Skoda Epiq teased because the next-generation of reasonably priced EVs is incoming
- Entry-level Skoka Epiq anticipated to be priced from €25k – so simply over £21k within the UK – when unveiled in 2025
- The crossover is promised to supply 248 miles of vary and bi-directional charging to ship energy to your own home
Skoda’s newest version to its all-electric lineup has been teased – and it is an electrical automobile (EV) extra individuals ought to have the ability to afford.
The Epiq crossover is because of be absolutely unveiled in 2025, however we already know a few of its very important statistics, together with its proposed value.
It is predicted to ring in at €25,000 – which works out at simply over £21,000 – which is able to make it Skoda’s least expensive electrical automobile by some margin.
With latest experiences suggesting that EVs can be cheaper to supply than petrol vehicles by 2027, and the upcoming arrival of Dacia’s first electrical mannequin in October with a low value of £15,000, might we be seeing the primary wave of reasonably priced next-generation battery-powered autos?
The Skoda Epiq – a metropolis SUV crossover electrical automobile – is because of be absolutely unveiled in 2025. Here’s a preview of the way it might look and – extra importantly – what it should price…
Is the Epiq one other signal of EVs turning into extra reasonably priced?
Currently, the least costly all-electric mannequin from the Czech model is the Enyaq household SUV, which begins from a comparatively bank-busting £38,970.
It means the Epiq might virtually half the entry value of a Skoda EV when it emerges subsequent yr.
Its arrival might see Skoda deal with head-on one of many largest hurdles that’s stopping Britons from switched to EVs en masse.
Alongside considerations a few sparse, unreliable public charging community and vary nervousness, the premium up-front value of electrical vehicles has seen public demand for them drop considerably in latest months.
Official figures present that gross sales of EVs to strange drivers fell by virtually a fifth within the first two months of 2024.
Of almost 40,000 new electrical vehicles registered in January and February, simply 6,500 had been bought by people.
The remaining 33,500 (which represents round 84 per cent of all registrations within the two months) had been snapped up by fleet and leasing firms on account of profitable tax advantages, together with the wage sacrifice scheme.
Expected to ring in at €25,000 (which by as we speak’s alternate charge works out at £21,360), this would be the least expensive electrical Skoda by fairly some margin
But market analysis enterprise Gartner this month predicts EVs might change into extra interesting to non-public automobile patrons from 2027, when decrease manufacturing prices ought to translate to extra reasonably priced EV costs.
It claims that new manufacturing strategies will scale back manufacturing prices under these for a comparable automobile with an inner combustion engine inside the subsequent three years. As such, EVs ought to have value parity with petrol vehicles prior to predicted.
The predicted fall in EV costs could not come quickly sufficient.
Currently, Britons will wrestle to seek out many electrical vehicles when buying with a decent funds.
In truth, there are simply seven electrical vehicles (not together with the £8,495 Citroen Ami quadricycle) on sale within the UK as we speak priced £30,000 or much less.
This consists of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric (from £26,895), BYD Dolphin (from £25,490), MG4 (from £26,995), Fiat 500e (from £28,195, although dropping to £25,195 with Fiat’s e-grant scheme), Nissan Leaf (from £28,495 whereas shares final), Mazda MX-30 (from £28,995) and next-generation Mini Cooper E (from £30,000).
However, Dacia is about to decrease the pricing benchmark for EVs with the arrival of its first battery-powered automobile this yr.
The Spring EV is because of arrive in UK dealerships in October. And the budget-friendly model has already confirmed it should begin from £14,995.
That will make it Britain’s sixth least costly new automobile throughout all gas varieties and will – in concept – pressure the hand of rivals to slash their very own EV costs as a way to compete.
Volkswagen has additionally previewed its forthcoming ID.2, which is predicted to reach in 2026 with the identical €25,000 beginning value because the Epiq.
The Epiq follows Skoda’s new ‘Modern Solid’ design language that ‘combines robustness, performance and authenticity’ – and is minimalist and smooth with some funk options
The compact EV must also be sensible. It will handle about 248-miles of vary and have bi-directional charging
What we all know concerning the Skoda Epiq…
It would be the second of six new EVs scheduled for launch within the coming years to remodel the producer’s all-electric lineup.
Skoda naturally need the Epiq to be centered in direction of households, however is hoping to hit the all-important lifestyle-oriented buyer, too.
Despite being a metropolis automobile, the Epiq may have far more vary than is required for city driving.
Skoda is quoting a single-charge distance of 248 miles.
Usefully – and effectively – the Epiq may even helps bidirectional charging, so the automobile can feed extra electrical vitality into the shopper’s dwelling or energy home home equipment.
As a crossover SUV you’ll be able to count on family-friendly house with 490 litres of boot capability. It’s a bit shorter than the Enyaq – at 4.1 metres lengthy – however there ought to nonetheless be loads of house for 5 individuals.
While Skoda is not historically the model you’d go to for glamorous design and head-turning appears to be like, the Epiq is surprisingly fashionable.
Following its new ‘Modern Solid’ design language that ‘combines robustness, performance and authenticity’, the Epiq may have a sculpted bonnet with the brand new Skoda wordmark, a ‘Tech-Deck Face’ – the newest Skodaism for a grille – in addition to swooping traces to its profile, roof and rear-window pillars.
The lights, each back and front, are in an all-new T-shape and the entrance bumper has rectangular minimize outs to offer an extra funky really feel, as does the contrasting-trim wheel arches.
There’s going to be a big floating touchscreen and the Epiq will include wi-fi charging, in addition to a cellular digital key so homeowners can have a wise machine expertise
The ‘Flashy Orange’ accents on the sprint and seats mimic these on the surface, and the two-spoke steering wheel has the identical new Skoda lettering as the outside
‘Simply Clever’ cubbies for flexi overpacking are dotted round inside and within the boot. This is a extremely popular function throughout the Skoda vary to spice up versatility
Skoda has stated it’s following a ‘minimalist’ search for the Epiq, particularly its cabin.
The model is turning into a market chief for futuristic tech, and its least expensive EV is because of have a big floating touchscreen show in addition to the addition of wi-fi charging.
A cellular digital key can also be set to debut to offer homeowners a wise machine expertise.
Durable, sensible and sustainable supplies line the cabin. It has sibling overlaps with different Skoda EV fashions, however it’s indisputably far more open, clear and crisp.
The cabin appears to be like to be one huge space for storing with many open compartments, a floating centre console, and the ‘Simply Clever’ cubbies for flexi overpacking are dotted round inside and within the boot – all the time a agency household favorite function.
The ‘Flashy Orange’ accents proceed inside, and the two-spoke steering wheel has a mixture of bodily buttons in addition to haptic scrolls – the latter not proving all that common in different VW-Group fashions on sale as we speak, such because the Mk8 Golf.
While the Epiq is not on account of be showcased in full manufacturing type till 2025, the brand new Elroq – a bigger electrical SUV – would be the first automobile to be launched as a part of the upcoming electrical mannequin marketing campaign, with its debut scheduled for later this yr.
