FIRST UK DRIVE Revised family EV may not look that different, but there are some fairly significant changes under the skin
Alastair Crooks Alastair_Crooks@autovia.co.uk@AllieCrooks
WITH wins in several Auto Express road tests, Skoda’s Enyaq has always been one of the easier all-electric family cars to recommend. But now the Czech brand is making it even better, with a selection of updates.
Don’t go looking for many changes on the outside, however. Existing Enyaq owners will be relieved to find out that this latest model looks just like the old one. Indeed, the most notable difference is the new ‘85’ badge on the boot, which replaces the old ‘80’ and signifies more substantial changes under the skin.
These start with the powertrain, which offers an improved claimed range, rising from 339 miles to 348 miles in the regular SUV, and up to 353 miles in the more aerodynamic Coupé model we’re driving here. There’s also an 81bhp increase in power (to 282bhp), which means vastly improved performance; the 0-62mph dash is taken care of two seconds faster than before.
Skoda has kept the same 77kWh battery, but implemented new energy management and software tweaks along with a completely new and more efficient electric motor. As before, the battery charges at up to 135kW, taking 28 minutes to replenish from 10-80 per cent, which is no more than par for the course.
The sleeker Coupé bodystyle is the more expensive version of the Enyaq, and as such it isn’t offered with the cheaper ‘60’ battery that comes in the Enyaq SUV. That makes this rear-drive ‘85 Edition’ the cheapest Enyaq Coupé. At the upper end of the range, a dual-motor ‘85x’ replaces the old ‘80x’ and offers a 328-mile range (11 miles more than before) plus a 21bhp increase in power – now also 282bhp. The flagship vRS has been upgraded further, with a 40bhp bump taking it to 335bhp.
While this 85 Edition may be the cheapest Enyaq Coupé, it feels peppy enough on the road. Its 545Nm of torque provides plenty of shove, no matter how fast you’re going. Out of tighter bends you can feel the back end squatting down, but it’s otherwise quite serene from behind the wheel. The steering is nicely weighted and body roll is kept mostly at bay.
Skoda offers the usual suite of driving modes – Eco, Normal and Sport – but they
