Skoda Epiq Reviews

If you’re getting impatient for an affordable alternative to the blistering Hyundai Ioniq 5 N then you’ll have to wait a little longer.Soaring demand compounded by lagging production schedules have delayed the release of what promises to be one of the most exciting affordable electric vehicles (EVs) coming to Australia in the foreseeable future.That’s the Skoda Elroq RS (for Rallye Sport), a mid-sized SUV pocket-rocket from Czechia, with dual electric motors for all-wheel drive.Expected to start from about $65,000, it's now likely to arrive sometime in the second quarter of 2027.According to Skoda Australia Head of Product and Marketing, Kieran Merrigan, strong interest due to the spiking fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East earlier this year caught the brand shorthanded.“One vehicle we said we were going to bring this year was the Elroq RS,” he admitted to the Australian media at a recent Kodiaq RS and Enyaq RS snow/ice-driving demonstration event in New Zealand.“We have delayed it slightly, not because we wanted to. It was more about during the high demand for electric cars (as a result of the fallout of geo-political issues that really took hold from the second quarter of this year). We also ran into production of Elroq.”Kerrigan added that working through the growing order bank for the regular Elroq, which launched late last year from $49,990 drive-away, making it one of the most affordable and best value European EVs in Australia, was the priority.In other words, there was no point releasing a 180km/h performance flagship grade with no hope of it arriving locally before 2027.“We wanted to focus on delivering the customer deliveries we've had, rather than introducing a new model just for the sake of it,” he said.“So, we are in the process of getting through that backlog of customer orders, and our plan is to go into production again, assuming everything lines up with customer deliveries. Currently, (we’re in production week) 48 this year, which means that (by approximately) March next year, we should have (Elroq RS) to market.“And we’re really excited about it.”Drilling down in the Elroq RS’ standout features, the dual electric motors make 250kW of power and 697Nm of torque, enabling a 0-100km/h sprint time of a tidy 5.4 seconds.Along with faster charging capabilities and bigger brake calipers, the Elroq RS boasts a body kit, unique front and rear bumpers, special 21-inch alloy wheels, additional LED headlight elements, bolder colour choices, glossier body trim, RS sports seats with driver’s side memory, carbon-look dash material, stainless steel pedal covers, suede style upholstery covering for the dash, door cards, seating and elsewhere.

Three months with the MY26 Skoda Elroq Select 60 have come and gone in the blink of an eye.The segment-straddling, fully-electric SUV has been a pleasure to ‘own’ because of its city-friendly size that would surely make Goldilocks blush.But there is more to the Elroq story than its practicality, as its European nature should mean it is also one for the keen drivers. But is it?That is what we are going to find out in this third instalment of our long-term review of the entry-level Select 60.In part one we detailed its relatively keen pricing and surprisingly high specification, while the second explored its Euro design and aforementioned practicality. To find out more click the links directly below.Now, it is time to go for a drive before I deliver my overall verdict on the Elroq. Let’s go!Simply put, the Elroq is a joy to drive.A lot of EVs these days are not particularly engaging behind the wheel, but this Czech model flips the script with its well-balanced ride and handling.The Elroq Select 60 may lack adaptive dampers, but its MacPherson-strut front and multi-link rear suspension delivers a level of suppleness over potholes and speed bumps – without being too soft like a lot of its new Chinese competitors. Some would say it is firm, but it is definitely not jarring.At the same time the Elroq maintains good body control when pushed hard through your favourite set of corners, enough that you will want to drive around them again.Handling in general is strong, offering plenty of confidence, with grip plentiful despite the rear-wheel drive set-up, which is a rarity in the small-car segment.RWD is much more fun than front-wheel drive, as you’re pushed out of corners rather than pulled, plus there is, generally, the benefit of a tighter turning circle, which is perfect for the city.The electric power steering is nice and direct, albeit on the lighter side when it comes to weighting, but I don't mind it around town, where it makes low-speed manoeuvres, like parking, much easier to execute.The steering wheel is a little too thin for my liking, but I got used to it quickly enough.The MY26 Select 60 on test here only produces 150kW and 310Nm from its single electric motor, which is a significant 60kW/235Nm short of other Elroq variants.As a result, the Select 60’s 0-100km/h sprint time of eight seconds flat is 1.4 seconds slower than the other Elroq variants, which you will certainly notice when merging onto or overtaking on the highway.But the reality is most of your acceleration in the Select 60 will be to 40-60km/h and in those instances it will feel very spritely, as most EVs do.Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels are predictably good, given the Elroq is an EV that operates almost silently.Some road and tyre noise can be heard at higher speeds, but it thankfully never drones.Where the MY26 Elroq disappoints, though, is with its regenerative braking.Two levels are on offer, with the default the equivalent to engine braking in an internal-combustion model, while the B mode for the single-speed automatic transmission offers stronger energy recuperation.That said, the B mode is still not the equivalent of one-pedal driving, which is an EV signature I have sorely missed over the past three months.Thankfully, Skoda Australia has confirmed the Elroq’s MY27 update introduces a one-pedal option, meaning new owners will be able to drive by just modulating the accelerator pedal.The performance of the friction brakes is strong, should you need to properly use the left pedal.However, the blending between the regenerative and friction braking could be better.Also, the friction brakes start to bite when the right pedal is partly depressed, which takes some getting used to.In what seems to be a shock these days, the Elroq’s advanced driver-assist systems are rather pleasant in the real world.The lane-keep and steering assist functions are relatively well measured, while the adaptive cruise control is nicely calibrated – although it is not particularly energy efficient if you are trying to maximise your driving range (more on that in a moment).There are also no incessant over-speed or driver-attention warnings to combat – hooray!That said, it is a shame surround-view cameras are unavailable in the MY26 Select 60, even as an option.And the reversing camera you do get is shockingly low-resolution, which should not be a thing in 2026.The front parking sensors are also intermittently a little too sensitive in traffic, but it is by no means a deal-breaker.In my third and final month behind the wheel of the MY26 Elroq Select 60 my average energy consumption was 15.8kWh/100km over 1068km, a slightly higher proportion of which was in the city.This more efficient environment meant that result was 0.1kWh/100km and 0.3kWh/100km better than I managed in months one and three.My three-month average was 15.9kWh/100km over 2797km, which equates to a real-world driving range of 371km, based on the MY26 Select 60’s useable battery capacity of 59kWh.That is just 24km short of the MY26 claim and still good enough for a regular urban commuter, but I would personally be paying the premium for the long-range MY26 Elroq, which promises up to 529km between charges.Acquired: May 6, 2026Distance travelled this month: 1068kmOdometer: 3755kmAverage energy consumption this month: 15.8kWh/100km

Volkswagen appears to have a  monster hit on its hands, as buyers line-up to get their hands on its latest machine.The new Volkswagen ID.Polo electric hatchback has more than 30,000 pre-orders, according to AutoNews.The frantic rush of buyers trying to jump into a ID.Polo has overwhelmed the brands expectations, with customers now facing a 10 month wait.Volkswagen’s little electric car has just gone on sale in Europe, and it appears its success will mean any future Australian arrival could be pushed back to meet demand on the continent.The German brand’s new entry-level electric car will go head-to-head with the new wave of cut-price EVs from China, such as the MG4, BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora 5.It is priced from the equivalent of about $41,000 in Germany, so expect it to be more if it arrives Down Under.Volkswagen is offering three electric motor choices: 85kW, 99kW or 155kW. The German brand has also confirmed a 166kW GTI version, but it won’t launch until next year in Europe.Lower grade versions will use a 37kWh battery, offering a driving range of 329km (WLTP), while higher specifications get 454km (WLTP) of range from a 52kWh unit. Volkswagen has previously said the ID.Polo has a max charging rate of 105kW. The ID.Polo is spawning a range of electric cars including the Volkswagen ID.Cross little electric SUV, Skoda Epiq and Cupra Raval.AutoNews also reported the ID.Cross had received very strong interest ahead of its arrival in European showrooms later this year.Skoda’s version of the ID.Polo, the Epiq, also has more than 35,000 orders.“The Epiq is generating very strong customer interest. We have clearly struck a nerve,” a Skoda spokesperson told Autonews.Cupra’s version, called Raval, also has a long wait list, with reports the Raval and Epiq orders stretch into May of 2027.Volkswagen has been struggling recently as sales in China, and of its first round of global electric cars, failed to fire.It has also experienced huge issues with its CARIAD software department, which has been losing billions of dollars.Volkswagen’s board has recently approved to cut 50,000 jobs, close several factories, cut half of the group’s models and even possibly delete the Seat brand.

