We've seen the original Vision 7S concept car; we've seen the teaser sketches and even had a brief drive in one under heavy disguise (the car, not us...) but now here, at last, is Skoda's new all-electric, seven-seat family SUV flagship in full. Meet the Peaq.
How big is the Skoda Peaq?
Very. This is not just a stretched Enyaq, as the Peaq is a substantially larger car again, and it's sized to take on the likes of the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.
The Skoda Peaq just brushes the hem of being five metres long (4.9 metres to be precise) and it's 1.7 metres tall. It also has a huge wheelbase, at 2,965mm, which as we'll see opens up considerable amounts of cabin space.
Does the Peaq bring in a new look for Skoda?
Partially. The Vision 7S concept car, from which the Peaq is derived, introduced us for the first time to Skoda's new 'Modern Solid' look, but we've already seen elements of this style rolled out in the Elroq and Enyaq, so the Peaq isn't a massive departure.
You will notice the big, black panel with inset LED lights where once there might have been a grille, surrounded by large, T-shaped, LED running lights.
Look further down the back, and there's the Skoda name picked out in either silver or black lettering on the rear pillars, which curve slightly forwards at the top, almost like a reverse shark's fin.
There are flush-fit pop-out door handles, which have an 'ice hammer' effect (pulsing rapidly back and forth to break any frost if they become iced over), chunky, square wheel arches and again the Skoda name picked out in the cleft between the 'castellated' sides of the bonnet.
Impressively, given its bulk, the Peaq has a drag co-efficient of 0.25, which is good going for such a big vehicle.
What's powering the Skoda Peaq?
Underneath is an updated version of the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform. The entry-level model is the rear-wheel-drive Peaq 60 with a 203hp electric motor and a gross battery size of 63kWh (net capacity of 59kWh). That gives a range of "over 450km”, according to Skoda.
Buyers can then step up to the Peaq 90, with a 91kWh battery (its net usable energy capacity is 86kWh) and a 286hp electric motor driving the rear wheels, and a range of 640km.
Finally, there's the Peaq 90x, which gets an extra electric motor for the front axle, giving the SUV four-wheel drive and a combined 299hp. This one also has a 610km range.
On a high-speed DC charger, a 10-80 per cent charge should take no more than 28 minutes across the board, with a maximum rate of 199kW. There is vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging too.
Acceleration? The 0-100km/h sprint takes 8.6 seconds in the Peaq 60; 7.1 seconds for the 90; and 6.7 seconds for the 90x.
How practical is the Peaq?
Enormously, and we don't use that word lightly. While most Peaqs will come with seven seats, there is the option of a five-seat version (not confirmed for Ireland just yet) which means a massive 935-litre boot with all seats occupied.
There's a handy QR code inside the tailgate too, which brings you to a video demonstration showing you the best way to load up.
The boot includes fold-out luggage and shopping bag hooks, storage containers on both sides for holding loose items and an adjustable boot floor which allows you to mix and match a flat load floor with under-floor storage.
The tailgate is electrically powered and, as with the smaller Skoda Epiq, the ice-scraper has moved from inside the charging flap to a slot in the edge of the tailgate.
When you want to cover things up, there's an electric luggage blind which motors back and forth by itself. If you want to stash that luggage cover away, such as when you're folding the back seats all flat, then there's a handy storage space in the nose - yes, the Peaq is one of the first electric Skodas to come with a 'frunk.'
In fact, there's plenty of extra storage space in the Peaq's nose - plenty for charging cables - and there's a specially designed slot for the luggage cover, which slots into place without eating into the storage.
If you've bought the seven-seat Peaq, with all seats occupied, For a fully occupied seven-seat version of the Peaq there's a still-useful 299 litres of luggage space left over.
The rear-wheel-drive Peaqs can tow up to 1,800kg on a braked trailer, while the Peaq 90x can manage up to 2,000kg.
How roomy is it in the back seats?
There's stretch-out space for six-footers in the back of the Peaq, and also space under the front seats for your feet, which is not always the case in EVs.
