Skoda Peaq review

Calling something “peak” can actually mean one of two things nowadays. It could mean something is the best, but a lot of (predominantly younger) people use it to describe an unlucky turn of events. Let’s hope the Skoda Peaq fits the former definition. 

The name Peaq signifies that this seven-seat electric SUV sits at the very top of Skoda’s model range: above the electric Skoda Enyaq and the Skoda Kodiaq.  

There aren’t that many electric seven-seat SUVs on the scene, meaning that the Peugeot e-5008 is the Peaq’s closest rival. You might, however, also want to consider the smaller Mercedes GLB or the more expensive Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9. It’s worth taking the VW ID Buzz LWB into account, too, if you’re happy to consider an electric MPV. 

Order books for the Peaq open in September 2026, but will it have what it takes to beat those rivals when they do?

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What’s new?

- June 2026 - Skoda Peaq officially unveiled, and we get to see the interior for the first time
- March 2026 - we drive a prototype Skoda Peaq (specifically, the 90 version) in Lake Como, Italy

How fast is it and which motor is best?

There will be two versions to choose from with the Skoda Peaq: the 90 and 90x. The main difference between the two being the 90x getting four-wheel drive, while the 90 makes do with two-wheel drive. 

So far, we’ve only driven a prototype of the Peaq, and it was in 90 guise, which is expected to be the best seller. 

There’s plenty of power on tap, meaning you never feel the need to floor the throttle, and acceleration feels much stronger than that of most rivals, including the Mercedes GLB 250+ and Peugeot e-5008 Electric 210.

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

As seven-seat cars go, our initial impressions are that the Peaq is up there with the better ones to drive. It has precise steering, good body control and it feels lighter on its feet than any e-5008. 

It’s the same situation with ride comfort. The Peaq rides comfortably. It cushions you well over bumps, yet it never feels too soft or wallowy.  For reference, the ride is smoother than the e-5008 and GLB’s, and we suspect it’ll closely match the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9. 

We should specify that the 90 we drove had the optional adaptive suspension (it’s standard on top-spec SportLine), called DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control). We’ll have to wait and see if the Peaq is just as good on regular springs and dampers. 

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The Peaq is indeed quiet. There’s barely any wind or road noise, which is no easy feat in a big electric SUV. We did notice some suspension noise over lumps and potholes in the road, but it was never loud enough to ruin the peace. 

Driving smoothly is a doddle, too. The weight of the steering and pedals are all really well judged, making it easy to know how much force you have to apply. 

There are several regenerative braking modes, including a one-pedal drive mode – that’s a first in any Skoda EV. When you do need to use the brake pedal, you’ll find it’s more feelsome than the Peugeot e-5008’s.

What’s the range and efficiency like, and how quickly can it charge?

Both versions of the Peaq come with the same 86kWh (usable capacity) battery, but range will likely vary depending on which one you go for. 

You see, while Skoda says that both will officially manage up to 390 miles between charges, we suspect that the 90x will see a reasonable decrease in range, due to the added power, and the extra weight that comes with having a second electric motor. 

Even so, that beats what many of the Peaq’s rivals can manage, with only the GLB matching it and the e-5008 230 travelling further still between charges.

With a maximum charging rate of 199kW, both versions of the Peaq should charge from 10-80% in around half an hour. 

As for efficiency, during our test drive around Lake Como, Italy, we saw an average of 3.7mi/kW. That’s good for a big seven-seat electric SUV.   

“The Peaq is very aerodynamic for a three-row SUV. I was surprised to see it has a lower drag coefficient than a Toyota Prius.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

Being Skoda’s new flagship, you’d probably expect the Peaq’s interior to be pretty special. And it is. Every surface is covered with soft touch materials, and is a definite step up over what you’ll find in the Skoda Enyaq and Skoda Kodiaq. 

It’s fair to say that the Peugeot e-5008 also has a high quality feeling interior, but the Peaq’s is still a slight step up over that rival. It isn’t quite as opulent as what you’ll find in the Hyundai Ioniq 9, but that rival will cost you much more to buy.  

In true Skoda fashion, build quality is great, with all of the surfaces and physical controls feeling like they’ll last the test of time.