With the aim of putting the once dreaded concept of ‘range anxiety’ firmly in the rear view mirrors it seems electric vehicle hypermiling is a key promotional focus for carmakers around the world.Skoda is the latest brand to wring an extreme number of kilometres from a single EV battery charge, with a team of drivers pushing the recently introduced pure-electric Skoda Peaq seven-seat SUV 936km from the company’s Mladá Boleslav headquarters in northern Czechia, north-west through Germany to the Netherlands.The recently introduced Peaq already has an impressive WLTP-rated combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) range figure of 647 kilometres.Somehow the car’s 91kWh battery was able to cough up an additional 289km of range, setting a new seven-seat EV range record in the process.The run was supervised by certification authority TÜV SÜD with average energy use coming in at 9.2kWh/100km, an exceptional number for a fully-equipped, three-row SUV weighing in excess of two tonnes.Despite its close to 4.9-metre overall length the Czech maker’s new flagship boasts a drag-coefficient of 0.249, which surely assisted in the distance attempt.Skoda said company employees, Marek Jež and Jakub Krs, wanted to test themselves and the new SUV’s range potential.“The aim was to demonstrate what the technology can achieve when pushed to its limits.To maximise the range, we selected the most suitable route and, of course, adapted our driving style accordingly,” said Jakub Krs (Head of high-voltage battery strategy at Škoda Auto).“In everyday use, customers are unlikely to drive the car this way. Instead, they will take advantage of everything the Peaq has to offer in terms of driving dynamics, onboard infotainment and comfort,” added Marek Jež (Head of the Peaq model series).The car was a stock Peaq 90 which features the 91kWh traction battery (86kWh net), a single 210kW motor driving the rear wheels and its 19-inch wheels were shod with standard low-rolling-resistance rubber.Departing Mladá Boleslav (where the Peaq is produced) at midday on Tuesday August 25, the record team took breaks to change drivers, rest and eat before reaching the Netherlands early on the morning of Wednesday August 26.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 local EV range.Based on European pricing it will likely sit above the $80,000 mark here, sending a shot across the bows of existing electric three-row SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 ($119,750) and Kia EV9 ($97,000), both before on-road costs.

The model poised to be Skoda’s best-seller in Australia next year has improved, with better safety, more practicality and an expanded range topped by the return of the higher-performance RS flagship.On sale now from $51,990 (all prices are before on-road costs), as before, the Czechian mid-sized SUV EV kicks off with the Select 60 rear-wheel drive (RWD) in SUV Wagon-only guise, leaving the swoopier Enyaq Coupe SUV models reserved only for higher grades from Sportline 85 (from $60,990-Wagon/$66,990-Coupe) and up for now.That’s a $1000 jump compared to when it arrived in Australia late last year, though the changes do run deeper than usual for a model-year refresh.They include upgraded autonomous emergency braking (AEB) functionality, as part of upgraded advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) technologies, with new cross-road assist bringing lateral on-coming vehicle detection and braking, broader single-pedal driving with full-stopping capability, and traffic sign recognition.On the practicality front, the Enyaq now scores a 21-litre storage enclosure underneath the bonnet (also known as a frunk in Tesla-speak), a revised Android multimedia set-up offering short cuts among other advances, and a 25-watt Mag Safe wireless smartphone charger.As outlined earlier this year, the Enyaq RS returns, in new SUV Wagon form from $76,590, as well as returning SUV Coupe shape for $1000 extra.Dubbed the most powerful production Skoda ever offered in Australia, power and torque are rated at 250kW and 545Nm respectively. A motor on each axle brings all-wheel drive, allowing for a 0-100km/h sprint-time of 5.4 seconds on the way to a 180km/h top speed.On the efficiency front, RS’ combined WLTP range is 546km for the Wagon and 11km more in the more-slippery Coupe.It also features a 2kWh-larger battery pack compared to the mid-range 85 Sportline’s 82kWh alternative, while the base 60 Select sticks with a 61kWh item.Further upgrades include the addition of the Volkswagen Group’s Dynamic Chassis Control tech, offering adaptive dampers, dedicated drive modes with an individualisation setting and 21-inch wheels.You’ll be able to spot the RS from lowlier Enyaqs by their unique alloys, body kit, reshaped bumpers, glossier trim and additional colour options on the outside, and racier trim, leather sports seats with heating and ventilation up front, upgraded audio, fatter steering wheel rim and augmented reality head-up display inside.It’s worth noting that the Enyaq SUV Coupe’s 570-litre cargo capacity is just 15L shy of the SUV Wagon’s, though with rear-seats down, that gap is 100L at 1610L versus 1710L.

