Isn’t it much better to choose the Skoda instead of the Volkswagen?
Well… That name… Apparently Skoda still hasn’t gotten rid of the advertising agency that persuaded them to end every model name with a ‘q’. This has already resulted in eye pain names such as Kodiaq, Karoq and Kamiq, which are now joined by Skoda Enyaq. It comes, they say at Skoda, from Irish, in which ‘Enya’ means something like ‘source of life’. In view of the whining of the singer of the same name, we would rather keep it at ‘source of annoyance’, but hey: to each his own. That’s how we are again.
The Enyaq iV is, in short, the Volkswagen ID.4 from Skoda
The technology is very much the same, the concept is too. And so the Skoda Enyaq iV is a fully electric SUV that offers ample space for five people. It is even slightly larger than the ID.4 (4.65 meters against 4.58 meters) and can also take more luggage (585 liters, 1710 with the rear seats flat, against 543 and 1,575 liters respectively). It is therefore almost as big as the absurdly spacious Kodiaq. The Enyaq also has the advantage that it does not have to sacrifice interior space to, for example, a transmission tunnel. There is a center console, but it is especially useful for cup holders and extra storage compartments. You can also lose everything underneath.
It looks smaller especially in photos – that also says something about the strength of the design. In addition, the Skoda Enyaq iV, especially for the type of car it is and despite the almost principled dislike we have for SUVs, is quite pleasant on our retina; we know them a lot uglier. Above all, it looks strong and solid, without excessive design hassle, but with enough details to keep it exciting. Certainly the rear part reminds us of BMW-from-the-time-when-they-still-made-beautiful-cars. For that they have received the Red Dot Award at Skoda, a rather prestigious design prize.
The range of the Skoda Enyaq
How far you get with your Enyaq depends on which battery pack you take. You now have the choice of a 62-kWh and an 82-kWh package, good for a WLTP range of 400 and 520 kilometers respectively. The first has 180 hp and 310 Nm, the second 204 hp and also 310 Nm. They will later be joined by a version with a 50 kWh battery, which has 149 hp and should be able to go 310 kilometers. There will also be an RS version with 300 hp and four-wheel drive in the long term.
Imagine if you told a visitor from another planet that Skoda was once, in a very gray past, a rather stale brand with cardboard bumpers – he would never believe you. With the Enyaq, Skoda is again making solid steps that significantly reduce the difference with Volkswagen. You still have to work hard to find inferior pieces of plastic and the finish is spotless. Skoda does deliberately do its best a little more down to earth than VW, and not make too futuristic a mess of the Enyaq interior. For example, you will not encounter silly swipe buttons on the steering wheel here and there are more real buttons to be found. For which only kudos.
In terms of equipment, it is nice in the Enyaq anyway
The entry level already has climate control, keyless entry and a large screen with navigation. Furthermore, compiling is slightly different than usual. You first choose what it will look like. There are five ‘design levels’ (Loft, Lodge, Lounge, Suite and Eco-Suite), where you determine whether you have fabric or leather on the seats and dashboard, for example. Then you choose from eleven option packages what you want on and on your Enyaq. And then there are endless individual options. So you can make it as crazy as you want. You will also notice this in the price levels. It starts at 40,790 euros, but our top version just costs 24 grand more.
The Enyaq drives, of course we would almost say, fine. It is extremely comfortable and extremely quiet. Not only because it is electric – noises from outside also simply stay outside. The seats are good, the seating position too, the space is overwhelming everywhere and there are of course all kinds of small smart tricks in terms of storage space and handy features. The built-in umbrella is not missing, nor is the ice scraper (although it’s not in the tailgate now – it could be stolen during loading – but in the tailgate), and there are special smartphone pockets for the rear passengers. It is not hard, but that is not possible with 200 hp and a weight of 2,100 kilos. You just come along nicely, it steers well, doesn’t lean like an idiot – all Zen and Enya all.
We also have a few criticisms
That Skoda does not immediately put a whole Virtual Cockpit in the Skoda Enyaq: okay. But the counter screen measures only 5.3 inches and that is very small, and quite limited in its information: only the essentials. The touchscreen is very nice, razor sharp and with beautiful animations. However, it doesn’t always respond smoothly to your touch – you often have to press two or three times. Not everything is always easy to find. The recent VAG disease of ‘clogging way too much into that screen’ has now also contracted a Czech variant. Air conditioning a bit warmer? You have to enter that screen. You can control the audio volume from the steering wheel, but there is no ordinary rotary knob for the co-driver: screen.
Also annoying: the lane assistant is quite compelling, so you want to quickly turn it off. There is no button for that: it is three menus deep in the touchscreen. If you take a break, switch the car off and then on again: the lane assistant is active again. So you can turn it off at any time. Oh, and the dashboard mirrors enormously in the flat windshield. But other than that: nothing but praise. An extra compliment for the particularly beautiful and smart head-up display in our test car. That always shows exactly what you want to see, and has a augmented realityfunctionality where it shows with increasingly larger arrows in your windshield that you are getting closer to your turn. Yes, we are still talking about a Skoda…
Although the prices are about the same level, the Skoda Enyaq iV has enough individuality to prefer it over the Volkswagen ID.4. He’s a bit more normal than his brother and even more spacious – he could do well.
Specifications Skoda Enyaq iV 1st Edition (2021)
Engine
1 electric motor
204 hp
310 Nm
82 kWh (battery)
Drive
rear wheels
Performance
0-100 km/h in 8.7 sec
top 160 km/h
Consumption (average)
15.2 kWh/100 km
520 km (range)
Charging time
06:00 h at 11 kW
00:38 hours at 125 kW (80%)
Dimensions
4,649 x 1,879 x 1,616mm (LxWxH)
2,765mm (wheelbase)
2,090 kg
585 / 1,710 l (luggage)
Prices
€ 41,850 (NL)
€ 46,075 (B) – iV 80