New giant Skoda EV coming next year to challenge the Kia EV9

• New electric SUV with seven seats
• Rivals the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9
• Expected range of over 370 miles

A fresh teaser has landed for Skoda’s upcoming seven-seater SUV, suggesting that we don’t have long to wait until the electric behemoth is fully unveiled. The new model will sit as a zero-emissions alternative to the Skoda Kodiaq, offering like-for-like practicality with lower running costs when it’s unveiled next year.

A new seven-seater electric Skoda has been on the table for a while, ever since we first saw the Vision 7S concept in 2022. That show car introduced Skoda’s ‘Modern Design’ language to the world, which has since trickled down to the new Elroq and updated Enyaq. The teaser images confirm that the new SUV will follow the same theme, but of course, it will offer more space – and perhaps even more range – than those electric SUVs.

The new SUV’s name remains a mystery at this stage, but Skoda has recently patented the ‘Eviatiq’ badge, hinting that this could be a contender. It would also fit with the brand’s EV naming strategy, whereby all model names start with E and end with Q. 

What can we see in the new teaser images?

Well, not a whole lot at first glance. The shadowy images only show off a few small details of the new SUV, but they confirm that it will use the Vision 7S concept as its design inspiration.

The slim tail-lights look to closely resemble those fitted to the Vision 7S concept featuring the familiar ‘T’ shape. It’s a new look for Skoda which sets the seven-seater SUV apart from the Enyaq and Elroq, as well as its petrol-powered models.

It’s up front where the family resemblance is obvious. The ‘Tech Deck’ face is key to Skoda’s latest design language, featuring narrow, horizontal daytime-running lights that flow into a black fascia. There’s no traditional Skoda badge, either – that’s been replaced by the word ‘Skoda’ in spaced-out lettering.

Skoda has also confirmed that the new SUV will be roughly 4,900mm long, making it around 150mm longer than the Kodiaq, which is already a large vehicle. That should translate to even more interior space than the already-cavernous Kodiaq, so all seven passengers should be able to travel in comfort. Still, it won’t be quite as big as two of its key rivals, the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, which measure 5,015mm and 5,060m, respectively.

What is the Skoda Vision 7S concept?

Skoda unveiled the Vision 7S concept all the way back in 2022. It was suggested to be one of three new electric cars to join the brand’s lineup by 2026 – we’ve since seen the Elroq join the ranks, while the small Epiq is due soon, too.

The Vision 7S has slim ‘T-Light’ headlights and a plastic element in place of a conventional grille, housing an array of sensors, while flat chrome lettering takes the place of Skoda’s traditional badge. The new features form one cohesive frontal design named ‘Tech Deck’ by the manufacturer, which has since appeared on its recent EVs.

The Vision 7S also showcases an inverted bonnet bulge, central vents cut into the lower section of the front bumper and a contrasting colour for the central element.

Further to the new nose design, there’s a flat roof for aero efficiency, along with squared off wheel arches for a sturdy design. It also has real environmental credentials, thanks to the use of recycled tyres in the front and rear bumpers along with the wheel arch lining.

Along the sides there is a clear separation at the shoulder line, while pronounced sills extend slightly beyond the doors: Skoda suggests this could be a ‘utility bar’. Expect there to be external power supplies mounted there if the production version is to make something of this design.

Inside, three rows of two seats offer a ‘six plus one’ arrangement with a child seat facing opposite to the direction of travel atop a centrally raised area that runs the length of the cabin. It is not yet clear whether this design will make production instead of a more conventional seven seat layout, as seen in the Kodiaq. 

Its 14.6-inch infotainment screen can move between landscape and portrait mode, with the aim of rotating and rising so that it can be viewed by all passengers when ‘relax’ mode is activated. This mode will also recline the seats and move the steering wheel away from the driver to maximise space. However, it’s unlikely that these features will see the light of day in the production car – we don’t expect the interior to stray far from that of the Enyaq or Elroq.

Further sustainability goals are achieved inside the cabin, with 100% recycled material used for the seat fabric. A fresh interior look will be complimented by a matte finish for interior plastics, instead of shiny black or silver materials.

Skoda has made extensive use of magnets to hold additional features within the cabin, including backpacks held onto the seat backs. Metal water bottles and smartphones will also be able to be held in place around the dashboard.

Charging speeds are quoted up to 200kW  – in line with other vehicles using the same MEB platform – and we expect around 370 miles of range from an 86kWh battery shared with the Volkswagen ID. Buzz LWB. The production version of the Vision 7S will become the largest vehicle to use the platform that also underpins the Skoda Enyaq, Skoda Elroq, Ford Explorer and Audi Q4 e-tron.

Skoda seven-seater and Vision 7S concept images

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