, though that boosts power only fractionally to 299PS and knocks just 0.2s off the 0-62mph time. The drive range figure is the same as that of the single motor version. For this first time with this Peaq, Skoda is offering an EV with a brake regen 'one-pedal' mode; one of three settings available. There are the usual conventional drive modes. The sleek aerodynamics aid refinement. And the glassy body should make this SUV easier to manoeuvre in town then you expect with a vehicle of this size. Plus most versions have a Remote Park Assist feature to slot the car more easily into tight spaces.

Design and Build

Not many designs stay very similar from concept right through to production, but the Peaq is one of them, it's 'Tech-Deck' frontage immediately recognisable from the brand's 'Vision 7S' concept of 2022 which introduced us to Skoda's current 'Modern Solid' design language. Lead stylist Romain Bucaille and his team wanted this model to have a more premium look than the company's other cars. Hence the T-shaped headlights and tail lamps; and smooth panel surfacing which at the side incorporates Skoda's first ever adoption of flush-fitting door handles. Hence the sleek 0.25Cd drag coefficient. The other thing you'll notice is the sheer size of this Peaq - it's 4.9-metres long, about 12cms longer than a Kodiaq. For class perspective, that's bigger than comparably-priced segment models like the Peugeot E-5008 and the Mercedes GLB Electric; but not quite as big as pricier family seven-seat electric SUVs like the Hyundai IONIQ 9 or the Kia EV9. Wheel sizes range from 19 to 21-inches. Take a seat behind the wheel and Skoda's move up-market here is confirmed. In places, there's almost a premium feel to the fit and finish. And there's plenty here that's never been seen on one of the brand's models before; like a portrait-format centre screen and washers built into the wipers. All Peaqs get the biggest panoramic glass roof that's been fitted to one of the company's models, this one an enormous 2.1-metres long and fitted with dynamic shade control. And unlike with other Skoda EVs, you get proper physical climate controls and a decently sized 10-inch instrument display. Of course, there are some things that will be familiar to brand loyalists. Like 'Simply Clever' features that include an umbrella stashed in the driver's door, a useful display cleaner and an additional USB port housed within the rear view mirror. Plus the wireless 'phone charging pads have MagSafe built-in so that when you put your handset on them, it'll always be in the right spot to charge. The 13.6-inch centre screen runs an Android-based operating system which has to control rather too many functions but can be embellished with a high end SONOS premium audio set-up. As you'd hope, there are loads of handy storage compartments. One of the primary reasons for choosing a Peaq though, is its space in the rear, facilitated by a lengthy wheelbase that's almost 3-metres long and makes this the roomiest Skoda ever. Even six foot adults will be able to stretch out in the second row and there's loads of headroom too. Plus the seat base slides and the backrest reclines. In addition, the wide-opening rear doors will be very helpful to parents wanting to lean in and use the Isofix fastenings to secure a child seat. That wide aperture also helps with entry to the third row. Despite the gently sloping exterior rear roof line, headroom in the rearmost pews is pretty good by class standards, but leg room for adults is pretty much as restricted as it usually is on a car of this class and if you're above school-age, you'll need some seat-sliding help from occupant ahead if you're to be in any way comfortable. Boot space with all the rows in use is obviously restricted, but the 299-litre figure in this configuration isn't bad. Fold the third row chairs and that expands to 890-litres - or a massive 2,075-litres with the second row folded as well. The first time in Skoda EV, there's also an under bonnet 'frunk' for the charging leads, this one 37-litres in size and also able to swallow the load area cover.

Market and Model

Skoda isn't shy about asking plenty for its premium technology here. Peaq pricing sits in the £52,000-£60,000 bracket, with a choice of three trim levels - 'SE L', 'Edition' and top 'Sportline'. There's only one 86kWh battery option. Avoid base spec and you'll get the opportunity to find just over £2,000 more to graduate for the single-motor '90' model to the twin motor AWD '90x' version. Even base 'SE L' trim includes quite a lot of standard kit. At this level, you get 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, an electric tailgate with 'virtual pedal' operation, a heated windscreen and a mobile digital key. Inside, there are heated front and rear seats, Qi 2 wireless charging and a 'Virtual Cockpit' instrument screen. Infotainment is taken care of by a large 13.6-inch vertical display with Android navigation. Standard safety equipment includes Traffic Sign Recognition, Front Assist, Turn Assist, Cross Traffic Assist, Blind Spot Detection, multiple airbags, electronic child locks, ISOFIX preparation for the front passenger and outer second-row seats, and Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control. Stretch to mid-level 'Edition' spec and Skoda also includes its 'Suite design selection' interior package with black leather and artificial leather. Along with matrix LED headlights, a horizontal light band and an Area View camera, along with Remote Park Assist and Trained Parking. Top 'Sportline' trim gives you bigger, more striking 20-inch 'Okapi' alloy wheels, distinctive black exterior detailing, and a bespoke interior 'Design Selection' package with sports seats and a three-spoke heated steering wheel. Plus Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive damping is fitted as standard. Across the line-up, key options include a panoramic glass roof, an upgraded SONOS sound system and a 'Relax' package with massaging front seats and foot rests.

Cost of Ownership

This Skoda can DC-charge its 86kWh (usable capacity) battery at up to 199kW; which is OK but nowhere near as fast as you'll manage in rival Mercedes GLB Electric, Hyundai IONIQ 9 or Kia EV9 models which have a more advanced 800V electrical infrastructure. This Peaq's MEB VW Group platform means it must stick to an older-tech 400V set-up. Still, a 10-80% DC top-up can be completed in 28 minutes. The battery (the largest ever offered on a Skoda EV) can also be used to power external devices. A full AC charge at home using an 11kW three-phase supply can be completed in 9 hours and 15 minutes. As usual, charging can be controlled via the centre screen or by using the company's smartphone app. Avoid base trim and your Peaq will support bidirectional charging, enabling the energy stored in the battery to be used externally or, depending on infrastructure, supplied to a household or the grid.  The Czech maker says that its aim is to make sure that the battery pack lasts as long as the car and, sure enough, that battery pack is warrantied to have at least 70% of its usable capacity after eight years or 100,000 miles. There's the usual unremarkable Skoda three year / 60,000 mile warranty. And as usual with EVs, the car is BiK tax-rated at 4% - until Spring 2027, after which the rate will rise annually by 1%.

Summary

With the little Epiq at one end of Skoda's EV line-up and this Peaq at the other, the Czech maker's electric model portfolio now looks a lot more complete. It's strange that the brand never made a really big seven-seater combustion model; and you might find the space available in the very back of this EV surprising given the inevitable packaging restraints of the battery drivetrain. But then modern Skodas have usually been surprising and this one will almost certainly be plusher, more advanced and more practical than you expect it to be. But then that's absolutely necessary if the Peaq is to justify the kind of money the Czech maker rather ambitiously wants for it. That might be a stumbling block to sales success but there's no doubt you're getting a lot of metal for the money here. That at least is a familiar Skoda's trait.