The relationship between the seat and the floor is good too, so your knees won't be sitting too high in the back. The outer two seats of the middle row are exceptionally comfortable, but while the middle rear seat is quite narrow, it's not the most uncomfortable thing around, so it may be possible to get three people sitting across in reasonable comfort.
Rear-seat passengers are also well catered for with split-level seatback pockets, their own temperature controls and optional heating for the outer rear seats.
There's also an optional floor-mounted storage area, if you're not bothered about foot space for centre-rear seat passengers.
What about the third row?
The middle row of seats tilts and slides forward, but the space which opens up, through which you'll have to post anyone getting into row three, isn't all that massive.
I'm 185cm, and quite chunky, and I managed to get into the third row, and pull the middle row seats back into place, but only just - my knees were well and truly jammed against the backs of the seats in front.
However, for smaller rear passengers - say, anyone up to around the age of 14 - space should prove plentiful. The middle row also slides back and forth, so you can sacrifice a little of the legroom for those seats in favour of those in the back and that does open up slightly more adult-friendly space, although headroom will be tight if you're tall.
Third-row passengers also get USB-C sockets, cupholders and a small storage tray each. There are extra windows built in behind the rear side doors, which allow light in and a (small) view out.
Also letting in more light is the optional glass roof, which is the largest that Skoda has ever offered. It comes with electro-chromatic shading - which Skoda calls Dynamic Shade Control - so you can choose between 'open', 'closed', or a half-way house between the two which makes it look like the stripes on a football shirt.
How is it in the front of the Peaq?
The Peaq gets a massive portrait-style 13.6-inch touchscreen, which dominates the dashboard, and which features the latest Google-based software, so it seems (on our brief acquaintance) slick to use.
If you've gone for the Sportline model, you get gorgeous high-backed bucket seats in the front, which can be augmented by a 'Relax' pack that includes ultra-soft pillows on the headrests and extending leg rests. All of the front seats are approved of by the German 'AGR' (bad back association).
The Peaq sees something of a return of physical buttons to a Skoda cabin, with the retention of neat roller-switches on the two-spoke (three-spoke for Sportline versions) steering wheel, four electric window switches on the driver's door and physical temperature controls and fan speed control on the centre console.
There's a neat roller controller for stereo volume too, and that stereo is optionally a high-output version designed specifically for the car by stereo experts at Sonos.
On the centre console, there are also two high-speed (25-watt) wireless phone chargers, but they're slightly raised up and have magnetic centres, so your phone should stick to them, rather than flying around at the first sign of a roundabout.
The cupholders have two large apertures, and a single, central, narrow one which is the right size for the more modern style of drinks cans.
The best bit? The cupholders can be lifted out, and turned upside down, and re-inserted, turning them into a clamp which holds a foldaway table which lives, in slim form, under the armrest and which gives you either a handy place to place a sandwich, or even somewhere to put your laptop, if you're trying to work while charging.
As well as Sportline trim (which gives you lots of lovely imitation suede upholstery), there are four other cabin themes for the Peaq. At the top of the range are two Suite Design Selection options finished in Techtona, Skoda's new high¬ quality leather alternative made from recycled materials, offered in black and a light grey called Ceramique.
The Loft Design Selection combines grey textile upholstery with black Techtona on the trim and seats. The higher specification Lodge Design Selection features grey embossed textile seats in combination with a green toned Techtona.
Indeed, all of that Techtona, and other materials, allows Skoda to claim that the Peaq uses more recycled materials in the cabin than in any other Skoda (then again, it's bigger than any other Skoda so maybe that's why...).
There's also a neat Easter Egg - an outline of cyclists etched into the edge of the windscreen, which is a nod both to Skoda's sponsorship of several cycling events including the Tour De France, and to the fact that the first wheeled vehicle made by the company was the Slavia bicycle.
When can I buy the Peaq in Ireland?
We were hoping to have Irish prices for the Peaq at this point, but according to Skoda Ireland, they've not yet been finalised. It has been confirmed that all three Peaq variants will be on sale here, and the pricing should be decided by mid-August.
Skoda Ireland will then do a nationwide 'road show' with a static display Peaq (along with the new Epiq, too) and the first physical customer vehicles should be here in January 2027 in time for the "271” registration.