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. The Peaq is 4.9m long and it’s expected to cost from around £49,000. 

The Peaq faces competition from the Peugeot e-5008, and then there’s the… well, that’s about it for direct rivals. You could say the electric seven-seat SUV market is still in its infancy. 

Still, there’s the Mercedes EQB to keep in mind, although that’s noticeably smaller. There’s also the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9, although they’re a fair bit more expensive. It’s worth taking the VW ID Buzz LWB into account, too, if you’re happy to consider an electric MPV. 

The Peaq goes on sale in early 2027, but we’ve attended an exclusive preview. There, we drove a prototype, and here are our findings. 

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What’s new?

- 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 three versions to choose from with the Skoda Peaq: 60, 90 and 90x. The latter is four-wheel drive, while the other two are rear-wheel drive.

The prototype Peaq we drove was a 90, which is expected to be the best seller. 

We rarely felt the need to put our foot to the floor, because there’s plenty of power on tap. Acceleration feels much stronger than that of most rivals, including the Mercedes EQB 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. 

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

It’s the same situation with ride comfort. What we can say is that, on the DCC suspension, 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 Peugeot e-5008 and Mercedes EQB’s, and we suspect it’ll run the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 closely. 

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?

As mentioned, Skoda expects the 90 to outsell the 60, and range is a big factor in that. Official figures are yet to be finalised, but we’re told the entry-level 60 will do at least 285 miles, and the 90 closer to 372 miles – that’s respectable, albeit not the longest range in the class.  

Skoda also quotes 372 miles for the 90x, but we’d expect a reasonable decrease due to the added power, and the extra weight that comes with having a second electric motor. 

Skoda says every Peaq can charge from 10-80% in around half an hour, but we’re yet to see any maximum charging rates. For the 90, we’d expect a 200kW maximum – the same as the VW ID Buzz LWB. 

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?

There’s very little we can tell you here, because Skoda wants to keep much of the interior under wraps until the Skoda Peaq’s full reveal. 

What we can say is that the Peaq feels a bit more upmarket than its smaller siblings, the Skoda Enyaq and the Skoda Kodiaq, because there are more soft-touch materials inside the Peaq. 

It’s going to give the Peugeot e-5008 a run for its money, but probably not the slightly more opulent Hyundai Ioniq 9. 

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. 

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. 

Fortunately, while a lot of functions are touchscreen-controlled, there are physical buttons for the climate controls – something the Skoda Elroq and Enyaq miss out on. 

“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 Kodiaq – the second-largest Skoda ever. 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 935 litres. Now the e-5008 (916 litres) is on the backfoot, and so is the 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 1211 litres of boot space (up to the second-row seats). 

“I rarely get much use out of a frunk, but I can see it coming in handy on the odd occasion, like 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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