Car companies must get used to surviving on fewer sales, even the biggest names in the industry.So says two leaders of such brands, with both the local Audi and Skoda bosses admitting the influx of new competition and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is putting them under pressure.Among the top 20 best-selling brands across the first half of 2026 only two non-Chinese brands experienced sales growth - Kia (up just 0.5 per cent) and Honda (up 2.2 per cent). The rest of the long-popular brands, including Toyota, Ford, Mazda and Mitsubishi experienced double-digit sales declines.Meanwhile, the brands with huge sales growth in Australia were all the newer Chinese ones, with BYD, Chery, Geely, Omoda-Jaecoo and Zeekr all more than doubling their sales in the first seven months of 2026 compared to 2025.The overall market, the total number of cars sold, is almost exactly the same as the first half of 2025, with just 1459 sales difference. Which means that the metaphorical ‘pie’ representing the local market is the same size, but more people want a slice and some brands are commanding a very large slice.In this climate Lucie Kuhn, Skoda Australia Brand Director, admitted to CarsGuide she is accepting of her brand’s 3.4 per cent sales decline so far in 2026. In comparison to related-brands Volkswagen (down 18.9%), Cupra (down 31%) and Audi (down 14.4%), Kuhn is right not to be too unhappy with how Skoda is performing.“I think every brand would like to grow,” she admitted.“It's simply in our minds, and this is actually what moves the brands forward. This kind of, let's say, set-up. But unfortunately the market conditions are so challenging, and not just because of the new entrants."I think in general, interest rate, pricing and this kind of stuff. yes, actually being able to deliver the same volumes as the last year is actually a kind of relatively solid news, I would say.”When asked if 2026 will mark a turning point for the industry and which brands lead the sales charts, Kuhn admitted it is likely the case that the entire industry will recalibrate and established brands will have to get used to selling less volume.“ The industry will be recalibrating,” she said.“I think this year it has just started, but I think we have ahead of us another three years at least, maybe three up to five. We'll see when the entire industry will be, let's say, looking for its new normal."Seventy competitors in the market, yeah, it's a lot. And I think every brand will try to find not only its new normal, but find its new viable normal. And viable normal for all the stakeholders, because this is the most complex thing. It’s not just OEMs, importer, dealers, and still being competitive and attractive enough to the customer."This is what is ahead all of us, and it doesn't matter if it's a legacy brand, but it's also the Chinese entrants, they will have the same thing. Because running like that, it's simply a penetration strategy. It will end up somewhere… and then what?”Audi Australia Managing Director Jeff Mannering went a step further and believes the market is actually “overcooked” in terms of legitimate customer sales.“ I think the automotive industry, I think the whole economy is under pressure,” Mannering said.“I think that, as I said, the cost of living is going up. I think there's a lot of propping up of numbers through, you know, registrations of, there's a lot of fleet cars going into, like very cheap cars. There's a lot of manufacturer support. The number is probably, I reckon, about 20 per cent overcooked on what actually is a customer car, it's been like that for some time.”Mannering admitted that despite the arrival of a new Q5 e-hybrid and updated Q4, Audi is likely in for a difficult second half of 2026 in terms of pure sales.“Whether it's a bounce back or not we just need to make sure that we are working with our dealers and making sure that the customers are getting the information that they need to know about our products. It's gonna be a tough second half of the year,” he said.As for 2027 and beyond, Kuhn believes the car brands will simply need to adapt to a new normal, with a focus on profit over volume, regardless of the heritage of the brand.“Viable actually means that every brand needs to find a volume and price point. Yeah? That makes you profitable on the dealer level and on, obviously, the supply level; importer, OEM, whatever,” she explained.“So volume growth is not a priority. You're not pushing the volumes anymore. You simply find a balance between volume and profit, and this is what right now everyone will be looking for.”For both Kuhn and Mannering, they know they will need to fight harder for their ‘slice of pie’ in the coming years as more and more new brands arrive and further shakes up the local market. ”Yeah, true. Are we happy about it? I would say no,” Mannering said.“But if it eventuates, and if you just base it on maths, it probably will eventuate. It's our job to make sure that we shift with the times… fight for some more pie.” 

