Skoda News

Despite an already huge year for new model launches, there are still some key mid-size SUVs slated for Australia in the tail end of 2026 which might be worth waiting for.So far this year, new-generation versions of top-selling mid-size SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5 have arrived, among a swathe of new contenders from challenger brands.If you’re not a huge fan of what’s currently on the market though, there may be something coming that better suits your lifestyle, budget or tastes.Here is a rundown of the five best mid-size SUVs that are still to come. They’re in alphabetical order and span both the mainstream and premium mid-size SUV segments.The current GWM Haval H7 has flown under the radar since it launched in 2025 and the Chinese carmaker is planning to hit reset with a new-generation model.GWM has confirmed it will launch the new Haval H7 in the second half of 2026 and it will feature hybrid and all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid (PHEV) power.Front and rear differential locks are also confirmed for the flagship variants, which is a major upgrade to the off-road capabilities compared to the current front-wheel drive hybrid model.Overall there’s a tougher and boxier look that’s more in keeping with the Tank models.Mazda is finally launching a rival to the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Zeekr 7X in Australia.The CX-6e is the brand’s first electric mid-size SUV and it quickly follows on the heels of the Mazda 6e electric liftback launching locally.Both vehicles have been co-developed with Changan and are built in China. The CX-6e in particular is built on the same platform as the Deepal S07, which is already offered in Australia.Locally the CX-6e will only be offered with a battery electric (BEV) powertrain, however in other markets a range-extender (REEV) hybrid is available.Mercedes-Benz is set to launch a new-generation version of the GLB SUV in Australia. Final details haven’t been locked in yet.Globally the new GLB is offered with both mild-hybrid and BEV powertrains, like the new GLA and CLA it shares componentry with.This new GLB is larger in every dimension and notably features a 60mm longer wheelbase. It’s available with both five- and seven-seat configurations.Another highlight is the ‘MBUX Superscreen’ which comprises a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, as well as dual 14.0-inch touchscreens for the central multimedia system and front passenger display.Skoda launched the regular Elroq electric SUV in 2025, but later in 2026 it’s readying the hotter RS version.Power comes from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with total system outputs of 250kW and 545Nm. This is enough to send it from 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds.The electric motors are fed by an 84kWh lithium-ion battery pack which allows for up to 550km of claimed range, according to WLTP testing.The Elroq is essentially a shortened version of the Enyaq electric mid-size SUV. It is already offered in RS form locally with both the typical SUV and ‘coupe’ SUV body styles.Volvo fans have been waiting for an electric counterpart to the top-selling XC60 mid-size SUV for years now and later in 2026 it’ll arrive in Australia.The Volvo EX60 is based on a new platform called SPA3 and it has an 800V electrical architecture.In Australia two versions of the EX60 will be offered initially, the Ultra P6 RWD and Ultra P10 AWD. They’re priced from $86,990 and $101,990, before on-road costs, respectively.It’s understood that the range-topping P12 AWD trim, as well as a more affordable, entry-level grade will arrive in 2027.

A new report from the Australia Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) has shed light over fresh concerns regarding long car repair and refund wait times in Australia.Dealers admitted customers face significant delays to get their cars fixed in Australia, especially EVs. It can take between six and eight weeks for an issue to just be diagnosed due to workshop backlogs.The association said some manufacturing faults can even take months or years to be correctly diagnosedDealers are now refusing to accept tow-ins or diagnostic work for vehicles they did not originally sell due their backlogs.They blamed long wait times on sourcing parts like electric car batteries that cannot be air-freighted and must be shipped instead.Dealers have also pointed the finger at car manufacturers that dispute or mull over approving warranty requests.The report said that only manufacturers can provide remedy for design faults, leaving dealers helpless to appease customer expectations of a swift resolution. The report stated concerns over manufacturers denying reimbursement claims and failing to meaningfully engage with dispute processes. Carmakers are required to make parts and repair available for a reasonable time after purchase, but this is a vague stipulation.The report sets out several Australian Consumer Law reform recommendations to rectify these issues. It said manufacturers should be required to respond to buyback requests within a fixed period.If the manufacturer fails to respond with written confirmation of indemnity, it is deemed to have accepted responsibility. Manufacturers should also be required to join legal tribunal proceedings for alleged manufacturing or systemic defects. The report called for further clarification of consumer guarantees regarding battery degradation and replacement thresholds. This would recognise the inevitable delays of sourcing EV components and developing software solutions.The Australian EV boom is in full swing, with sales surging in the wake of skyrocketing fuel prices and increasingly stringent environment regulations. More EVs will hit the roads in the coming months, with the industry likely to be placed under further strain.

