5 Minutes
Walk past the idle stamping presses and the hum of conveyors at Navarra and you’ll feel a story of reinvention being written in steel and silicon. Less than a month after its public debut, Skoda’s new Epiq has rolled into series production at Volkswagen Group’s Pamplona complex — a plant that has quietly evolved from a small licensed manufacturer into one of Europe’s high-volume EV hubs.
From Polos to electric ambition
Navarra’s resume is long enough to deserve a headline. Opened in 1965, it began life producing British-licensed cars, switched to SEAT assembly in the mid-1970s, and entered Volkswagen’s orbit in 1984 with the Polo. Over the decades the factory has been retooled repeatedly: T-Cross and Taigo were added, production lines modernized, and last year the site celebrated its 10 millionth vehicle. Today nearly 5,000 people work on-site, and the facility can turn out more than 1,400 cars a day when running at pace.
Production of the Skoda Epiq has now officially started at Navarra, and the plant will also build the closely related Volkswagen ID Cross later in 2026.
So what does the Epiq bring to the table? Think compact, urban-minded electric SUV — a B-segment package designed to broaden Skoda’s EV reach rather than chase premium range records. It’s front-wheel drive for now, offered with two battery sizes: 38.5 or 55 kilowatt-hours gross. Power spreads from about 85 kW up to 155 kW, which translates to roughly 114 to 208 horsepower on paper. The top WLTP range lands near 440 kilometers in the most frugal configuration, and DC fast charging from 10 to 80 percent can take roughly 24 minutes under ideal conditions.
That efficiency isn’t accidental. With a drag coefficient around 0.275, the Epiq favors clean aerodynamics to squeeze out highway economy — small margins, big payoff.
Trim choices and a clear positioning
Skoda positions the Epiq below the C-segment Elroq, and the interior and equipment strategy reflect that urban focus. The base Urban trim packs a 13.1-inch touchscreen, LED lighting front and rear, keyless access, and a suite of driver assists. Step up to Selection and you add two-zone Climatronic, advanced keyless entry, bidirectional charging capability, parking sensors both front and rear, and wireless phone charging. And then there’s a First Edition: visual upgrades, 20-inch alloys, orange seatbelts, a black roof, special upholstery, and synthetic leather on the multifunction sport wheel.
- Battery options: 38.5 kWh and 55 kWh (gross)
- Power: approx. 85–155 kW (114–208 hp)
- Top WLTP range: ~440 km (longest spec)
- Charging: 10–80% DC in about 24 minutes
Performance-minded shoppers will note a respectable sprint time: properly equipped, the Epiq reaches 100 km/h in about 7.1 seconds, with a top speed limited to 160 km/h. It’s not a track car, but it’s brisk for its class.
Price signals are mixed and market-specific. Skoda initially hinted at a starting price near 26,000 euros, but listing figures vary by country. In Spain promotional pricing appears as low as 22,800 euros after national incentives and scrappage aid (including a 4,500-euro EV incentive and a further 1,000 euros for trading in an older combustion car). In Germany the headline entry figure sits closer to 32,100 euros. That gap tells you one thing: local incentives still shape EV affordability more than the sticker price alone.
Navarra’s ramp-up underscores a larger shift. Car factories that once focused on metal stamping and manual assembly lines are now orchestras of software, battery handling, and high-precision automation. The Epiq won’t rewrite the rules of EVs, but it will help Skoda reach customers who want a pragmatic, well-equipped electric crossover without the bloat of the premium segment.
Is the Epiq the most glamorous EV to arrive this year? No. Is it one of the most commercially important for Skoda and for Navarra? Absolutely. Expect to see these small electric crossovers in urban driveways and rental fleets alike as the plant moves from first-off to full-rate production through the remainder of 2026.
Source: autoevolution
Comments
Marius
Is that 440 km WLTP for real in everyday use? Feels optimistic esp with the small 38.5 kWh pack... 24 min charge is fine but only with fast chargers nearby. if that’s real then nice, else meh
mechbyte
Wow Navarra really came a long way! Love the practical Epiq idea, compact and efficient. Price gap between countries tho, incentives make or break it. Bet these will be everywhere in city fleets.
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