Even opening the door is an experience, says the designer of the Peaq SUV

Take a seat inside the new Škoda Peaq electric SUV. You’ll be joined by Chan Park, Head of UX/UI and Interior Design at Škoda Auto. He’ll explain how his team managed to create a space where you feel right at home.

17. 9. 2026 eMobility

“Even opening the door is an experience, a user treat,” notes Chan Park, head of UX/UI & In-Car Design at Škoda. He points to one of the new features introduced by Peaq. The door-opening lever has been moved to the front of the door armrest. It is very robustly crafted, so it can be gripped firmly with the whole hand, and the fully mechanical operation remains intact.

It is precisely thanks to this approach Škoda car interiors are a pleasant place both aesthetically and in terms of practical use. The flagship Peaq SUV is currently the most sophisticated example of this.

Modern Solid Inside, Too

The Modern Solid philosophy has also brought a striking visual simplification to the interior. According to Chan Park, this posed a major challenge for the designers: “If you simply simplify everything without considering the proportions, it might not look right. You need to approach it conceptually and with attention to detail so the interior looks high-quality and inviting,” explains Škoda’s chief interior designer.

That’s why, according to Park, the designers paid close attention to every line, every angle and every volume. The goal wasn’t to reduce everything, but to tone down the ornamentation, give individual parts of the interior a sense of lightness while still maintaining a sense of quality and robustness.

For Maximum Comfort

The Peaq is available in five interior trim levels: Black Suite, Light Gray Suite Ceramique, Lodge, Loft, and Sportline Lounge. The Suite versions feature high-quality, durable Techtona leather alternative in black or rather light gray. Lodge combines dark gray fabric upholstery with Techtona in a green shade, while Loft features black upholstery with accents in Techtona in light gray and black. The Sportline Lounge interior offers front sport seats upholstered in a combination of Techtona and Suedia materials, both in black, complemented by contrasting white stitching.

Suite Black – featuring black Techtona upholstery, a high-tech alternative to leather

Black Suite with upholstery options in leather or Techtona fabric, both in black.

Suite Ceramique – featuring Techtona upholstery in a light grey shade

Light gray Suite Ceramique featuring Techtona material in a light gray shade.

Loft – the standard package, featuring black upholstery, light grey Techtona details on the dashboard and door panels, and black Techtona trim on the centre armrest

A loft with black upholstery, light gray Techtona accents on the dashboard and door panels, and black Techtona on the armrest.

Sportline Lounge with front sport seats upholstered in a combination of Techtona and Suedia materials, both in black.

The Relax package transforms travel in the Peaq model into an exceptionally comfortable experience. It includes electrically adjustable heated seats with official AGR ergonomic certification. The seats feature a massage function, electrically adjustable ergonomic leg rests, and in the case of Suite interiors—ventilation as well. The package also includes a wellness app that offers six different modes (such as relaxation, stretching, or recharging) and among other things achieves the desired effect by adjusting settings for the air conditioning, ambient lighting, and the seats’ massage function. Two pillows on the front seat headrests are also included.

That’s why the Peaq for example, features a “floating” infotainment display—the first vertically oriented screen of its kind for the Škoda brand. That’s why the dashboard has clean, straightforward lines that enhance its sleek appearance. That’s why the Sonos audio system speakers in the doors are covered by a metal grille that follows the lines of the ambient lighting and that’s why the center console features an open space beneath it. All of these elements convey a sense of lightness, elegance and highlight the carefully selected combinations of materials. At the same time however, there are also elements that balance this lightness with a thoughtful and functional design, making everyday use of the car more enjoyable.

The mechanical controls will remain

The 13.6-inch infotainment system display is the digital heart of the car, breathing life into the entire interior. Its user interface is brand new. “It’s clear and intuitive; you don’t have to search anywhere for basic functions. Everything fits easily into widgets on the main screen,” explains Chan Park as he taps the display.

The infotainment system runs on the Android operating system, which gives users access to their favourite apps and provides the automaker with greater freedom to work with the user interface and continue improving it. “It takes our ‘Simply Clever’ philosophy a step further in the digital environment,” adds Park.

Below the display, drivers will appreciate the robust mechanical controls: a prominent scroll wheel for volume control and intuitively placed buttons for the hazard lights and door locks. Below those are the temperature and ventilation controls, which also fit perfectly in the hand. “This is a strong promise for the future. We believe that retaining such controls outside the digital environment is the right move,” explains Park, adjusting the temperature control knob, on which a blue LED lights up when the temperature is lowered. Incidentally, physical controls for certain functions and the audio system can still be found on the steering wheel.

The center console features a wireless phone charging pad and even here, the designers and engineers have come up with something extra: distinctive circular protrusions with magnets. This makes it easier to secure today’s giant smartphones with large cameras. For phones that support MagSafe or Qi2, the magnets ensure a particularly stable hold and much more efficient wireless charging for up to two smartphones. “Integrated backlighting lets the user know if the phone is actually seated properly,” says Chan Park, highlighting another practical detail.

A host of practical details

Surprisingly, the armrest is also linked to the infotainment screen. Not only does it slide lengthwise, but it’s also height-adjustable. “This lets me rest my arm on it in a position where I can comfortably operate the display,” Park explains. However, the armrest can also be retracted to make room for a handy little table that passengers can assemble from parts hidden in the storage compartment beneath it. “When you stop to charge the car for example—especially in the version with the Relax package—you can make yourself as comfortable as you would be at home,” the designer explains.

The sleek lines of the dashboard, which literally radiate out from behind the display, conceal the ventilation vents. Škoda has retained fully manual controls for adjusting or shutting off the airflow here, too. “It’s more intuitive and user-friendly than moving to a digital environment,” says Park, who believes designers face difficult choices today. “We’re constantly grappling with the fact that we want to bring something new, even futuristic but at the same time we know that people prefer the classics,” he notes.

Interior details of the Škoda Peaq that are a delight to both the eye and the touch

● The portrait-oriented infotainment display is very easy to read .
● The mechanical controls below it are intuitive and sturdy.
● The retractable center armrest also makes it easier to operate the display .
● The raised “pads” for wireless charging work perfectly even with phones featuring a large camera array.
● The sleek dashboard conceals elegant ventilation vents with the option for precise manual airflow adjustment.
● The augmented reality head-up display helps the driver navigate.
● Ambient lighting isn’t just for the show—it communicates with the occupants.
● The door-opening lever hidden in the door handle is sturdy and practical.
● Robust and simple controls also make it easy to access the third row of seats.
● The panoramic roof with dynamically controlled shading can adjust the amount of light entering the cabin in an instant.