Skoda’s first bespoke electric car has been revealed ahead of it going on sale towards the end of this year. The Enyaq iV is the firm’s first use of the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric car platform and offers two battery capacities, rear or four-wheel drive and a vRS performance variant.
Skoda’s first bespoke electric car has been revealed ahead of it going on sale towards the end of this year. The Enyaq iV is the firm’s first use of the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric car platform and offers two battery capacities, rear or four-wheel drive and a vRS performance variant.
Described as “the start of a new era for Skoda” by new CEO Thomas Schäfer, the SUV has an “emotive, powerful and dynamic” exterior design. Measuring 4648mm long and 1877mm wide, it’s almost as big as the Skoda Octavia. Skoda says space inside is on a par with that of its seven-seaat Kodiaq as a result.
Distinctive features include an optional LED-backlit grille with a coming/leaving home animation. The LED headlights and tail-lights perform similar displays and scrolling indicators are standard. Skoda claims the Enyaq has a drag coefficient of just 0.27 – low for an SUV.
The interior is “inspired by modern living environments”, using “natural, sustainably processed and recycled materials”. Skoda hasn’t set trim levels, choosing instead to offer “design selections”: co-ordinated interior packs available throughout the range.
The dashboard is dominated by a central 13.0-inch touchscreen with gesture control, an e-SIM for connected functions and a voice assistant. There’s also a 5.3-inch digital instrument display offering four different layouts.
This being a Skoda, a number of Simply Clever features are available, too. Storage space is boosted by a 6.2-litre ‘jumbo box’ under the centre armrest and an 11.4-litre space beneath the centre console, while charging cables live under the boot floor with a cable cleaner.
Of the two front-wheel-drive Enyaq models, the 60 iV comes with a single 132kW motor and a 62kWh battery for a 390-kilometre range and a 0-100km/h time of 8.7sec. The 80 iV boosts power to 201kW and gets an 82kWh battery for a 510-kilometre range, with 0-100km/h taking 8.5sec.
The four-wheel-drive options both have two motors and use the 82kWh battery. The 80x iV produces 195kW for a 6.9sec 0-100km/h time and has a 460-kilometre range. The 225kW vRS is the only Enyaq with a top speed above 160km/h, topping out at 180km/h, while it can hit 100km/h from rest in 6.2sec. Its range is also 215 kilometres.
The Enyaq is capable of rapid charging at up to 125kW, resulting in a 10-80% charge taking as little as 38 minutes. However, the maximum rate is 50kW as standard, with 100kW optional on the 62kWh battery and 125kW only optional on the 82kWh battery. Every Enyaq can also charge via a domestic socket or a 7kW wallbox.
The Enyaq is the first MEB model not to be built in Germany. Instead, it’s made at Skoda’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic.
Lawrence Allan