An unexpected carmaker is poised to achieve a historic first in Australia and it may happen as soon as next year.In a first for a legacy – or long-established – carmaker of volume, Skoda is set to have its best seller switch from an internal combustion engine (ICE) model to an electric vehicle (EV).This will beat out other much larger manufacturers to the punch in this country like Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai.Speaking to the Australian press at a snow/ice-driving event near Queenstown in New Zealand, Skoda Australia Brand Director, Lucie Kuhn, revealed that the Enyaq mid-sized SUV is closing in fast on the venerable Kodiaq seven-seater large SUV for the firm's number one slot.“The Kodiaq still remains our best-selling (vehicle),” she said.“But I’m quite sure Enyaq will join it on stage in this electric era, and we will most likely have two heroes… (Skoda is currently) selling 700 units together year-to-date.”Pitch-perfect timing has played a big role in the rise of the European EV, not just in Australia, but also in many other parts of the world, with Skoda essentially relaunching the Enyaq at facelift time to appeal to a wider audience than before.For Australia, that happened when the extensively upgraded Series II models arrived near the end of last year, brandishing a broader model range as well as a long list of improvements.Among these has been the addition of a more conventional SUV Wagon shape to the earlier, higher-spec-only SUV Coupe series.Along with providing a more practical and some say prettier alternative, that also included the arrival of a new entry-level grade with a smaller battery known as the 60 Select, which started from around $55,000 drive-away.Aided by the closely related Elroq EV, which is essentially an Enyaq but with a shorter rear overhang for a more-compact SUV-style appearance, the order influx that Skoda has experienced since the beginning of the Middle Eastern war in March caught it short on stock.In fact, that record could have been broken this year had production supply kept up with demand for the company’s EVs.“(Our sales in Australia) would have been more if we had a better supply of EVs during the little surprises dating from March to June, let’s say,” Kuhn revealed.“It would definitely have been better than last year overall and better than (today’s) numbers.”Kuhn added that, in the second quarter of this year when oil prices spiked to record-highs, the order banks for its two EVs ran as high as 80 per cent, though that has since settled to around 45 per cent.However, the continuing geo-political uncertainty means that demand for electric Skodas may skyrocket soon.“I think every brand that has a mixed portfolio (of ICE and EVs) faced this customer behaviour changes,” Kuhn explained.“The same of course, applies for us, particularly during the period of March to June, let's say, when our EV share boomed up to 80 percent almost, which, of course, caused empty stocks and longer waiting times for fresh production (of EVs).“Now it's stabilising across the industry, and it's stabilising also for Skoda.“So currently we are around 40 to 45 per cent.”Skoda will double the number of EVs it sells in Australia from next year.Already confirmed is the Epiq, which will be its cheapest ever EV in this country (and likely a brand best-seller contender), as well as the Peaq seven-seater SUV, earmarked by 2028. 

