Škoda Epiq: The People’s EV, or Just Another Promise?
Škoda used the Munich motor show media day to pull the wraps off the Epiq prototype—a compact crossover positioned to become the brand’s most affordable fully electric model. First impressions are straightforward: a small SUV footprint, a surprisingly generous boot, and the promise that pricing will sit in Kamiq territory.
The Epiq’s proposition reads like a checklist for an accessible EV. At 4.1 meters in length, it offers seating for five and 475 litres of luggage space, with a claimed driving range of up to 425 kilometers. It is, in essence, Škoda’s attempt to deliver an electric car that ordinary buyers might actually consider within reach.
Design falls under Škoda’s new “Modern Solid” language, marked by matte paint finishes, a blacked-out “Tech-Deck” front fascia, and distinctive T-shaped daytime running lights. The cabin sticks to the brand’s familiar “Simply Clever” ethos, with thoughtful storage, hooks, and wireless charging. Despite its minimalist layout, the Epiq retains physical knobs and switches—an almost old-fashioned luxury in an era where most rivals are betting everything on touchscreens.
Reality, however, is less romantic. The production model will be built at Volkswagen Group’s Navarra plant in Spain, as part of a broader project to roll out a family of budget-friendly EVs across Škoda, Volkswagen and Cupra badges. The showroom version isn’t expected until mid-2026, meaning the car revealed in Munich is more teaser billboard than imminent showroom arrival.
Škoda hints at pricing “on par with the Kamiq,” a phrase carefully chosen to suggest affordability without committing to specifics. In theory that means something close to €25,000, but the industry’s track record is sobering: affordable EVs are usually a few thousand euros pricier than promised, with real-world range falling well short of the press release.
For Škoda, the Epiq fills an essential gap. The brand needs an electric model beneath the Enyaq, one that can appeal to customers unwilling—or unable—to spend €50,000 on a family EV. Whether it turns into a genuine people’s car or just another slightly cheaper addition to Volkswagen Group’s sprawling EV lineup will depend on one thing: the final price tag and the WLTP figures that come with it.
