New baby Skoda to offer epic amounts of space

Skoda’s new small crossover, Epiq, that sits below the Elroq and Enyaq, will offer class-leading space in the city car sector.

Arriving next year, and previewed in production-ready concept form last year, the 4.1m Epic was snapped testing on public roads, albeit in camouflage.

See the preview from over a year ago.

Featuring Skoda’s latest ‘Modern Solid’ design language, it will arrive with stacked headlights and daytime running lights. Said lights connect via a ‘Tech Deck’ face. This comprises a gloss-black panel housing many of the car’s sensors and radars for its ADAS gear.

Design and dimensions

The slashes and vents as seen in the concept look to be making it into production, setting the little EV apart from its bigger sibs. However, the familiar clamshell bonnet also makes an appearance here.

Epiq features a short wheelbase, and minimised front and rear overhangs.

An upright tailgate should help with luggage space, at a suggested 490L, more than its rivals and as much as 4.5m long Elroq. This suggests the motor will be up front driving the leading axle. Epiq shares the VW Group’s MEB-Small platform and electrical architecture with incoming Volkswagen ID.2 and Cupra Raval. Whether or not Skoda is also working on a vRS version is unclear.

Interior and tech

Skoda hinted that the concept car interior would be carried over to the production version. Expect then a large central screen with a row of shortcut buttons for ADAS features and drive modes. A smaller digital instrument cluster provides the driver with key data. The steering wheel will come with physical switches as well, eschewing capacitive touch-sensitive controls.

Expect ‘Simply Clever’ features, including plenty of oddments storage, and likely use of vibrant colours to appeal to younger, urban buyers. 

Batteries and range

The Epiq will almost certainly utilise the same 38 and 56kWh batteries that the Group family has, with up to 450km of range. Given ID.2 will charge from 10-80 per cent in around 20 minutes using a 125kW charger, Epiq should be similar.

The top model, possibly a vRS, will have up to 166kW of power at its disposal, and sprint to open road speed in under seven seconds. Most models, however, will have between 112 and 134kW for a mix of efficiency and pace.

Prices and on sale date

Pricing has not yet been set but is expected to be around 25,000 Euros. Production will probably be from VW’s Pamplona facility in Spain, east of Bilbao. It only produces EVs. Rivals include Citroen e-C3 and upcoming BYD Atto 2, along with Mini Aceman and Volvo EX30. 

Expect a formal reveal of Epiq in around 12 months’ time. First though, Skoda is launching Octavia-sized EV at the Munich Motor Show based on VW’s SSP architecture. Epiq will go on sale not long after VW ID.2.