Wednesday, 20 April 2022 07:46

Skoda Enyaq review

Skoda's first purpose-designed EV is an excellent, comfortable family SUV
  

 At a glance

New price £36,605 - £47,875
Lease from new From £537 p/mView lease deals
Used price £29,860 - £49,720
Used monthly cost From £745 per month
Fuel Economy 3.4 - 4.0 miles/kWh
Insurance group 23 - 32How much is it to insure?
New
6.8 - 14.3
Miles per pound (mpp)
 What is mpp?

 PROS

  • EV-specific design makes for roomy interior
  • Claimed battery range of up to 336 miles
  • 80X adds performance and four-wheel drive

 CONS

  • Acceleration won't blow you away
  • Options can significantly jack up the price
  • If you want a sporty drive, look elsewhere
 

Skoda’s all-electric SUV is spearheading the brand’s charge into the world of purpose-built EVs – offering a combination of space, practicality and usability that’s rare at the price. And in terms of value, spec, options and range, it’s so good, we named it our Car of The Year 2022.

The Enyaq iV is a large family-sized car that’s based on the similarly sized Volkswagen ID.4, yet it features Skoda’s value-for-money pricing as well as a more luxurious interior than its Volkswagen cousin. The cars it’s up against include the bestselling Kia e-Niro and Mercedes-Benz EQA at one end of the scale to the Mercedes-Benz EQC and forthcoming Tesla Model Y at the other – that comes down to the monthly cost.

Its short-bonnet and long cabin give it unusual proportions compared with a traditional SUV, but the shape is smart and looks classy. Combine those factors with a particularly inviting interior that’s available in a number of muted colours and trims, and really competitive range between recharges, the Enyaq iV is one of the most appealing electric family cars you can buy right now.

Want something sportier? The Enyaq iV Sportline adds 20-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, a sportier bodykit and gloss black exterior trim. There’s also lowered sports suspension, which adds attitude. That’s available in 204hp 80 form or as the 265hp 80X, which adds four-wheel drive with a sophisticated ‘Traction Mode’ into the mix.

Over the next few pages we’ll be thoroughly reviewing all aspects of the Skoda Enyaq iV and rating them in our verdict. Our scores will take into account the driving experience, how pleasant the interior is, the practicality on offer, what it was like to live with over six months, and how much it’ll cost you to run.

  • Lots of room for passengers, equal to Octavia Estate
  • Boot space is also on a par with large estate cars
  • Flat floor, lots of storage spaces inside the cabin

How much space is there?

Aside from the techfest dashboard, the Skoda Enyaq iV is quite conventional inside – it’s good looking, well trimmed from a tasteful range of materials and well screwed together from high-quality components. The front seats are inviting and comfortable, and it’s easy to get yourself well adjusted regardless of your size.

Skoda Enyaq (2021) review rear seats
 

Boot space and storage

Just like pretty much every other Skoda, it’s also very practical. The boot has a capacity of 585 litres with the rear bench in place and 1,710 folded. That compares with 640 and 1,700 litres with famously capacious Skoda Octavia Estate. Sadly, the seats don’t fold completely flat.

So, it’s a big, flat area and should suit most families’ needs, without the need to resort to a roofbox. Unlike many electric car rivals, there’s no additional load capacity under the bonnet. Finally, the boot has a high loading lip, which might pose a problem when putting in heavy items, or getting your dog in the back.

Skoda Enyaq (2021) review bootspace
 
Is it easy to park?

The Skoda Enyaq iV is a bulky car that’s not blessed with the greatest of visibility. If you live in town, we’d recommend specifying a rear-facing camera at the very least. It’s difficult to know where the corners are, and could make it tough to park were it not for the fact that all models do come with parking radar.

Despite looking big and feeling heavy on the road, the Enyaq iV isn’t as big as you think. That means it will fit in most garages, and it won’t be too much of a burden to live with – as long as you don’t kerb those alloys.

Safety

  • Five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP
  • Adaptive cruise control with lane assist available
  • Comes with nine airbags

The Skoda Enyaq iV is packed with all of the latest safety equipment you’d expect from a brand-new car from the Volkswagen Group. So, it comes with up to nine airbags, including a central airbag between the front seats, and comprehensive Proactive Occupant Protection.

Numerous state-of-the-art assistance systems alert the driver to potential collisions in many situations and even actively help to prevent them or minimise the consequences. These include Front Assist with predictive pedestrian and cyclist protection, Side Assist including Rear Traffic Alert, as well as Collision Avoidance Assist, Turn Assist and Exit Warning.

The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems offers near-autonomous driver assistance on the motorway and also includes Adaptive Lane Assist with roadworks recognition, Also, full LED matrix headlights are available as options for the Enyaq iV.

https://www.parkers.co.uk/skoda/enyaq/review/practicality/

More in this category: « Skoda Enyaq Coupe review

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