Facing intense competition from emerging Chinese brands, the impact of US tariffs and increased manufacturing costs in Europe, the Volkswagen Group’s current financial trauma is well documented with a minimum cut of 50,000 jobs (likely 100,000) by 2030 and closure of four production plants in Germany already flagged.And now, as part of its Future Plan presentation, the Group’s executive board has said, “The (group) model lineup will be gradually concentrated on the most attractive market segments and streamlined by up to 50 percent; offering complexity will be reduced by up to 75 percent.”Which means key models currently sold by brands including Audi, Cupra, Skoda, Porsche and VW are set for early discontinuation, the latest by 2030, with the number of available options slashed by three quarters and annual production capacity dropping from 10 to nine million vehicles.Question is, which models are headed for the chop first and German publication Bild believes it has the inside scoop with a "concrete list” of 10 cars headed for extinction.Here’s the Bild VW Group product hit list.Audi: The Q5 Sportback and Q6 e-tron Sportback are unlikely to be replaced. And interestingly, even though the Porsche Taycan is marked for extinction (see below) its Audi e-tron GT twin under the skin isn’t.Cupra: The list marks the Cupra Raval (which hasn't even launched in Australia yet) as headed for the exit after a single generation.Porsche: In unsurprising news the underperforming Taycan is set to retire after the current model reaches the end of the road and the internal-combustion (ICE) Cayenne Coupe is gawn.Sadly for sports car devotees Bild’s mail is that even though Porsche’s ‘strategic realignment’ from late last year pointed to internal combustion power for flagship versions of the 718 Boxster and Cayman, that plan is kaput with the roadster and coupe again lining up as EV only.Skoda: The Bild report puts the Skoda Fabia small car on the chopping block, although there’s no mention of its closely-related Seat Ibiza and VW Polo siblings.Volkswagen: The Jetta compact sedan, now primarily sold in North America, and the Taos crossover-style SUV, currently offered in global markets including North America, South America and Russia (and marketed as the Tharu in China) look unlikely to make a next-gen iteration.No mention of Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini or Seat although Bentley has already shelved its plan to go pure-electric by 2035 and Lambo’s put production of its first EV firmly on the back burner.Bild estimates VW Group savings of up to €6.5 billion (~$10.7 billion) by 2031 by finishing up these 10 cars but even that’s far from a 50 per cent reduction in the across-the-board model count.Stay tuned for more VW Group model obituaries surely coming soon.

Volkswagen is about to make some big changes that could have knock-on effects for Australia.The brand is planning to cut up to half of its line-up across its brands.Auto News reports as many as 75 models could be ditched, which would reduce VW Group’s capacity from 10 million vehicle to nine million."The global situation has continued to deteriorate over the past twelve months," Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume said. "That is why we are ​acting now."There is no news yet on what models will be under threat, but Australia is unlikely to be immune from these changes.A spokesperson for Volkswagen Australia said this news will have no immediate impact on the local branch."As a next step, we will work closely with our headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, to assess what adjustments – if any – may be needed at the local level," they said.Audi, Bentley, Cupra, Lamborghini, Porsche and Skoda, as well as Volkswagen, all fall under the VW Group name, and the brand has a significant presence in Australia. VW alone has amassed more than 12,000 sales in Australia, but that figure represents a 16. per cent decline compared to June 2025.VW Group sales are declining globally as the brand grapples with soaring costs, including US tariffs, and increasingly competitive Chinese competition. Its profit margins were sliced in half between 2021 and 2025, according to Auto News.  Auto News is also reporting four German VW Group factories are in danger of seeing their doors closed for good, which are plants in Hanover, Emden, Zwickau and Neckarsulm.The brand is also planning to cut up to 100,000 jobs as part of its down-sizing. The proposed moves were subject to heavy protests from workers late last week.VW Group has deepened its ties to China recently, with CEO Blume suggesting the brand could export its China-only models to other markets. This could help cut down the costs for the brand to import cars to Australia. European-built models are often more expensive to produce and import than ones from China.