Skoda has indicated two key SUV electric vehicles (EVs) slated for Australia may have their release dates pushed back.With booming demand for EVs in Europe against a backdrop of war in the Middle East and subsequent spiking oil prices, buyers in Australia may have to wait until the end of next year before they can get behind the wheel of the Epiq small SUV.Likewise, the recently announced Skoda Peaq seven-seater large SUV EV, a companion model to the popular Kodiaq and the stated flagship – or peak – of the Czechian brand’s extensive range, might still be up to two years away from a local launch.According to Skoda Australia Brand Director, Lucie Kuhn, there are a number of factors at play putting pressure on the availability of these two important electric models.“Here in Australia, we are trying to fight to get the launch of global models, the Epiq and Peaq,” she said. “We are awaiting final confirmation.”With sales of EVs expected to eclipse internal combustion engine models for Skoda in Australia, the importance of the Epiq in particular cannot be overstated.Closely related to the just-released VW ID. Polo light car supermini and ID. Cross electric crossover version that are already creating a buzz with strong pre-orders in Europe, it is a key player in the Volkswagen Group’s retaliation against the wave of cheap EVs from China.More specifically, the Epiq uses a modified version of the MEB electrical architecture known as MEB+ designed to slash engineering and production costs.Developed by Seat in Spain (where all models including a Cupra Raval version will be built), it switches from a rear-motor/rear-wheel-drive (RWD) configuration to a front-motor/front-drive layout.Along with a simpler torsion beam rear suspension set-up and the choice of two modestly sized battery packs of 39kWh (for 310km of WLTP range) and 55kWh (for about 440km WLTP) sizes, the goal here is to save money.Speaking of which, while pricing and specification details have yet to confirmed for our market, the entry-level version is expected to kick off from somewhere in the mid-$30,000 region.This would take the fight up to the BYD Atto 2, GWM Ora 5, Jaecoo J5, Leapmotor B10 and Chery E5.Crucially, at the time of publishing, neither VW has been confirmed for Australia as yet.The Peaq, meanwhile, employs a stretched version of the Enyaq’s MEB architecture, and will offer 60 RWD, 90 RWD and 90X all-wheel drive powertrains.Globally unveiled in late June, Skoda has yet to reveal many details about this model, but it is anticipated that the main target will be the successful Tesla Model Y L, which currently retails from around $75,000 and $90,000 before on-road costs in Australia.If the brand can achieve similar pricing to the latter, it would undercut a host of electric alternatives, including the Kia EV9, Volvo EX90, Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Mercedes-Benz EQS.Both models represent strong opportunities for conquest sales for the company.“We are hard at work now, working on Epiq and Peaq,” according to Skoda Australia Head of Product and Marketing, Kieran Merrigan.“The feedback is really awesome, and we can't wait to see the work on them and bring them to market – 2027 for the Epiq, and then late 2027 or 2028 for the Peaq.”

Skoda is a somewhat strange brand in Australia where it blossomed quite late after being brought into the Volkswagen family. The brand is seen as slightly left of centre in some regards, but utterly practical and sensible in terms of things like layout and packaging.The Skoda Kodiaq is the company’s mid-sized seven-seat SUV. It incorporates all-wheel drive which operates mostly as a front-wheel drive system.Engine choices consist of a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with 132kW, a 2.0 litre turbo-diesel with 140kW and a retuned version of that engine (with an extra turbocharger) with 176kW for the sportier variants. All Kodiaqs used a seven-speed dual-clutch auto transmission with a wet-clutch design.A facelift for 2018 brought a larger 9.2 inch touchscreen and a Sportline trim variant joined the range with its 20-inch alloy wheels and blacked out trim. The other notable addition was the 2022 Kodiaq RS which ditched the turbo-diesel engine for a 180kW turbo-petrol 2.0 litre.Within the Skoda company, this generation of the Kodiaq was known as the NS model.Built on the VW Tiguan’s platform, the Kodiaq is one of the smaller seven-seaters you can buy. In turn, that means the third row seats are exclusively for kids, and smaller ones at that, so it’s an occasional seven-seater for growing Aussie families. If you regularly move more than five bodies, there are better alternatives.What the Kodiaq does have, though, is a big chunk of personality. It’s practical in the way it's laid out and equipped and a bit more playful to look at than the Tiguan it shares so much with. If sporty driving fun