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

The driving position is indeed comfortable, and visibility is good all around. Just keep in mind that there are loftier driving positions out there. For instance, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and VW ID Buzz sit you higher and give you a grander view of your surroundings. 

Even so, visibility is good, with thin front windscreen pillars ensuring you can see plenty at junctions. The rear pillars are fairly chunky but, thanks to the large rear windows, you still have a great view over your shoulder and into your blindspots. 

Skoda is yet to confirm which parking aids the entry-level Peaq will come with but, based on the entry-level Kodiaq, we expect it’ll come with front and rear parking sensors as standard. For some extra help when parking, both the Edition and SportLine come with a 360-degree view camera and a trained parking feature, allowing the car to autonomously park itself in spaces you use regularly. 

Are the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The Peaq has a portrait-oriented 13.6in touchscreen that runs on an Android-based system. It’s never been seen in a Skoda before, but we’re told that (after the Peaq) it’ll be featured in more Skoda products to come. 

During our limited time playing around with the new system, it seems pretty impressive, reacting quickly to all of our prods and with very sharp graphics that are easy to read at a glance. 

That’s good news because you have to use the touchscreen for most of the Peaq’s features. You do, at least, get a few physical buttons for the climate control’s fan speed and temperature, which are far less distracting to use on the move than having to rely on the touchscreen, as you do in the Peugeot e-5008 and Enyaq. 

“Some SUVs force you to sit quite upright, but I was glad to see there’s more flexibility in the Peaq’s driving position. I could put the seat quite low if I wanted to.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

Being the largest Skoda, well, ever, the Peaq has even more room inside than the Skoda Kodiaq. For reference, the Skoda Enyaq is slightly smaller still (and not available with seven seats). 

There’s plenty of room up front, and six-footers will have room to spare in the second row of seats. We’d expect the Peaq to follow the Kodiaq’s example in that the second row can slide forwards and backwards in a 60/40 split, adding an extra layer of flexibility (that admittedly most rivals also have). 

Similarly, if we’re to look at the Kodiaq and note the Peaq’s larger dimensions, it would be safe to assume that the Peaq has a slightly roomier third row of seats – they’ll be a little more usable for adults.

How much room does it have for luggage?

With seven seats in place, the Peaq has 299 litres of boot space – a bit less than the Peugeot e-5008 (348 litres), but enough for a couple of carry-on suitcases. 

With the Peaq’s third row folded down, the boot expands to 890 litres. That’s a massive amount of space, but still slightly less than you’ll find in the e-5008 (916 litres) and Hyundai Ioniq 9 (908 litres).

It’s also worth mentioning the Peaq has a front boot (or ‘frunk’) – something the Ioniq 9 also has but the e-5008 misses out on. It’s not the largest out there, though it should be big enough to cater for the charging cables, the retractable parcel shelf and some other small bits (or bobs, if you’d prefer). 

So, the Peaq looks like a class leader here, but of course, if we’re to bring in the VW ID Buzz LWB, things change. The Buzz is effectively as roomy as a van. It may miss out on a frunk, but who needs a frunk when you have over 1200 litres of boot space.

“I rarely get much use out of a ‘frunk’, but I can see it coming in handy on the odd occasion, such as a big family holiday.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

The finished Skoda Peaq is set to arrive in the UK in early 2027, and we expect it to cost from around £49,000. 

For reference, that’ll make it a little more expensive next to the Peugeot e-5008, but cheaper than the Mercedes EQB and a lot cheaper than the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9. 

We’re unable to say much about the Peaq’s standard kit list, but we do know that there’ll be a Sportline variant featuring "distinctive, sporty design elements and enhanced standard specifications”, in Skoda’s words. It'll get 20in alloys as standard, with a 21in alternative as an option.

Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?

We don’t know yet, but Skoda brand reliability is decent. In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, it ranked 16th out of 30 car brands featured – above Mercedes but below Peugeot, Hyundai and Kia. 

As for the warranty, Skoda gives its cars a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty on most parts, while the battery is covered for up to eight years with a 100,000-mile cap. If the battery falls below 70% of its original usable capacity, Skoda says it will pay to put it right.

How safe is it?

The Peaq is yet to go on sale let alone be safety tested by Euro NCAP. We’d hope for the maximum of five stars, seeing as that’s the rating the Skoda Enyaq received.

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