Skoda previews electric Kodiaq to rival Kia EV9

Skoda has confirmed that it will launch a seven-seat flagship SUV next year to take on the Kia EV9 and Peugeot E-5008.

The new car will act as an electric equivalent to the brand’s popular Kodiaq and will be an evolution of the Vision 7S concept first shown in 2022.

The Czech brand confirmed plans for the electric seven-seater during its 2024 results conference, in which it announced record sales and profits and hinted at an all-electric Octavia estate.

At this early stage, details of the new model are thin on the ground but it is expected to follow the ‘modern solid’ design philosophy that was showcased on the Vision 7S and is used on Skoda’s current Elroq and Enyaq EVs. The teaser footage showed an upright slatted grille to the Elroq and vertical headlights similar to the Vision 7S. Footage of the rear of the car shows slimline LED tail lights, a traditional upright tailgate with a prominent roof spoiler that dips in the centre.

While there’s no word on the size of the new seven-seater, the Vision 7S was 5 metres long – almost identical to the EV9 – while the current Kodiaq is the same length as the E-5008 at just over 4.7m. The 7S’s interior focused on space, light and family-friendly features, which give hints at the ambition for this new model.

The new electric seven-seater is expected to use the Volkswagen Group’s existing MEB platform, which currently supports batteries up to 86kWh and rear- or all-wheel-drive setups with up to 335bhp. Skoda previously said the 7S would offer 370 miles of range and up to 200kW charging.

Along with confirming plans for a seven-seat EV in 2026, Skoda boss Klaus Zellmer announced that the Czech brand would preview a new electric Octavia later this year.

Zellmer said: “In September in Munich, we’re going to have a concept car that gives an indication of what the new design language will be for the Octavia and what the technology in that car will be able to deliver.”

He indicated that rather than use the MEB platform as Skoda’s other EVs do, the new model would be based on the new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), commenting: “The new platform will give more performance and be more cost-efficient, and will be the platform we are going to put the Octavia on as a battery electric vehicle.”

He added that the new concept car would be a ‘test bed’ to gauge media, dealer and customer responses ahead of a production car expected to launch in 2027.

Zellmer also confirmed that Skoda would not build its own version of the £17,000 Volkswagen ID.Every1 electric city car. Despite previously selling the Citigo sister car to the VW Up, Zellmer said: “We have decided not to be part of that segment, we will leave it to our colleagues in the VW Group.” He said Skoda would instead focus on entry-level combustion models such as the Fabia.