Skoda is the ultimate underdog story. One of the world's oldest car makers, they transformed from the butt of jokes in the 80s to the crown jewel of the VW Group. Famous for offering massive space, reliable engineering, and features like hidden umbrellas that make life easier.
Explore the current production vehicles.
The heart and soul of the modern Škoda brand. The Octavia is a masterpiece of packaging, offering the space of a larger car in a compact footprint, especially in its incredibly versatile wagon form. The vRS version is a legendary 'sleeper' performance car.
The flagship that redefines executive class value. The Superb offers an astonishing amount of rear legroom and limousine-like comfort for a fraction of the price of its German rivals. Famous for 'Simply Clever' features like an umbrella hidden in the door.
The brand's first-ever large, 7-seat SUV and a massive success story. The Kodiaq is a master of family-friendly practicality, packed with clever features and offering a comfortable, capable experience. The vRS version is a true performance family hauler.
The face of Škoda's electric future. The Enyaq is a stylish and incredibly practical all-electric SUV built on the VW Group's MEB platform. It combines a spacious, high-tech interior with a long-range battery, making it a true family-ready EV.
The clever and incredibly popular supermini. The Fabia has consistently offered more space and practicality than its rivals, all while delivering a solid, German-engineered feel. The rally versions have a rich and successful motorsport history.
The quirky, beloved, and uniquely versatile compact crossover. The Yeti was a cult classic, famous for its boxy, practical design, clever VarioFlex seating, and a fun-to-drive character that made it stand out from the crowd. A true automotive icon.
The car that marked the beginning of the Volkswagen era. The Felicia was the first new model developed under VW Group ownership, a symbol of the brand's rebirth that blended Škoda's affordability with a huge leap in German-influenced quality and reliability.
The car that saved the company. Designed by the legendary Bertone, the Favorit was a surprisingly modern front-wheel-drive hatchback that was so impressive, it convinced Volkswagen to acquire the brand. A hugely significant car in European auto history.
The 'Porsche of the East.' The 130 RS was a legendary, rear-engine rally and touring car that dominated its class in the 70s. It is a symbol of Czech engineering ingenuity and a beloved icon of classic motorsport.
Author
HugeGarage Editor
Published
Updated
The story of Skoda didn't start with cars; it started with a complaint letter. In 1895, a Czech bookseller named Vaclav Klement bought a German bicycle that broke. The manufacturer ignored his complaint letter (because it was written in Czech). Angry, he teamed up with a mechanic, Vaclav Laurin, to build better bicycles. This became Laurin & Klement, which eventually became Skoda.
This means Skoda is actually older than Ford, Ferrari, or Porsche. They have been keeping the world moving for over 125 years.
In the late 80s, driving a Skoda in Western Europe was often a punchline. The cars were seen as outdated Communist relics. But in 1991, Volkswagen Group saw potential and bought the brand.
It was a masterstroke. VW gave Skoda access to German engines and platforms but allowed them to keep their Czech ingenuity. Today, a Skoda Octavia shares its bones with a VW Golf, but it is usually bigger, cheaper, and more practical. It is the car for people who do their math.
Skoda's marketing slogan is "Simply Clever," and for once, it is true. They solve problems you didn't know you had.
The Octavia vRS is a cult hero. It uses the same engine as the VW Golf GTI, but it comes in a station wagon body. It is the ultimate "Dad Car"âfast enough to have fun on a back road, but practical enough to carry a washing machine in the trunk.
Since modern Skodas are effectively Volkswagens underneath, they suffer from the same issues.
Skoda is for the driver who doesn't need a badge to impress the neighbors, but wants the smartest engineered car on the block.
No, Skoda does not officially sell new vehicles in the USA as of 2026. While rumors of a North American entry have circulated for years, the Volkswagen Group continues to position Skoda for European, Asian, and Middle Eastern markets to avoid internal competition with the Volkswagen and Audi brands in America.
However, US enthusiasts often look to Skoda as a "forbidden fruit" alternative, noting that models like the Octavia and Superb offer similar mechanical reliability to VW products but with superior "Simply Clever" interior packaging and value.
In 2026, the 25-year import rule officially opens the door for 2001 model year Skodas. For the first time, American collectors can legally import the 2001 Skoda Octavia vRS, a cult-classic performance liftback featuring a 1.8T engine. Other newly eligible models include:
These vehicles are exempt from FMVSS and EPA requirements once they reach exactly 25 years from their month of manufacture.
The 2026 Skoda Enyaq RS is the brand's electric performance flagship. It features a dual-motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system producing 340 horsepower and 545 Nm of torque. It can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.4 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating production Skoda in the 2026 lineup.
Equipped with an 82 kWh battery, it offers a real-world range of approximately 275 to 348 miles (WLTP). While not sold in the US, its specs are frequently compared to the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX by American EV enthusiasts.
The 2026 Skoda Elroq is the brand's newest entry into the compact electric SUV segment, showcasing the "Modern Solid" design language. For 2026, it offers a 77 kWh usable battery in the 85 Select trim, providing up to 355 miles of range (WLTP).
Its primary competitive advantage is its 470-liter boot space and 13-inch infotainment display, which many reviewers note feels more premium than its VW platform-mates. For US drivers who value maneuverability, the Elroqâs tight turning circle and 175 kW DC fast-charging capability (10-80% in 28 minutes) make it a highly desirable "urban explorer" model.
Skodaâs "Simply Clever" philosophy continues to evolve in 2026 with practical innovations that US consumers often wish were standard in domestic cars. Highlights for the 2026 Kodiaq and Superb include:
Yes, maintaining an imported Skoda Octavia or Fabia in the US is relatively straightforward because they share major components with the Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. Engines like the 1.8T or 1.9 TDI were widely sold in North America, meaning most mechanical spares are available at local VW dealers or through retailers like ECS Tuning.
However, body panels, glass, and Skoda-specific interior trim must typically be imported from Europe. US owners often rely on UK or Czech-based exporters for these unique items.
The 2026 Skoda Octavia Select is a new trim level designed to offer high-end tech at a more accessible price point. It introduces mild-hybrid (mHEV) technology to the 1.5 TSI engine to reduce fuel consumption. US fans of the "European sport wagon" aesthetic often cite the Octavia Select Wagon as the benchmark for practical, efficient daily driving that is currently missing from the American compact segment.
For the 2026 Enyaq and Elroq models, Skoda provides an 8-year or 100,000-mile (160,000 km) warranty on the high-voltage battery. The brand guarantees that the battery capacity will not drop below 70% during this period. This standard is comparable to EV warranties offered by major manufacturers in the US, such as Tesla and Ford.
The 2026 Skoda Superb, often called the "poor man's Audi A6," features a 2.0 TSI engine producing 265 horsepower in its top-tier 4x4 configuration. It has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h) and utilizes a 7-speed DSG transmission. Its all-wheel-drive system uses an electronic multi-plate clutch to distribute torque, making it a favorite for drivers in alpine or snowy regions.
Because Skoda is not officially sold in the US, there are no "authorized" Skoda service centers. Instead, owners of imported Skodas typically use independent European auto specialists who focus on the Volkswagen Audi Group (VAG). Since Skodas use the same ODIS diagnostic protocols as VW, these shops can perform full electronic scans and software updates using standard VW interface tools like VCDS or VAG-COM.