It has not arrived yet (it will do so in 2025), but we can now identify which are going to be the five worst rivals that the Skoda Epiq will have to face. The new electric B-SUV from the Czech firm will have a starting price of 25,000 euros, a large trunk and will measure only 4.1 meters long.
Just a few days ago the Mladá Boleslav company presented the first preview as a concept car of the Skoda Epiq, the brand's new entry-level electric car. This model will see the light of day in its final production version next year and will become one of the Volkswagen Group's low-cost electric proposals.
With a starting price that will be around 25,000 euros, the Skoda electric SUV will be placed in the B-SUV segment, offering a 4.1-meter-long body that will have a trunk with “up to 490 liters of capacity,” as explained by the Czech manufacturer.
For now there are no details about the possible propulsion systems with which the Epiq will be equipped, but Skoda has announced that it will have “more than 400 kilometers” of autonomy between charges. The car will be assembled at the Volkswagen Group plant in Navarra (Spain), as part of a project carried out jointly with Cupra and Volkswagen.
Despite the little we know so far about the Skoda Epiq, it is more than enough to be able to select which will be its five worst rivals once it hits the market in 2025. The grid of competitors includes both urban and utility vehicles and SUVs, all them with prices that will be around those 25,000 euros announced by Skoda.
Renault 5 E-Tech
The first of the rivals that the new Skoda Epiq will have to face when it lands in 2025 will be the also new Renault 5 E-Tech. The return of the French urban vehicle converted into an electric car occurred just a few weeks ago and, although it is not an SUV, it does compete in terms of performance, autonomy, size and price.
The electric R5 measures 3.92 meters long and has a 275-liter trunk along with a five-seat interior. The mechanical offer is made up of three engines with powers of 95 HP, 120 HP and 150 HP, as well as two battery options (40 kWh and 52 kWh) that give it approved ranges of 300 and 400 kilometers, respectively.
Price: from about 25,000 euros (estimated)
Citroën ë-C3
Unlike the Renault 5 E-Tech, the new Citroën ë-C3 is already on sale and is a 100% electric urban SUV whose main advantage is its moderate price. In this case, we are faced with an interesting market opportunity that offers a body that is 4.0 meters long and a trunk with good capacity, with 310 liters of cargo space.
Currently, the range is made up of a single mechanical option. This includes a 113 HP electric motor with a 44 kWh battery and an approved range of 300 kilometers per charge. In the near future, a lower power option will be added, with a smaller battery and a range of around 200 kilometers. It will also be significantly cheaper.
Price: from 22,800 euros
MG ZS EV
The MG ZS EV, although larger, is among the strongest rival candidates that the Epiq will have next year for its price. And the electric SUV from the British firm (belonging to the Chinese SAIC Motor) is a compact vehicle with a 4.3-meter-long body and a generous 450-liter trunk.
In this case, we find two propulsion system options. The ZS EV Standard Range has 177 HP of power and is powered by a 50 kWh battery that allows it to approve up to 320 kilometers of autonomy. The Long Range model, on the other hand, has 156 HP, a 70 kWh battery and is approved for 440 kilometers between charges.
Price: from 33,690 euros (27,480 euros with brand discounts)
Fiat Panda EV
The Fiat Panda EV, like the Skoda Epiq, has not yet reached the market. However, when it does, it will become one of the strongest rivals for Skoda's electric SUV to beat. It is expected next year (although it may debut in 2024), like the Epiq, and it will be an economical electric car proposal that will be on par with the Citroën ë-C3 described above.
Details are very limited at the moment, but it is believed that it will measure around 4.0 meters long, will be based on the Stellantis Smart Car platform, will have a simple interior with five seats and could share propulsion systems with the ë- C3.
Price: between 20,000-25,000 euros (estimated)
Dacia Spring
And closing the list of the five worst rivals of the Skoda Epiq we find the Dacia Spring. It is true that it is below in terms of features and size, it is proposed as a serious alternative due to its competitive prices. We are looking at a segment A urban crossover that has a body of only 3.7 meters in length and a 4-seater interior.
Mechanically, the Dacia Spring is an electric car with a power of 45 HP, a 26.8 kWh battery and an approved range of 230 kilometers. The second option increases the power to 65 HP, shares the same battery and approves up to 220 kilometers of autonomy between charges.
Price: from 17,265 euros