Approaching the five-metre-long car, you’ll be drawn to the orange paintwork, the hulking frame and winch, the lighting in the radiator grille and the light-bar on the roof. The colour, Sunset, was designed by the car’s makers themselves, students from the ŠKODA AUTO Secondary Vocational School of Engineering.
Getting inside is just as easy as slipping into an SUV, helped by a sill reinforced with a shiny metal guard. The MOUNTIAQ’s ground clearance is 29 cm, a full 10 cm higher than that of the ŠKODA KODIAQ SUV, which served as inspiration for the students. You can adjust the seats, featuring the model’s own logo, electrically. Once you’ve made yourself comfortable at the orange-trimmed wheel, you can explore the interior.
There are details galore inside. The orange gear knob stands out, while the storage compartments hold items important for any trip into the wild. You can grab a blanket from the door compartment, spread it on the grass and enjoy a picnic.
If you decide to stay in the country overnight, you’ll benefit from the torch and sleeping bag stowed behind the seats, right next to the customised audio system. Your other outdoor gear can be carried on the body.
The brand’s winged-arrow logo gently glows on the black ceiling like a constellation in the night sky. Incidentally, this effect incorporates 233 diodes.
When you start the car – using the starter button as you would with any other ŠKODA – you hear the rich sound of a two-litre petrol engine. Pressing the accelerator pedal amplifies the sound in parallel with the increasing engine speed. The MOUNTIAQ clearly has the design and power to handle any terrain and trips that go beyond the limits of the everyday.