The Skoda Peaq has just been announced as Europe’s latest electric family SUV rival.The big seven-seat electric SUV is expected to land in Australia in 2027, where it would complement the mid-size Enyaq and compact Elroq electric SUVs in Skoda's expanding EV range in Australia. It would pose a challenge to other electric three-row SUVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 ($119,750, before on-road costs) and Kia EV9 ($97,000).There is no news on how much the Skoda Peaq will cost in Australia, but Skoda has confirmed it will have a starting price of below 50,000 euros in Europe (about $80,000). Cars from Europe usually carry a sizeable premium when put on sale in Australia, so expect it to sit above that $80,000 mark.The car will be available with a single rear electric motor, producing 150kW and 350Nm, while a dual motor all-wheel drive wheel layout boosts power up to 220kW and 545Nm. The Peaq will be fitted with either a 63kWh battery offering a driving range of 459km (WLTP), or a 91kWh unit offers 647km or 613km, depending on it being RWD or AWD. The car has both AC and DC charging capabilities, with a 10-80 per cent charge at 160kW, taking 27 minutes for the smaller battery, while the larger battery takes 28 minutes at 199kW. The car has a sleek overall presence, measuring at 4874mm long, which makes it shorter than the EV9 and Ioniq 9. It will also be the first Skoda model to feature flush door handles. On the inside, there is a 13.6-inch vertical central touchscreen using a Google Android software system, along with a digital driver display. There is also a 16-speaker audio system, pumping out 755W. The car has a large panoramic sunroof spanning most of the roof space.The Peaq will launch with a Sportline variant that gives the car a sharper look, along with optional two-tone paint.

A new budget electric compact SUV from Europe is on its way to Australia, with specifications of the Skoda Epiq revealed overseas. The Epiq is a rival to other budget EVs from the Suzuki e Vitara to the Kia EV3, along with other Chinese competitors such as the BYD Atto 3 and MG4. Skoda has previously confirmed it will arrive in Australia next year. Volkswagen Group Australia has been contacted for comment to find out exact launch timing.The car will need an affordable price tag in Australia to be competitive. It will be built in Spain, which means it will be on the cheaper end of European exports.It will be available with three different power set-ups in Europe, producing 85kW, 99kW and 155kW, all using front-wheel drive. It comes with 39kWh and 55kWh battery choices, offering driving range of 310km and over 440km, respectively. DC charging from 10-80 per cent can be as fast as 24 minutes. The Epiq is Skoda's first model to sit on Volkswagen Group's new MEB+ platform, which is specifically designed for compact EVs.The platform is also capable of bidirectional charging, so it can power external devices and redistribute power to the home or the grid. There is a tablet-sized 13-inch central touchscreen and compact digital driver display, with several physical buttons on the steering wheel and centre console. A panoramic sunroof and electric sun blind can be selected as an additional option.Skoda said the car will offer significant storage options, including a 475L boot and 25L front space. It measures up at 4171mm long, 1798mm wide, 1581mm high, with a wheelbase of 2601mm, which is in line with many of its rivals in the segment. Skoda has also announced there will be a limited edition variant of the car launching after the car's initial market launch.It will feature standout red interior and exterior elements, while keeping the car's most powerful electric set-up offered.

Safety ratings have been handed out for the hotly-anticipated Tesla Model Y L, BYD Seal 6 and other EVs, with a surprise for one family SUV.This latest batch of results were assessed using the Australasian New Car Assessment Program's (ANCAP) outdated 2023-2025 testing criteria, with the revamped 2026 criteria still to be officially brought in.The new testing protocols will have a greater focus on accident prevention, emphasising safe driving and crash avoidance, while crash protection remains an important factor.These vehicles are now able to hold a five star rating for six years."We can expect to see ratings assessed under 2023 to 2025 criteria for some time as they enter the Australian and New Zealand markets," ANCAP Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said in a statement to CarsGuide. "The first vehicles rated against the new 2026 criteria are expected later this year.”The incoming six-seat Tesla Model Y L SUV has been awarded a five-star rating, which is based on the rating of the standard Model Y. The Model Y L is Tesla’s first three-row car on sale, with deliveries starting last week. ANCAP said there were additional tests undertaken on the car to ensure results were applicable to the Model Y L.While achieving a protection rating of 91 per cent for Adult Occupant, ANCAP noted there were difficulties in correctly installing child restraints. This resulted in an 11 per cent decrease to 84 per cent for Child Occupant protection compared to the standard Model Y.The incoming BYD Seal 6 also received a five-star rating, with the car arriving imminently in the Australia as a plug-in hybrid sedan or wagon. The Seal 6 received an overall adult protection rating of 92 per cent, with maximum points for side impact and oblique pole tests, with good protection generally offered on the frontal offset test.Elsewhere Child Occupant protection was at 90 per cent, while Vulnerable User Protection was 84 per cent. MG’s new MG4 Urban budget EV has also picked up a five-star rating, courtesy of protection ratings of 87 per cent for Adult Occupant and 86 per cent for Child Occupant.The MG4 was marked down for marginal protection of the driver’s legs due to upward pedal movement.The Skoda Octavia was also awarded five stars, following reassessment of vehicles built from July 2025.

