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Pros: Space and practicality, striking styling, refined drive
Cons: Ride quality with large wheels, battery range varies, expensive options
The ENYAQ iV is the first all-electric Skoda model to arrive in Ireland and one of the most anticipated electric cars to go on sale here this year. The ENYAQ iV is a five-door, five seat electric SUV and it offers between 412 and 535 kilometres of range depending on which battery size you go for. Prices in Ireland start from around €37,000 including grants for the entry model, making it one of the most affordable options in the class.
ENYAQ iV Design
The ENYAQ iV is visually-striking from the outside and it is similar in size to the Skoda Kodiaq SUV, although the ENYAQ iV is only available with five seats while the Kodiaq is available in a family-friendly seven-seat configuration. As standard, the ENYAQ iV gets 19-inch alloy wheels, LED front and rear lights and black roof rails. The high specification model that we drove is fitted with optional 20-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof and metallic paint with chrome roof rails. You can even opt for huge 21-inch wheels should you wish, but we would advise sticking to smaller wheel sizes for increased comfort. There are eight colour choices, while our test car is finished in Arctic Silver metallic, which is a €685 optional extra.
ENYAQ iV Interior
First impressions are very good when you step inside. There are lots of high quality materials throughout the cabin and it is very spacious for both front and rear seat passengers. The driving position is good with lots of adjustment available and it offers a commanding view of the road. Although the ENYAQ IV is based on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.4, the ENYAQ iV’s interior is arguably more impressive and intuitive. As standard, it features a large 13-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, and there are plenty of physical controls for controlling different functions. Behind the steering there is a small 5.3-inch driver’s display that displays speed and charging information, although we found the screen is a bit on the small side. Skoda also offers the ENYAQ iv with an optional heads up display system that presents navigation and safety information onto the windscreen. All of the ENYAQ iV’s seats are comfortable and supportive and there is enough room to carry five passengers and their luggage. The boot is big with 585 litres of room, and this increases to 1710 litres when the seats are folded down. There’s additional storage under the boot floor for storing charge cables, although you don’t get a storage area under the bonnet like in under EVs such as the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Tesla Model 3.
ENYAQ iV Performance & Drive:
The ENYAQ iV range starts with the entry 60 model which has a 58 kWh battery and a 412 kilometres range. Our test car is the higher spec 80 model with a larger 77Kwh battery and this gets you to up to 535 kilometres of range from a single charge. The ENYAQ iV is very easy to drive, you don’t even have to hit a start button when you step inside, simply press the brake pedal, select D on the drive selector and off you go. It isn’t the most exciting electric SUV to drive, but that doesn’t matter as it is smooth, quiet and refined, the most important aspects for family buyers. The larger battery 80 model sends 210 horsepower to the rear wheels, which is good enough for 0-100km/h in 8.2 seconds. There’s also paddles behind the steering wheel for adjusting regenerative braking, and a useful ‘B’ mode button that allows single pedal driving in urban settings. During our time with the ENYAQ iV, we achieved circa 400 kilometres of range from a single charge with varied urban and motorway-based driving, which is below the claimed 535 kilometres claimed range.
ENYAQ iV Pricing
Prices for the ENYAQ iV 60 with the 58 kWh battery start from €37,465 including grants, while the ENYAQ iV 80 with the 77 kWh battery starts at €44,712. Specification is good and the entry ENYAQ iV 60 boasts 19-inch alloy wheels, Lane Assist, Cruise Control, rear parking sensors, 50KW DC Charging, the 13-inch touchscreen display and navigation and a black and grey ‘Loft’ fabroc interior with LED interior lighting. 100kW faster charging is a €562 optional extra on the ENYAQ iV 60, or you can opt for 125kW charging in the ENYAQ iV80 for an additional €562, an option worth considering if you regularly travel long distances. Our test car leaves little to be desired and is fitted with lots of optional extras including 20-inch alloy wheels, a Lounge interior finish, a convenience pack and more, so it has a higher €55,577 on-the-road pricetag.
Carzone Verdict: 4/5
The ENYAQ iV is a well-rounded electric SUV that combines practicality, comfort and range in an attractive package. It’s very refined to drive and it is more accomplished than the Volkswagen ID.4 in terms of interior tech and finish. It quickly gets expensive when you tick the options list however, while the ride quality is a little on the hard side on back roads, especially with the optional large wheels. That said, if you are looking for an electric SUV that ticks most of the boxes, it is hard to look past the ENYAQ iV, and it is definitely one to shortlist.