Škoda's Small Car Future: Cheaper EVs and a New Life for the Scala

Škoda has built its reputation on delivering practical, spacious cars at sensible prices. Models like the Scala demonstrate just how much car the Czech manufacturer can offer for the money, but as the industry moves towards electrification, can Škoda bring that same value to its smallest electric models?

The incoming Epiq is an important step, offering generous practicality in a compact electric SUV. Yet with rivals increasingly offering capable EVs for under £20,000, its £25,000 starting price leaves plenty of room below.

With Volkswagen Group developing a new generation of affordable electric platforms, TNY Design Studio explores how a Fabia EV, reborn Citigo and even a tiny crossover could strengthen Škoda's range, alongside a refreshed, hybrid-powered Scala.

Few cars demonstrate Škoda's approach to value quite as convincingly as the Scala. Starting at £24,225, it costs barely more than a Toyota Yaris at £23,995, yet at 4,362mm long, it's virtually identical in length to the considerably larger Toyota Corolla hatchback.

Its generous 467-litre boot is another highlight, offering the sort of luggage capacity that makes everyday family life considerably easier. Even the entry-level SE Edition includes LED headlights, a reversing camera, digital instruments and metallic paint, while economical petrol engines help keep running costs manageable.

The Scala might lack the Yaris's full-hybrid technology, but in terms of outright space and practicality for the money, it's an exceptionally appealing proposition.

This is what Škoda has traditionally done so well: delivering more car than buyers might expect for their money. The question now is whether it can bring that same philosophy to affordable electric motoring. (Image Credit: Škoda)

The new Škoda Epiq is a welcome addition, offering a generous 475-litre boot and approximately 190 miles of range from £24,950. But while it represents reasonable value for an electric SUV, there is surely room for something smaller and cheaper.

Fiat's distinctive Grande Panda Electric starts at around £21,500, while the stylish Renault 5 is available from £21,495 including the UK Government Electric Car Grant. Both demonstrate that affordable EVs can offer practicality and personality without breaking the bank.

Volkswagen's new ID. Polo starts at £23,945, sharing its MEB+ platform with the Epiq. Could Škoda use this engineering to develop a simpler, more affordable sister model?

TNY Design Studio imagines a Fabia EV, combining Škoda's latest Modern Solid styling with familiar supermini proportions and a target price of around £20,000.

Achieving that price would require careful cost-saving, but a practical, stylish electric Fabia could bring Škoda's traditional value philosophy to a new generation of buyers.
 

Škoda is no stranger to affordable electric city cars. The original Citigoᵉ iV arrived in 2019, offering an 82bhp electric motor, a 36.8kWh battery and up to 160 miles of range. Despite measuring just 3.6 metres long, it offered four seats and a useful 250-litre boot.

Volkswagen is already preparing its next-generation electric city car, previewed by the ID. EVERY1 concept. Arriving in 2027, it targets a European starting price of around €20,000, potentially translating to approximately £18,000 in Britain.

Could Škoda take this affordable platform even further? TNY Design Studio imagines a reborn Citigo EV that could undercut its Volkswagen sibling, potentially becoming the Volkswagen Group's cheapest electric car.

Competition would be fierce. The new Renault Twingo is targeting a sub-£20,000 price, while the Leapmotor T03 and Dacia Spring already demonstrate just how affordable electric motoring can become.

A modern, practical Citigo EV could give Škoda a genuine entry-level electric car, positioned comfortably below the Fabia EV and Epiq.

Small electric crossovers are becoming an increasingly interesting part of the market, with models like the Hyundai Inster demonstrating how much practicality can be squeezed into a compact footprint.

TNY Design Studio imagines a Citigo Cross, combining the affordable engineering of our proposed Citigo EV with raised suspension, protective body cladding and more adventurous styling.

Sharing much of its engineering with the standard Citigo could help control costs, while a starting price under £20,000 would position it comfortably below the larger Epiq.

Could a tiny, affordable electric SUV help Škoda attract an entirely new group of buyers?

The Scala remains one of Škoda's strongest value propositions, so why abandon it? TNY Design Studio imagines a substantial Modern Solid facelift to keep the existing model looking fresh. Introducing Volkswagen Group's 1.0-litre TSI engine with 48V mild-hybrid technology, previously offered in the Golf, could also make plenty of sense.

Keeping prices around £24,000 would preserve its appeal while comfortably undercutting the larger Octavia.

There's a longer-term consideration, too. Škoda is exploring whether a single future model could replace both the Octavia and Superb, potentially leaving a substantial gap between the Fabia and its next larger non-SUV.

Not everybody wants a crossover. A refreshed, economical Scala could remain the spacious, affordable family hatchback that Škoda's range needs.

From an affordable electric city car to a spacious family hatchback, Škoda has an opportunity to build on the qualities that have made it so appealing to value-conscious buyers. As electric cars become increasingly affordable, there's an opportunity to bring those same strengths to a new generation of smaller models.

The Epiq is a promising starting point, but a £20,000 Fabia EV, an even cheaper Citigo and a compact crossover alternative could help Škoda compete with the growing number of affordable electric rivals.

Meanwhile, keeping the Scala fresh and competitively priced would ensure that buyers seeking a practical, traditional family hatchback aren't forgotten.

These are possibilities rather than confirmed plans, but the opportunity is clear: Škoda doesn't need to reinvent its identity for the electric age. It simply needs to keep doing what it has always done best — offering genuinely good value.