Skoda Australia is set to introduce not only its first electric vehicle (EV) during 2024, but also a new generation of one of its volume sellers.
Once the Volkswagen Group’s budget brand, Skoda is being repositioned as more of a peer to the Volkswagen and Cupra brands.
Don’t expect, therefore, for new Skoda models to necessarily undercut their corporate cousins on price, however the brand will still emphasise value for money.
“I don’t think Skoda needs to be cheaper than Volkswagen necessarily,” said Volkswagen Group Australia product and PR communications manager Daniel DeGasperi.
“Skoda are so focused on cost of ownership, and that’s what dealers are saying is resonating with Skoda customers. So we do clear finance rates, clear weekly repayments, seven-year warranty, care plans, so on and so forth.”
Scala facelift: First quarter of 2024
Revealed last month, Skoda’s updated small car gets a raft of predominantly cosmetic changes with no mechanical changes announced.
There are slimmer headlights and new alloy wheel designs for what Skoda claims is a sportier look overall. Matrix LED headlights are newly available.
Inside, there’s a new climate control panel as well as new dash and door inserts and upholstery.
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Kamiq facelift: First quarter of 2024
Revealed simultaneously with the updated Scala, the updated Kamiq gets a similar suite of cosmetic tweaks including restyled tail lights and revised front and rear bumpers for a more rugged look.
Like the Scala, the updated Kamiq gets the option of matrix LED headlights, while inside there’s a new climate control panel and new dash and door inserts and upholstery.
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Enyaq: Mid-2024
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Enyaq RS iV
The electric Enyaq could arrive around July 2024, like the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 it shares its MEB architecture with.
Like its corporate cousins, it will offer a choice of a single-motor rear-wheel drive variant and a hot dual-motor all-wheel drive flagship – the latter wears the familiar RS nameplate.
The RWD Enyaq features an 82kWh (77kWh usable) battery, with WLTP range of 570km and a new 210kW electric motor.
The RS has the same size battery but with 517km of range and a 220kW/460Nm dual-motor powertrain, though it’s about to be upgraded.
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Enyaq Coupe RS iV
Skoda has yet to confirm pricing or what the local line-up will look like. It also hasn’t confirmed whether we will get both the traditional SUV body style and the coupe SUV, though it says it’s pursuing a “very highly specified model”.
“Where it lands in terms of price may be somewhat different to where it lands in terms of equipment, relative to the ID.4. They are being product-planned separately,” said Mr DeGasperi.
Skoda Australia’s managing director, Michael Irmer, has previously hinted at a price tag for the Enyaq at least a couple of thousand dollars more than the current Kodiaq RS, which rings up at $74,990 drive-away.
A price tag in the high-$70k range would put the RWD Enyaq up against not only the Tesla Model Y Long Range, currently $80,200 before on-roads, but also the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5.
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Kodiaq: Fourth quarter of 2024
The second-generation Kodiaq is due in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2024, but while it will offer a plug-in hybrid for the first time in Europe, it’s expected to remain petrol-only here.
After a barrage of spy photos and teasers, we have a good idea of what the Kodiaq will look like. Its styling is evolutionary, though inside it has quite a different look than the current car.
It features a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen, a head-up display, a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, and three rotary dials with screens that can be used to adjust the climate, stereo volume, and other functions.
The Kodiaq also gets two wireless phone chargers.
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Superb: Early 2025
While the Superb is entering production only around six weeks after the Kodiaq, there will likely be a wider gap between the two in terms of local launch timing.
As it has previously confirmed, the Superb is arriving later due to engine availability. It’s due in Australia in early 2025.
“The Superb we could get a bit earlier but we want to wait for the high-performance powertrain,” said Mr DeGasperi.
“The high-spec turbo-petrol is now the only spec you can get in Superb, the 162TSI… it was the more affordable option, but everyone just went to the 206TSI.”
Skoda has indicated it’s looking to police fleets for the next-generation Superb. The current-generation car is already on duty in Western Australia, and with Volkswagen axing the Passat locally there’s potential for more police sales for the flagship Skoda.
Like the Kodiaq, the next-generation Superb has been the subject of a long-running teaser campaign, and the vehicle’s exterior has more or less been revealed at this point.
It’s 43mm longer and 12mm taller than the outgoing car as a liftback and 40mm longer and 5mm taller as a wagon, on an identical 2841mm wheelbase.
Skoda has completely revealed the interior, which boasts a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen, a head-up display, a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, and three rotary dials with screens that can be used to adjust the climate, stereo volume, and other functions.
The new Superb will continue to offer petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options in Europe, but will be petrol-only here.
The company is also set to reveal an update to the smaller Octavia, though it hasn’t announced launch timing for Australia.
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