Plug-in hybrids are here to stay. That’s the opinion of Skoda Australia director Lucie Kuhn, who believes that while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) may be a so-called ‘bridging technology’ towards fully-electric cars, the ‘bridge’ could last at least a decade.PHEV sales have risen sharply in recent years, making a comeback after many brands that previously offered the technology abandoned it in favour of a focus on fully-electric vehicles (EVs). But PHEVs, which use an internal combustion engine to support an electric powertrain, have been given a second chance thanks to longer electric-only driving range and a push from Chinese brands, such as BYD and Chery, that have made them more affordable.Under Kuhn’s leadership, Skoda Australia has introduced the Kodiaq PHEV with plans for the Superb PHEV wagon to follow soon. She believes this is the right time to introduce PHEV options, primarily because of the slow uptake of EVs in Australia.“Yes, I think so, and we actually had this observation also from Europe, where time has shown that the transformation hasn’t proceeded as fast as we all expected. And it's actually the same situation we observe here also in Australia,” Kuhn said.“Especially in a country with some relatively high geographical distances, I think we still will have a relatively big portion of customers still not being fully ready to go on their fully electric journey and rather go for some interim solution, a kind of solution that provides them a confidence that they can drive the car on a daily basis, on an electric mode, and when they go a little bit more further for some holidays or longer trips, then they can simply switch on the combustion engine and keep going.”Skoda has managed to, unintentionally, coincide the launch of the Kodiaq PHEV perfectly with a sudden spike in fuel prices, further enhancing the appeal of the large SUV that can drive up to 110km on battery and return a claimed fuel economy of just 1.9L/100km.But Kuhn still believes there is a barrier for buyers to overcome with EVs, and the introduction of more PHEVs will help bridge the gap between pure internal combustion engine options and the electric future. Exactly how long the bridge will be is unclear, but Kuhn is confident it won’t be a short-term solution. Instead she said it could last a decade or longer, assuming the Federal Government remains supportive of the technology.“ I think it's first a mental barrier, to overcome this and change this way of thinking and go fully electric. But it might also be driven legally. So the legislation is also something what will decide finally if the PHEV will be a long term technology,” Kuhn said.“Right now we consider it as a bridging technology, but we are speaking a long bridge, like 10 years at least. This is how long it will be minimally. But of course if at some point the government says I don't know, like Europe said, from 2035, no more combustion engines at all, or actually nothing that produces some pollution, then of course it's logically the end of the PHEV technology as well. But currently we don't have this, let's say, kind of global statement, it's currently only in Europe, but also Europe might reconsider, this kind of decision and maybe even bring it a little bit more forward there. The time will show, but the bridge in Australia is really long, at least 10 years.”Currently PHEV models generate credits for car makers under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard and will continue to do so for another five years. Whether the government chooses to extend that stance will ultimately determine the viability of PHEVs in the Australian market.