is important to you, the Skoda scores a few more points over some of its peers.There will be people who will tell you their Skoda has been the most reliable car they’ve ever owned. And while it’s true build quality and materials are up to the VW family’s usual high standards, the Skoda, based as it is on the Volkswagen Tiguan mechanical platform, has had its share of reliability problems.Overall the picture is not bad and certainly not as terrible as those dark days of VW quality of a decade earlier.The turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine has a reputation for liking a drop of oil, but this is down to the design, not a fault with the engine. It uses low-friction piston rings (as do a lot of modern engine designs) and the small amount of oil consumed is more than offset by the fuel savings of the low-friction engine. Owners still need to keep an eye on the oil level, however.The demons of earlier dual-clutch transmissions seem to have been expelled by the time the Kodiaq NS turned up. Even so, you need to see a full service history to be sure and make certain during the test drive the transmission is not slow to select gears or that it doesn't shudder when you take off from a green light. These symptoms point to costly transmission woes.As a seven-seat family car, you also need to make sure the interior hasn’t been pummelled by years of carting kids, dogs and pushbikes around.The Kodiaq had been the subject of a handful or recalls, including one to check whether all the required nuts securing the rear seat had been fitted at the factory. Another was to ensure part of the engine’s plastic cover didn’t contact the turbocharger unit, which could have caused an under-bonnet fire.Possibly the most critical recall, though, was one involving the infamous Takata airbags that were fitted to some Kodiaq and needed to be replaced before they were needed in a crash. You can check out the details at https://www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au/ to see if your car was affected. The alternative is to contact Skoda Australia’s customer service department for a VIN check.Not much changed mechanically over the years the NS model was on sale, so the Kodiaq to avoid now is the one lacking a full service history, with higher kilometres, or evidence of having been neglected or knocked about, rather than one with a particular build date.Experience with VW Group products has taught many people to be suspicious of cars with high mileage. Certainly, any second-hand Kodiaq with a big number on its odometer would force you to check the service history of that car very carefully.The vast majority of Kodiaqs from this series of cars have travelled less than 200,000km, so there’s no intel yet on how they’ll fare with even bigger distances on board.While the Kodiaq featured a maximum five-star safety package as standard, the one to buy now is not a specific trim level, but an example where the original purchaser ordered the Luxury Pack.The Luxury Pack added convenience stuff like ventilated, heated and memory front seats, matrix LED headlights, steering wheel paddles, tri-zone climate-control, as well as some important safety additions such as a 360-degree camera view, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. It’s worth the extra for that safety gear alone.Low to mid-teens is where the action starts here, but for that sort of money, you’ll probably be buying a relatively high-mileage example with at least 180,000 or 190,000km on board and perhaps even more.At the other end of the price scale, there’s lots of choice in late model Kodiaqs with little more than demonstrator mileage (sub-10,000km) showing. These are being offered for anything from low $50,000s to $60,000 and occasionally even more than that. That said, they’re basically brand-new cars at that point.Skoda dealerships are not as plentiful as Volkswagen showrooms, but the reality is that a VW dealer should be able to help with much of a Skoda’s servicing requirements. That goes for parts supply, too, and it’s also true to say an independent workshop specialising in late-model VWs should also cope easily with a Skoda.The exception to that will be in terms of body panels and trim pieces which are Skoda-specific. But the Kodiaq is a global model, so there’s plenty of online and overseas sources for such things.Like VW generally, the Skoda brand has a huge enthusiast following, so performance-oriented replacement parts are also readily available from a variety of vendors.Kodiaq sales represent a decent chunk of Skoda’s Australian sales. But as a fairly niche brand, that doesn’t mean Kodiaqs are everywhere. In fact, Skoda sells between 1000 and 2000 Kodiaqs a year in this country, making its stablemate the VW Tiguan, a much more common sight on roads and in the for-sale classifieds.

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.