Long-distance drives in the electric Skoda Peak have convinced me that it’s the company’s best seven-seater

Electric options in the seven-seater arena have really picked up lately, with the Mercedes-Benz GLB, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV9 and Peugeot e-5008 all vying for a spot on your big family’s driveway. Now Skoda wants to get in on the action with the Peaq, its biggest and premium SUV to date.

How often all those seats are occupied is something I’m curious about – but having them as an option when your kids have some friends over has to be a bonus. I also think the Peaq will work just fine for anyone with less need to get bums on seats, but wants to get out on the open road as often as possible. This car drives really well, comes with premium levels of comfort and all the daily necessities to tackle longer distances. Surprisingly, given its chunkiness, the Peaq also works well around town, with a supple powertrain that’s wonderfully forgiving.

There is a beefy 86kWh battery for the UK market, with a 59kWh option in European territories (No US, as usual). The larger SUV comes as a rear-wheel drive car (the 90) or as an all-wheel drive model (the 90X). Power for the two options stands at 282bhp and 295bhp, so the Skoda Peaq feels plenty powerful; Range of 395 and 373 kilometers respectively feels more than adequate. So, which one to buy? Read on to find out…

The styling

I don’t know what kind of magic the Skoda designers have worked with the Peaq, because the SUV, despite being 4.9 meters long, doesn’t look or drive like something so chunky. That’s a good thing, especially when it comes to space, with a yawning gap created between the axles that makes getting people in and out a breeze.

There are three trims on offer, each a nice variation on the theme and ranging from £51,980 for an SE L, while the Sportline is £58,280 with all-wheel drive. A whole bunch of options can push the price up even further.

Around the outside, it’s fair to say that the Peaq has all the trademark styling touches of a typical Skoda. There are bold panel lines, tasteful trim touches and an imposing stance produced by large alloys sitting on decent tyres. Skoda also has some cool colors for the Peaq, so there’s no doubt it’s a reasonable presence on the road. Lots of cool details were also evident, like the wipers having the integrated washer, although the pop-out door handle felt a bit awkward to use. I also loved the umbrellas that were stored in the front doors.

Many motorists have embraced the “living room on wheels” vibe of late and that’s a feeling I got in both the front and back of the Peaq. It is warm, welcoming and very well thought out with great attention to detail on the amenity features. Depending on your chosen trim (SE L, Edition or Sportline), the interiors are all very individual; it was really refreshing to see some striking differences between them.

Of course, there are some compromises required for people who are pushed to the third row. I didn’t think there would be much space to offer, but it would work perfectly, for example to transport a bunch of kids to the cinema. Short trips would be fine, but the slightly restricted feeling generated further back might not be as bearable on a long trek. However, the 2.1 meter long optional panoramic glass roof did a great job of shedding light into every corner or into the car.

The technology

I like the way Skoda has executed the cockpit layout of the Peaq. It strikes a nice balance between touchscreen input and physical controls. There was no missing the 13.6in infotainment screen, which has some of the best map graphics I’ve seen in a while and an excellent, user-friendly overall design. Anyone who is a fan of Android will find it particularly appealing, and it works beautifully in tandem with the sleek driver display. Higher trims also get a head-up display.

Lower down on the center dash were some real buttons, adding another level of usability to the proceedings. Climate control and a volume roller are basic essentials that are used so much that having them right at hand makes perfect sense to me. Speaking of volume, I listened to Peaq’s Sonos sound system a lot during my time in the car and can report that it’s as good as you’d expect.

The Sonos system is part of an optional Relax Package, which adds in other comfort-focused goodies, including massaging seats, an electric footrest and even a folding table for the center console. Again, this just underlines how much of a ‘living room on wheels’ vibe is going on with the Peaq, although start to look at the options, such as the aforementioned nigh-on-two-large dimmable panoramic sunroof, and this is a car that starts to look decidedly expensive.

The drive

One of the nicest surprises with the Skoda Peak was the way it drove. The steering was a highlight, so its reasonable size could easily be coaxed through tricky situations on busy roads. For a large SUV, performance was also solid and I thought the Peaq felt plenty quick enough, especially on the freeway, where both wind and tire noise were minimal. Anyone who feels happier when there’s more grip to play with should find the four-wheel drive 90X model their preferred option, although the rear-wheel drive single car was fine.

While the all-wheel drive model feels a little tighter in the power department, I thought either model looked impressive when it came to range and efficiency. Towards the 90’s 395 miles and 90X’s 373 miles seemed very achievable, which was impressive given the size and weight of the car. Just over 3 miles per kWh seems to be the average during punchier driving periods. Occasional driving with an eye on the range readings would probably have squeezed a bit more out of that chunky battery.

I had no doubt about the general drive appeal of the Skoda Peaq, but where it really came into its own was during maneuvers. This sizable SUV was extremely agile and, back to the steering, this was a standout. In tandem with the high levels of comfort on offer, the Peaq is a doddle for the pilot.

The Sportline edition has a suspension that can be adjusted for anyone who doesn’t find the car comfortable enough, or who wants a stiffer sporty ride. However, I actually found the Peaq quite dreamy to drive in its standard setup. Family buyers with no time to mess with such things will find they can just get in and go, while the agile steering setup makes it a sure hit at school time.

Skoda Peak Verdict

While it’s a proper seven-seater, the Skoda Peaq reaches the pinnacle of comfort when used as a five-seater, freeing up the rear row and boot to produce storage space that’s dazzling. The versatility offered by the Peaq is without question. Add in comfort, performance and reliable efficiency levels and the package looks really strong.

While something like the Kia EV9 might be a bit better for people who carry seven on a regular basis, the Peaq is perfect for the occasional multi-passenger. It’s also a great SUV for people who simply enjoy a lot of their own space.

Skoda Peak technical specifications