Skoda has given the world a better look at its largest model ahead of its launch in mid-2026, revealing its overall shape and conforming some specifications for the EV.The aptly named (though Skoda remains insistent on finishing SUV model names with a ‘q’) 2026 Skoda Peaq, placed at the top of the brand’s line-up, has been photographed in the classic camo-wrap pre-launch guise as the brand confirms the electric car’s drivetrain and dimension details.It's a a seven-seat electric SUV that will bring the brand’s Vision 7S concept, revealed in 2022, to production. It will also bring another much-needed option to the large electric SUV space which is currently mainly served by the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9.The Peaq is set to boast more than 600km of range in its upper variants, while charging from 10-80 per cent will take less than 29 minutes in all variants, the brand says.Three versions of the Peaq have been confirmed, a base model ‘60’ with a 63kWh battery and 460km+ of EV range, while two more variants (90 and 90x) get 91kWh batteries and 600km+ of range.The biggest difference between the three is power delivery - the 60 and 90 variants are both rear-wheel drive, while the top-spec 90x is all-wheel drive. Outputs are 150kW, 210kW and 220kW respectively.None are fast, though. The quickest is the 90x thanks to AWD and it manages 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds.This is likely down to weight. The Peaq is similar in size to the Skoda Kodiaq but a little larger in key dimensions, being 116mm longer, 5mm taller, gaining 174mm between the wheels and in turn an extra 25 litres of boot space compared to the Kodiaq.All up, the Peaq is 4874mm long and 1664mm tall with a 2965mm wheelbase and a huge 935L of boot space as a five-seater. Skoda hasn’t confirmed a width yet, for some reason.Inside, a 13-inch vertical multimedia touchscreen and a 10-inch driver display headline the tech, while an Android-based operating system runs “native Škoda apps and third‑party services”. Augmented‑­reality head‑up display, a digital mobile key, a Sonos sound system and dual phone chargers are also confirmed.The Skoda Peaq is expected to land in Australia in early 2027.

Skoda has seemingly done the impossible - launch a European-built electric vehicle (EV) for less than its Chinese-made rivals.The newly-launched Skoda Elroq Select 60 is priced from $49,990 drive-away, dramatically under-cutting its rivals from established brands like Hyundai, Kia and Toyota. The smaller Hyundai Kona is priced from $54,000 (plus on-road costs) while the similar-sized, but Chinese-built, Hyundai Elexio is priced from $59,990 drive-away. Even the Toyota bZ4X starts at $55,990.Where the Elroq really stands out is when you compare it to its competition from China. The  Geely EX5 starts from just $40,990 and the Leapmotor C10 costs $45,888 but the more popular BYD Sealion 7 starts at $54,990 and the Chinese-made Tesla Model Y is priced from $58,900, with both of those prices excluding on-road costs, further widening the gap between the Elroq.So how did Skoda make the Elroq so cheap? Lucie Kuhn, Skoda Australia director, was adamant that the Elroq price is not subsidized from head office, as she suggests many Chinese models are. It's continuous work,” Kuhn said. “Of course the factory develops also, in terms of purchasing strategies, developing better materials. Maybe the technologies are also improving and you have some scaling cost opportunities. So it's also a matter of negotiations with our head office to get a price that is positive in the Australian market. Because what is it good for to price the car with a high price and sell few units, it's good for nothing.”Instead, it is part of a long-term play from Skoda, and parent company Volkswagen Group, to gradually increase its share of the EV market by bringing down prices to become more competitive.“ So our strategy from the very beginning was to firmly integrate the electric portfolio into our range and to make it a relevant part,” she said.Adding: “It's not necessarily the cheapest of the cheapest, but it was never the purpose. It was to create a model that provides European values like safety, high European production standards, social responsibility and this kind of stuff, for a really good price. That positively resonates with the customer and develops some real interest there in the market.”However, there is still a huge sales chasm between the Elroq and its Chinese rivals in terms of sales. Skoda, without the price-led Select 60 variant, sold just 253 Elroq last year, compared to 13,410 BYD Sealion 7, 3944 Geely EX5 and even 579 Leapmotor C10.Kuhn knows the addition of the more-affordable variant will not suddenly rocket the Elroq up the sales order, but is designed to set the brand up for long-term, sustainable growth.“I think it is not the purpose to go with Chinese pricing,” Kuhn said. “I think we have other values to offer compared to them and have other benefits maybe than the Chinese brands. We don't know what will happen with the Chinese pricing in the future because the Chinese business is currently quite heavily subsidized there from the government to, let's say speed up and accelerate the electromobility.“Taking it as a kind of benchmark for future pricing of all the other competitors is not the way we really want it to go. I think the price for a European product, considering the fact that the car has a seven year warranty and service pack, I would say it's really good.”