Skoda’s baby EV arrives with 190-272 miles of range and fresh styling, plus plenty of physical buttons inside
The new Skoda Epiq has been unveiled as the electric equivalent to the Kamiq – and it will be cheaper than its combustion-engined counterpart, with prices starting from £24,950.
Twinned with the forthcoming Volkswagen ID Cross, it is based on parent Volkswagen Group’s MEB+ architecture. Designed specifically for small EVs, the MEB+ places the motor up front and battery under the floor between both axles.
The Epiq is the second Skoda designed from the outset in accordance with the brand’s ‘Modern Solid’ design language, following the larger Elroq.
But it moves the style on with new T-shaped lights at each end, plus a more prominent rear shoulder line both key signatures that will be present on the seven-seat Peaq, which will be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Inside, it majors on physical switchgear, with climate control buttons mounted on the dashboard and a pair of scroll wheels on its two-spoke steering wheel.
Boot space measures 475 litres and under the bonnet there is a further 25-litre compartment, meant for stowing the charging cable.
Two versions of the Epiq will be available in the UK: the entry-level Epiq 40 gets a 133bhp motor and a 37kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery that yields a range of around 190 miles.
The Epiq 55, priced from £27,700, gets 208bhp, a more energy-dense 52kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery and a range of 272 miles.
The 55 has a peak charging speed of 105kW, just above the 40’s 90kW, though Skoda claims both variants are capable of a 10-80% recharge in less than 25 minutes.
The Epiq’s top-end range places it in the middle of its key rivals: the Renault 4 delivers 250 miles while the long-range Kia EV2 manages 281 miles, thanks to its larger, 61kWh battery.
The Epiq’s battery can also be used to power external devices – including returning energy to the electrical grid. In addition, the car gets a ‘B’ gear that ramps up the strength of the regenerative braking for one-pedal driving.
Deliveries of the Epiq will begin early next year.
