Skoda's cheapest-ever EV is entering its final rollout phase. The Epiq, a compact electric SUV that shares its MEB+ platform with the upcoming Volkswagen ID.Polo and Cupra Raval, has been on sale in higher-spec form since the summer -- but order books for the entry-level Epiq 35 and Epiq 40 versions, running a cheaper LFP battery, open at the end of September 2026, dropping the starting price to just €25,900 (roughly $28,000). With up to 441 km of WLTP range on the higher-spec Epiq 55 and a genuinely class-leading 475-litre boot, it's shaping up to be one of the more complete budget EVs on the market.
Skoda's Cheapest EV Completes a Three-Model Electric Lineup
The Epiq slots in below the larger Elroq and Enyaq in Skoda's EV range, completing a trio of names that all play on the same "e" wordplay pattern. Unveiled at a world premiere event in Zurich on May 19, 2026, the Epiq is built on Volkswagen Group's MEB+ architecture -- the same underpinnings due to appear on the Volkswagen ID.Polo, Cupra Raval, and Volkswagen ID.Cross, making it a genuine platform-mate rather than a rebadged clone of any single one of them. Skoda has staggered the rollout: the range-topping Epiq 55 has been orderable since May 2026 and reached showrooms over the summer, while the cheaper Epiq 35 (LFP battery) and Epiq 40 versions only open for order at the end of September 2026, which is when the car's true entry price of €25,900 actually becomes available to buyers rather than just being an announced future figure.
Tech Highlights
- Three distinct powertrain tiers -- Epiq 35 and 40 share a 38.5 kWh (37 kWh net) LFP battery at different power outputs, while the Epiq 55 steps up to a 55 kWh (51.7 kWh net) NMC pack for meaningfully more range.
- 475-litre boot (1,345 litres with the rear seatback folded) -- genuinely larger than the related VW ID.Polo and class rivals like the Kia EV2 and Renault 4, a rare case of the cheaper platform-mate winning on practicality.
- Up to 105 kW DC fast charging on the Epiq 55, enough for a 10-80% top-up in about 24 minutes; even the entry Epiq 35 supports 50 kW DC charging (33 minutes 10-80%).
- 10.68 m turning circle across the range, genuinely tight for a car this size and a real advantage for city and tight-parking use, which is where a car like this spends most of its life.
Design and Dimensions
At 4,171 mm long, 1,798 mm wide, and 1,581 mm tall on a 2,601 mm wheelbase, the Epiq is a genuinely compact SUV -- smaller than Skoda's Elroq, closer in footprint to a supermini-crossover than a family SUV. The design follows Skoda's current "Modern Solid" language already seen on the Elroq and Enyaq, with a distinct split-headlight front end, a fairly upright greenhouse for good outward visibility, and roof rails that hint at the practicality Skoda is pushing hard in its marketing. Ground clearance of 157 mm and a 699 mm loading sill height are both genuinely SUV-like figures rather than a hatchback wearing SUV styling cues, and a drag coefficient of between 0.275 and 0.283 (depending on wheel and trim spec) is competitive for the class without being a headline figure Skoda leans on the way some rivals do.
| Layout | Single motor, front axle |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Power | 85-155 kW (114-208 hp) by trim |
| Motor type | Permanent magnet synchronous |
| Length | 4,171 mm (164.2 in) |
| Width | 1,798 mm (70.8 in) |
| Height | 1,581 mm (62.2 in) |
| Wheelbase | 2,601 mm (102.4 in) |
Performance and Specs
Skoda's official spec sheet lays out three clearly differentiated tiers rather than one motor with option packs. The entry Epiq 35 uses an 85 kW (114 hp) permanent-magnet motor paired with the smaller 38.5 kWh LFP battery, good for a 310 km WLTP range and an unhurried 11.0-second 0-100 km/h time. The Epiq 40 shares that same battery but steps the motor up to 99 kW (133 hp), cutting 0-100 km/h to 9.8 seconds without changing the 310 km range figure -- a genuinely useful mid-tier option for buyers who want more usable power without paying for the bigger battery. The Epiq 55 is the only version with the larger 55 kWh NMC pack, delivering 155 kW (208 hp), a 7.1-second 0-100 km/h sprint, a 160 km/h top speed (versus 150 km/h on the 35/40), and the range-topping 441 km WLTP figure. DC fast-charging scales with the battery: 50 kW on the Epiq 35, 90 kW on the Epiq 40, and 105 kW on the Epiq 55, with 10-80% charge times of 33, 25, and 24 minutes respectively.
