Skoda reveals new Enyaq electric SUV with up to 365 miles range and Elroq-inspired design
As aerodynamic as a Tesla Model Y
Skoda has revamped its well-regarded Enyaq electric car with a refreshed exterior design and new high-tech driver assistance systems, as well as more sustainable materials in the cabin.
The flagship of Skoda’s electric range, the Enyaq is widely regarded as one of the best electric SUVs (and coupé-SUVs) on the market, and the Czech brand is looking to cement that status further with the new model.
The updated Enyaq is set apart primarily by its adoption of Skoda’s “Modern Solid” design language, which was first seen on the smaller Elroq electric SUV, launched last year.
Perhaps the most obvious change is the sharper front end, which has dramatically altered the oversized grille design that was once a calling card of Skodas everywhere. In its place, the new Enyaq gets a much cleaner nose featuring a narrow panel illuminated with a grille-effect pattern that blends into the upper section of the lights.
Its been dubbed, rather unfortunately, the “Tech-Deck Face”, and nestles between a bonnet that’s adorned with Skoda lettering, rather than the flying arrow logo, and a new front bumper that houses the number plate and the lower light section.
Aerodynamics have played a starring role in the Enyaq’s redesign, and the Skoda engineers reckon they have made noticeable improvements in the car’s efficiency as a result. That’s partly down to the aerodynamically optimised “air curtains” created by the front bumper to reduce drag, and the more aero-efficient wheels.
As a result, the Enyaq SUV’s drag coefficient (its rating for how slippery it is through the air) is reduced from 0.264 to 0.245 with the new generation, while the Coupé version sees the drag coefficient drop to 0.229, making it the most aerodynamic car in Skoda’s range — and almost exactly as streamlined as its chief rival, the Tesla Model Y (0.23).
As is to be expected whenever a car is updated, the new Enyaq is larger than before: the SUV version gains almost a centimetre in length, while the Coupé has been stretched by 5mm. The cars both have fractionally more space between the front and rear axles, too, and a minor increase in height, but neither difference is big enough to be noticeable.
Certainly, you won’t notice any extra room inside. Passenger space is pretty much unchanged and the new model’s boot space is also identical to that of its predecessor, with a 585-litre capacity in the SUV and a 570-litre load bay in the Coupe, both of which seem to fall short of the Model Y’s apparently cavernous 854 litres until you realise that measurement is to the roof, rather than the window line — a standard that most other brands use. A better comparison might be the Ford Explorer, which has a boot capacity of 470 litres, or the Volkswagen ID.4, with its official figure of 543 litres.
What customers might notice more than how much they can cram in the boot is the number of changes to the Enyaq’s dashboard, with the arrival of a new steering wheel that gets a heating element as standard, while heated seats and three-zone climate control are also standard across the range.
Elsewhere, Skoda has revamped the materials in the cabin, adding sustainable trim to some of the six different “design selections” offered to customers. The Lodge version, for example, has textiles made with 75 percent recycled fabric. Meanwhile, the touchscreen heater controls get a new icon that switches off all heater functions with a single tap, and there are minor changes to the menu navigation.
Tech is a focus, with new features added to the MySkoda app, as well as new safety features joining the range. The app now has what Skoda calls “Powerpass technology with Plug & Charge tech,” which enables access to more than 800,000 charging points in Europe and eliminates the need for RFID cards or separate apps.
The updated app also allows customers to lock and unlock the vehicle remotely, as well as offering a Predictive Maintenance feature that monitors components such as the battery, brake pads and air conditioning to identify potential issues before they occur.
Other upgrades include the addition of Remote Park Assist technology to allow remote parking through the app, while Trained Parking allows the car to “learn” parking locations such as a garage and enter automatically. The keyless entry system has been upgraded, too, to offer Open-On-Approach door control, which unlocks all the doors and bootlid when the key holder is within 1.5 metres of the car, then locks them again when the keys are 2.5 metres away.
Perhaps more importantly, the Enyaq’s safety systems have been upgraded, with predictive adaptive cruise control and upgraded blind-spot detection systems added to an extensive list of tech.
In the UK, the Enyaq will be offered in three different specifications, with the basic SE L joined by the more upmarket Edition and Sportline (below) models. A vRS version is also expected to join the range at a later date but Skoda has not yet confirmed if or when that will arrive.
For the time being, the Enyaq will be available with a choice of three different powertrains including two battery options, two power outputs and a choice of rear- and four-wheel drive.
Basic “60” SUV models get a battery with 59kWh of usable capacity — about the same as the Tesla Model Y Standard Range — and a 201bhp electric motor to drive the rear wheels. That allows them to cover 268 miles on the official economy test, and get from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds. And, with 165kW charging capability, they can be topped up from 10 to 80 percent in 24 minutes at maximum DC charge speed.
Climbing the range to the 85 model upgrades the battery to 77kWh of usable capacity and the power output to 282bhp, increasing the range to 359 miles for the SUV and 365 miles for the Coupé. It also cuts the 0-62mph time to 6.7 seconds, although charging times increase slightly due to the larger battery.
Finally, the range is topped by the 85x, which has the same battery and 282bhp output as the 85, but splits it between two electric motors. Performance is unchanged, but range falls slightly to 332 miles for the SUV and 334 miles for the Coupé.
All Enyaqs will get a 13in touchscreen and 5in digital instrument display, as well as 19in alloy wheels, LED headlights and keyless entry. Satellite navigation, three-zone climate control and an electrically operated tailgate are all standard, too. SportLine models, meanwhile, will get sporty gloss black trim, sports suspension and 20in black alloys, as well as the illuminated Tech-Deck Face, a rear-view camera and a head-up display.
Prices for the new Skoda Enyaq are yet to be confirmed. Normally we’d expect a small price hike on the existing version, which starts at £36,970 for the Enyaq SUV, but we should expect the entry level versions to start from under £40,000. The new models will be in showrooms this spring.
Related articles
- If you were interested in the new Skoda Enyaq, you might like to read our first drive review of the Skoda Elroq prototype
- Also check out this review of the 2024 Skoda Superb iV estate
- And don’t miss these details about the all-new Skoda Kodiaq, which gets plug-in hybrid power with 62+ miles electric range
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