Škoda’s €25,000 Epiq electric car wants to shake up the small car market
Europe’s car industry has reached the point where electric car success will no longer be decided in the luxury segment, but in the part of the market ordinary buyers can actually reach. Škoda is putting one of its strongest cards on the table with the Epiq, a compact electric SUV aimed at a target price of around €25,000.
With a claimed range of up to 440 kilometres and a 475 litre boot, the Epiq wants to prove that a modest budget does not have to mean painful compromises. It also gives Škoda a serious answer to both conventional petrol small cars and a growing field of French electric rivals.
Modern Solid design and a clever MEB Plus platform
The Epiq opens a new design chapter for Škoda as the first production model to carry the brand’s Modern Solid philosophy. At just 4.1 metres long, it will be built on the Volkswagen Group’s new MEB Plus platform, designed for efficient front wheel drive small cars.
The traditional grille gives way to a dark glass panel called the Tech Deck Face, behind which engineers placed the radars and sensors needed for the car’s assistance systems.
Škoda has not sacrificed practicality for design theatre. The 475 litre boot sets a strong benchmark in the class and even beats some larger cars. It is a very Škoda kind of achievement, turning centimetres into actual usefulness rather than brochure decoration.
Powertrains and fast charging
The Epiq range will be divided into three power levels, badged 35, 40 and 55. The entry model’s 116 hp should suit calmer everyday driving, while the top version raises output to 211 hp and 290 Nm of torque.
Battery chemistry matters greatly in this class, and buyers will be offered two different systems. The 37.5 kWh LFP battery gives a WLTP range of 300 to 310 kilometres. This cheaper and more durable lithium iron phosphate pack helps keep the base price down while covering most daily urban use.
The larger 51.5 kWh NMC battery increases the range to as much as 440 kilometres. Its nickel manganese cobalt chemistry supports 133 kW rapid charging, taking the battery from 10 to 80 percent in roughly 23 to 25 minutes.
A digital cabin that still keeps buttons
Inside, the Epiq takes a minimalist approach, but avoids the excessive touch screen dependence that has made some electric cars feel like domestic appliances with wheels. Škoda keeps important physical controls for the driver, along with haptic rollers on the steering wheel.
A 13 inch infotainment screen takes centre stage, supported by a compact 10 inch driver display. The system runs on software based on Android, allowing smooth smartphone integration and wireless updates.
The cabin uses recycled and durable materials, in keeping with the car’s practical brief. The Epiq also includes Vehicle to Load technology, allowing the car to act as a large battery pack and power external electrical devices through an outside socket.
A strategic model for Škoda
Škoda chief executive Klaus Zellmer places the Epiq directly in one of the most important parts of the market: affordable electric cars that do not punish buyers on space. That puts it up against models such as the Renault 4 E Tech, Citroën ë C3 and its Volkswagen Group relative, the Volkswagen ID.2.
Order books are due to open in selected European markets in July 2026, with first deliveries expected late in the year or in early 2027. Estonian pricing will be confirmed shortly before orders begin.
Strategically, the Epiq moves into the space left behind as petrol powered small cars have retreated from the market. It is the kind of car that must prove a larger point for the industry: the electric car can no longer remain a premium object for early adopters. It has to become a useful, affordable everyday tool.