| Spec | Epiq 35 | Epiq 40 | Epiq 55 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | 85 kW (114 hp) | 99 kW (133 hp) | 155 kW (208 hp) |
| Battery | 38.5 kWh LFP | 38.5 kWh LFP | 55 kWh NMC |
| Range (WLTP) | 310 km | 310 km | 441 km |
| 0-100 km/h | 11.0 sec | 9.8 sec | 7.1 sec |
| DC Fast Charging | 50 kW / 33 min | 90 kW / 25 min | 105 kW / 24 min |
| Top Speed | 150 km/h | 150 km/h | 160 km/h |
| Starting Price | €25,900 | €27,900 | €32,100 |
Interior and Technology
Cabin space is where the Epiq is making its strongest case. The 475-litre boot -- expanding to 1,345 litres with the rear seatback folded -- is genuinely larger than the mechanically related VW ID.Polo's, and Skoda specifically calls out beating both the Kia EV2 and Renault 4 in the same measurement, a rare instance of the cheapest car in a shared-platform family actually winning on outright practicality rather than being the stripped-down option. Interior headroom is generous for the car's exterior footprint (1,044 mm front, 973 mm rear), helped by the tall, upright body. Skoda's typical "Simply Clever" touches carry over, and the cabin follows the brand's now-familiar layout of physical climate shortcuts paired with a central touchscreen rather than burying every function in a menu. Rear-seat passengers get proper width (1,409 mm) for the segment, and the load area includes underfloor storage nets as standard equipment on the versions shown at launch.
Pricing and Availability
Skoda has published full official pricing across the range: the Epiq 35 starts at €25,900, the Epiq 40 at €27,900, and the Epiq 55 spans €32,100 (Essence trim) to €35,600 (Selection) and €38,950 for a First Edition launch trim. Converted at current exchange rates, that puts the entry Epiq 35 at roughly $28,000 -- though Skoda doesn't sell in the US market, so this remains a European-market figure rather than a direct US price. The Epiq 55 has been available to order since May 2026 and reached European showrooms over the summer; the cheaper Epiq 35 and Epiq 40 -- which is what actually makes this Skoda's genuinely affordable EV rather than just a smaller Enyaq -- only open for ordering at the end of September 2026.
How It Compares
Volkswagen ID.Polo
~$25,000 | TBD hp | hatchback
A genuine platform-mate on the same MEB+ architecture, and priced very close to the Epiq's entry point -- yet Skoda's own figures show the Epiq's 475-litre boot beats the ID.Polo's, a notable win for the cheaper-badged sibling in a shared-platform family.
ZEEKR X EV
$29,513 | 272 hp | 440 km range
Considerably more powerful than even the range-topping Epiq 55, at a similar price point and nearly identical range -- illustrates how much raw performance a similarly-priced Chinese crossover already offers, even if the Epiq counters with European-brand backing and full official pricing/availability today.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Three clearly differentiated trims let buyers pick the right power/range/price balance instead of one-size-fits-all specs
- 475-litre boot genuinely beats mechanically related and competing small EVs, not just a marketing claim
- 10.68 m turning circle and compact dimensions make it a genuinely city-friendly EV
- Full official pricing already published across all three trims, with no guessing required
Cons
- The genuinely affordable Epiq 35 and 40 versions don't open for order until the end of September 2026, months after the pricier Epiq 55 arrived
- Entry Epiq 35's 11.0-second 0-100 km/h and 310 km WLTP range are modest even by budget-EV standards
- Not sold in the US or most non-European markets, limiting its relevance to shoppers outside Europe
- Shares its platform closely enough with the VW ID.Polo and Cupra Raval that buyers will need to compare trim-by-trim to justify picking one badge over another
FAQs
Verdict
The Epiq is a genuinely well-judged budget EV rather than a cut-rate afterthought -- Skoda has clearly used the MEB+ platform-sharing exercise to its advantage, extracting a class-leading boot and a properly differentiated three-trim lineup instead of just badge-engineering a Volkswagen. The real story here is timing: the impressive-on-paper Epiq 55 has been available since summer, but the car that actually matters for Skoda's "cheapest EV" pitch -- the €25,900 Epiq 35 -- only opens for order at the end of September 2026. For buyers willing to wait those few extra weeks, it looks like one of the more complete affordable EVs on the European market.
