Skoda Enyaq

Tell me about it

It was only a matter of time before sensible Skoda brought an electric car to the party. In many ways, it’s exactly what you’d expect: a practical, well-priced version of the Volkswagen ID 4.

So, you get an attractive-enough electric SUV, with a Skoda badge on the front, and plenty of Volkswagen bits under the flesh. Same old same old, then?

Yes and no, because these days, Skoda isn’t just providing a cheaper alternative to the likes of the Volkswagen Golf: it’s actually doing a better job in the process.

Exterior

Alright, the exterior styling isn’t much to write home about. The Enyaq inherits the slightly funny proportions of other Volkswagen Group electric cars, like the Audi Q4 and VW ID 3.

Part of that is down to the rather low floor, which does tend to make the Enyaq look like a sort of MPV-SUV cross. But really we’re nitpicking: it looks exactly how you might imagine an electric Skoda should.

Skoda always likes to give customers a bit more metal for their money, so it’s no surprise that the Enyaq is bigger than both the ID 4 and Q4. The Skoda is 10cm longer than either of its German siblings, though handily only a sliver wider.

Interior

Those larger exterior dimensions mean bigger insides – albeit not quite enough to make the Enyaq a seven seater. Boot space is decent at 585 litres, beating pretty much all of its similarly-sized EV rivals.

Four adults will be perfectly comfortable in the Enyaq, with five squeezing in at a push. Leg room isn’t an issue in any seat, and there’s an abundance of head room all round too.

In terms of design, things are very sensible too. The dashboard swoops down into the middle of the car, in a pleasingly organic way – but that’s about the only thing of note.

There’s a regular, tall centre console with a couple of cup holders – so no lounging across the cabin here, unlike a Nissan Ariya or Hyundai Ioniq 5.

What you can’t fault is the build quality. Everything feels extremely well put together, and the quality of materials is generally good too. Just don’t expect much excitement.

Skoda also likes to remind you that it’s ‘Simply Clever’, and to that end there’s plenty of helpful features tucked away inside. The classic umbrella-in-the-door is present here, and rear passengers get a handy fold-down tray table on the seat in front of them.

Technology and equipment

Volkswagen has come a-cropper recently when it comes to infotainment, but thankfully Skoda has managed to right most of those wrongs in its version of VW’s software.

The standard – and rather enormous – 13-inch touch screen works well enough, and its menus seem more logically designed than those in a Volkswagen ID 4.

Skoda has also moved the climate controls onto the touch screen itself – but unlike in an ID 4, you can at least see them in the dark this way. They’re permanently shown at the bottom of the screen, which is helpful, but we’d still rather have some proper physical buttons instead.

By comparison, the screen in front of the driver – showing the speedometer and not much else – is absolutely teeny. Still, at least it’s distraction-free.

Although Skoda isn’t the budget brand it once was, you still get plenty for your cash these days. All Enyaqs get sat nav, front and rear parking sensors, rear view camera, CarPlay and more.

You’ll need to shell out extra cash for niceties like heated seats, adaptive cruise control or a head-up display – but then this is also true of the ID 4, and many other cars at this price point.

One option definitely worth tacking on is the heat pump: effectively a clever way of heating up the cabin without sapping battery range. Many EVs have these fitted as standard, but in the Enyaq you’ll need to make sure it’s added on.

Safety and security

The Enyaq scored the maximum five stars when EuroNCAP put it through a crash test in 2021. That puts it up there with effectively all of its SUV-shaped, electric-powered rivals, and means the Enyaq is one of the safest cars you can buy today.

When it comes to security, you’ll find the usual alarm and immobiliser combination, alongside a smartphone app that lets you locate your Enyaq. Oddly though, this doesn’t function when the vehicle is in motion – and nor does it let you lock or unlock the car.

Engines and performance

You get a plethora of powertrain choices with the Enyaq, with two different battery sizes, the choice of rear- or four-wheel-drive, and an extra-quick vRS version to boot.

The smallest (and cheapest) Enyaqs are the ’60’ models, which confusingly enough get a… 58kWh battery. These are exclusively rear-wheel-drive, and will manage around 240 miles of range.

Next up is the ’85’, again with a battery smaller than the name might suggest: 77kWh here. With rear-wheel-drive, range is quoted at around 340 miles: a useful jump from the cheaper model. Add four-wheel-drive and this drops slightly, to around 320 miles.

Then there’s the vRS. This gets the same 77kWh battery we just covered, along with four-wheel-drive, but some extra power for added performance. Strangely, its range is slightly higher than the regular four-wheel-drive model – now around 325 miles.

In terms of performance, all Enyaqs are more than acceptable. ’60’ models manage 0-60mph in 8.7 seconds, which isn’t to be sniffed at, while upgrading to ’87’ knocks that down to 6.7 seconds. vRS models are faster at 5.5 seconds, but not so fast as to worry your average Tesla Model 3 driver.

Whichever you pick, they all offer smooth, linear acceleration and – unsurprisingly – a pretty silent driving experience.

When it comes to charging, ’60’ models accept 120kW rapid charging, while ’85’ models go slightly higher at 135kW. At home, all Enyaqs can charge at 11kW via a type 2 cable, with the option to upgrade to 22kW.

Ride and handling

It should come as no surprise that the Enyaq rides and handles very pleasantly indeed. It’s not particularly fun, but it’s comfortable, predictable and very relaxing behind the wheel.

Lower-powered rear-wheel-drive models are probably the sweet spot in terms of enjoyment, but all Enyaqs handle neatly enough – and without the rather firm ride you’ll find in a Cupra Born or Audi Q4.

That said, opt for the higher-powered four-wheel-drive versions and there’s plenty of fun to be had too. Just be aware that you’re going to get a quick, grippy SUV rather than an outright hot hatch, though.

Be sensible with the specification – by which we mean, avoid the larger alloy wheel options – and you’ll find that the Enyaq is one of the most comfortable EVs you can buy.

Should I buy a Skoda Enyaq?

The Enyaq is a comfortable, sensible, and rather clever electric SUV. It may not look exciting, but there’s very little to actually fault it on. It’s spacious inside, doesn’t break the bank, and doesn’t really do anything badly.

That said, it’s probably not a car you’d feel excited about owning. The Nissan Ariya and Hyundai Ioniq 5 are both more interesting, inside and out, and similarly priced. But if you’re after an EV that just gets on without any gimmicks, the Enyaq is for you.