Skoda is launching a coupe version of its Enyaq electric SUV. A more dynamic and sporty version. We tried it in its RS variant, 300 hp strong.
Skoda launches its first coupe SUV. Based on the electric Enyaq released last year, here is the “fastback” version to appeal to customers looking for a little more exclusivity. This new vehicle stands out from the standard model by its style, sporting a much more inclined roof. If this more streamlined silhouette does not show great originality, it allows progress in terms of aerodynamics with a more favorable Cx (0.234 against 0.257). This would also be felt on power consumption and autonomy, the latter being extended by a few kilometers (545 km announced in version 80). Note that the dimensions of the coupé – 4.65 m long, 1.88 m wide and 1.61 m high – remain almost identical to those of the standard Enyaq.
Finally, while the Enyaq Coupé does not have the small 50 version in its range, it benefits from a surplus of exclusivity at its launch thanks to a strong 300 hp RS sports variant. The performances show a slight improvement compared to those of the 80x model, with a 0 to 100 km/h announced in 6.5 s and a maximum speed increased to 180 km/h, while a bumper and 20-inch rims specific accentuate its dynamism. However, this privilege of the cut will not last long, since the “classic” Enyaq will also be entitled to this RS version thereafter.
Price Skoda Enyaq Coupe
The prices of the vehicle have not yet been communicated for the French market. The supplement claimed compared to the standard model should be between 1,000 and 2,000 € with equivalent engine and finish. Thereby, the Enyaq Coupé range should start at around €45,000, while the RS version that interests us today would be between 60,000 and 61,000 €. This powerful electric SUV may therefore not benefit from any bonus.
Autonomy and charging time
If the Enyaq Coupé RS has the same 77 kWh lithium-ion battery as the 80x version, the announced autonomy is down due to the higher power. According to the WLTP cycle, the 300 hp SUV could still travel 504 km (520 km for the 80x version) on a single charge. However, to hope to reach such a value, you will have to have a really light foot and avoid the fast lanes.
While it is true that our test route included a stretch of motorway and that at times we were rather enthusiastic in our driving, the average consumption displayed by the on-board computer at the end of our test (22. 6 kWh) was quite high compared to that announced in the WLTP mixed cycle (between 17.2 and 18.1 kWh/100 km). For a complete regeneration of the batteries, it will take 7 h 30 on an AC 11 kW socket, while 36 minutes will be enough to go from 10 to 80% of battery on a high capacity terminal. The maximum DC charging power of the Enyaq is 135 kW.
Driving
From the first kilometres, you quickly understand that the temperament of this Enyaq Coupé RS is not as sporty as its flashy adornment suggests. If the promised 300 hp seem to be there, with quite honorable performance on paper, we can’t say either that they cause a real surprise when crushing the right pedal. Faced with the 2,255 kg to move, the additional 35 hp compared to the 80x version does not seem to make a big difference, and the feeling when accelerating seems very close. This Enyaq RS perfectly illustrates the fact that, on an electric vehicle with sporting pretensions, the lack of mechanical character can only be compensated for by raw performance or by the settings of its chassis. Here, the gain in performance is not obvious, while the road behavior is rather surprising… but not necessarily in a good way.
As we approach the first bends of a road whose surface quality leaves something to be desired, the great flexibility of the adaptive suspension of our test model is surprising, revealing a high amplitude in the deflections and significant body movements. As if this suspension had been calibrated for a much lighter vehicle, then transposed to this heavy electric vehicle without any adjustment modification. Fortunately, switching to Sport mode greatly reduces this phenomenon. If it does not turn into a scalpel either, the Skoda SUV manages to better contain the roll and the movements, then allowing to chain the curves at a faster pace without risking nausea. Always rigorous and wise, with its rather understeering character, the Enyaq nevertheless becomes more pleasant to drive.
Although its power is sufficient in absolute terms, the braking requires a little time to adapt due to a fairly soft pedal at the start of the race. As for the direction, if it lacks a bit of naturalness, its feeling improves with the Sport mode. Finally, we will appreciate the silence that reigns on board, even on the expressway, the soundproofing being excellent. Thereby, this Enyaq Coupé RS remains a vehicle with a very family and versatile positioning, whose exclusivity is revealed more by its presentation than by its road services. And, for having briefly tried a model not fitted with the adaptive suspension, we would advise against this option (the price of which we do not yet know), as the comfort/body handling compromise seems better as standard.
On board
Competetion
In the niche of D-segment coupe SUVs, competition is starting to be provided. Already, within the Volkswagen group, the Enyaq Coupé finds “cousins” of similar size, with the same engine and battery: the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX and the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron in its 50 quattro version. Both are slightly more responsive (0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 s for the ID.5 and 6.2 s for the Q4 e-tron), while the first is a little cheaper (from €57,950) when the second is much more (from €67,700).
The Enyaq Coupé will also have to face the slightly more expensive Tesla Model Y (from €62,990), but also more powerful, more efficient and with slightly better autonomy. For a price equivalent to that of our Enyaq RS, the Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (from €60,500) displays fairly similar performance, but less autonomy in Standard Range (269 hp, 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 s, 400 km in the WLTP cycle). The American still offers a more playful road behavior. In the end, one of the most formidable rivals could well be the Kia EV6 in its 325 hp AWD version, sold from €60,740 in the GT Line finish. The latter claims better performance for an equivalent autonomy (0 to 100 km / h in 5.2 s, 506 km in the WLTP cycle).
Discover the results of the test and the technical sheet on the following page.
