Skoda Peaq review

The Peaq will actually seat seven adults, as long as the adults in the rear seats aren’t the front row of a rugby team or NFL linebackers. That’s the big news. The middle row slides and reclines, so you can try and find some sort of legroom-to-limb ratio that works, with a middle row centre section that folds for long loads like surfboards, large, rigid snakes and IKEA boxes.

As a five-seater, there’s 935 litres of boot, 299 as a seven-seat layout, and a 37-litre frunk, and plenty of space for more usual duties thanks to a generous wheelbase. It’s cavernous with all the seats folded. So that’s the big plus point, although only three of the seats have Isofix that we could find.

What about in the front?

As for the dash and cockpit itself, it’s remarkably sober, but no worse for it. The dash is long and linear, lifted by strips of ambient lighting under the bevels and punctuated by a 13.6-inch portrait touchscreen with some haptic controls. There are actual switches under that for temperature, fan speed and volume, plus more buttons/switches in the doors for windows and mirror adjustment, with the door-opening handle integrated into the top of the door armrest. It works well – physical controls beat touchscreens every time.

There are MagSafe wireless chargers in the centre console (magnetic) which are brilliant. After that, the driver’s display is 10-and-a-quarter inches, and there’s the option of a head-up display, too. The optional panoramic sunroof helps with interior ambience, gets photochromic adjustment (you can make it more or less transparent), and the two-spoke steering wheel feels refreshingly normal.

There’s also an extra 33-litres of cabin storage. Not sure how to visualise 33-litres of cabin storage? Imagine having plenty of places to put things, then add a bit. It’s all very nicely laid out.

Any tricks up its sleeve?

The folding table is neat; it sits on the armrest. The wellbeing app that has six modes is largely pointless, but fun. And Skoda has made the interior dimensions of the Peaq freely available, so you can 3D-print your own accessories (á la Dacia).

Materials and fit and finish? Really good, especially the ‘Techtona’ fake leather and ‘Suedia’ un-suede, which feel rich and hard-wearing. But again, this is Skoda playing to its strengths – it’s a very complete place to spend time, and very comfortable.

All versions get vehicle-to-load (3.6kW, for plugging in devices on the go), and will get vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home eventually, with plug ’n’ charge supported, preconditioning and an app across all models. That heat pump that’s so efficient? It’s an option. Boo.