By Ian Strachan.
It’s been four years since Skoda’s excellent Enyaq fully-electric coupe was first seen on UK roads. Time passes quickly and the Enyaq has developed into a highly-specified and stylish addition to all-electric motoring options.
The Enyaq is certainly a good looker. My test car came in a striking Velvet Red metallic paint finish which added to its smooth and pleasing appearance.
The Enyaq is described as a coupe, but to be honest it feels more like an SUV. Quite long and tall, it has bags of interior space, and the panoramic glass roof make it feel even more spacious and airy.
The Enyaq Coupe has other attractions too. It’s packed with technology and has a range between charges of more than 350 miles as long as you’re not heavy-footed.
The rear wheel-drive Enyaq Coupe Edition 85 that I tested develops an impressive 286PS, has a top speed where allowed of 111 mph and will propel you from 0 to 60 mph in not much more than six seconds.
If you take full advantage of the Enyaq’s sparkling performance there will be a range penalty, though you’ll still get sufficient range for most journeys.
The Enyaq’s smooth design is enhanced with smart alloys. My test car had impressive 20-inch Neptune anthracite alloys at an extra £620. The Enyaq’s side-on looks are further enhanced with striking chrome window surrounds
The interior is modern and well laid out with the controls in Skoda’s virtual cockpit all falling neatly to hand. Nicely-trimmed fabric and artificial leather upholstery, ambient lighting and plenty of storage spaces make the interior a pleasant place to be, helped by electrically adjustable heated front seats.
Specification on the Enyaq iV vRS is good, with leather heated multi-function steering wheel with, DAB digital radio with voice control and multi-media interfaces via a 13-inch touchscreen, massage feature on driver’s seat, tri-zone climate control, electrically operated tailgate, front and rear parking sensors, satellite navigation and rear view camera. A plethora of safety technology includes lane keeping aid, predictive cruise control with traffic jam assist, blind spot monitor and traffic sign detection.
You also get heated electrically adjustable door mirrors with puddle light logo, drive mode select, light and rain sensors and matrix LED headlights with variable beam. My test car had an advanced package, at £2,650, which included an upgraded 12-speaker Canton sound system, head-up display and variable boot floor.
Handling on the Enyaq is sure-footed and composed, with flat cornering and no body roll.
The Skoda Enyaq is a good choice for anyone looking to buy a fully electric vehicle for the first time. It’s not cheap – this specification comes at £46,720 on the road – but you get a highly specified car with low running costs, plus the satisfaction of zero emissions.
