Skoda is a brand of many reputations, key amongst which is that it makes reliable family cars. Considering its parent company, the VW Group has made a big commitment to electrified mobility, it was only a matter of time before Skoda rolled out some nice EVs of their own. This is the nicest one yet and its called the Enyaq iV.
The Enyaq is the first Skoda model to be based on the VW Group’s MED (Modular Electrification Toolkit) platform. Its design is also known as the skateboard platform with the battery incorporated into the floor between the axles. Skoda’s EV will be available with different battery and powertrain options but first, let’s talk about the stunning design of the Enyaq iV.
Skoda has been making SUVs for a few years now and it seems to keep getting better at their design. The Enyaq is more of a crossover than a thoroughbred like the Kodiaq. It has a sporty design, bold front fascia and an elegant rear end. The new illuminated ‘grille’ features 130 LEDs for what Skoda calls a Crystal Face. It’s an active setup with a couple of light-up animations. The new grille looks best with the full LED headlights. Around the rear, the Enyaq iV features a flat-bottom design for a shooting brake profile. The tailgate features sculpted character lines with the SKODA lettering between the LED taillamps. It also comes with a panoramic sliding roof as an optional fit. This sporty SUV can be had with wheels ranging between 18 to 21 inches in diameter. There is also a special wheel design for more efficient aerodynamics.
The cabin of the Enyaq iV looks like a cosy eco-friendly cabin and that’s because Skoda intentionally designed it to be based on modern living environments. The carmaker will be offering it with a wide range of designs depending on the variants. In select interior design options, 60 per cent of the upholstery is made from recycled polyester and the remaining 40 per cent is made of new wool. I can’t tell for sure which interior design has been showcased in these unveil images but it’s hard to fault for visual comfort. Even the dual-tone look is subdued yet conveys its premium finish.
Even the design of the dashboard accentuates the feel of space and less clutter. The central vents are positioned lower and are horizontally aligned with a very simple strip of controls below it. Above the central vents is a free-standing 13.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system which basically looks like a laptop screen stuck onto the dashboard. But since it starts quite a bit lower than the driver’s line of sight, it doesn’t look as intrusive or bulky in that premium dashboard. Surprisingly, the Enyaq iV doesn’t get the same virtual cockpit as the Kodiaq. Instead, it has a smaller 5.3-inch digital display and a head-up display with augmented reality functions. Further down, the central console is strikingly elegant with its minimalist layout. It has cupholders, phone storage with USB-C ports, some more storage, a rounded-rectangle toggle that serves as the drive selector and an electronic parking brake switch. The back seats are a straightforward layout that can seat up to 3 people and there is a fold-out armrest when the middle seat is not needed. Its boot is pretty spacious too with 585 litres of luggage space.
That 13.0-inch central display does get a host of functionalities and is internet enabled. It recognises multi-touch gestures and hand movements too. Plus you can use its digital assistant, Laura. The display can feature customised layouts so you can control what’s on the screen and how it would suit your needs while driving. The eSIM also means that some of the Enyaq iV functions can be remotely controlled via the Skoda phone app. Now, it is stated that the large display is not standard equipment and that the entry-spec model will feature a 10-inch display instead. That model also gets only four speakers while the optional CANTON audio system would equip the Skoda EV with twelve speakers. The infotainment system also features wireless connectivity for Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink.
Its time we got back to the heart of the Skoda Enyaq iV – its electric powertrains. Skoda had already confirmed that the electric SUV would be offered with three different battery capacities and choice of one or two electric motors and different power outputs. This could get confusing in text form so I took the boring way out and borrowed this table from the Skoda press kit:
Based on the information above, the Enyaq iV offers at least 340km of range in its entry-level form. If you can afford a slightly bigger battery, you can have a maximum range of 510km. In case you want something more sporty, the max claimed range on offer 460km for the AWD dual-motor Enyaq iV. Normally I’d be cheering for the Enyaq iV RS which offers 225kW(302bhp), 460Nm, 460km of range and a 0-100kph time of 6.2 seconds. But in this case, I think the 80x is good enough as a daily-use, family EV where you won’t necessarily miss the extra 30kW and 35Nm. Since its an EV, you don’t even get the joy of a typical RS model with a petrol engine that makes a nice noise. Might as well take the more subtle option that could technically still do 0 to 100kph in under 7 seconds.
Now let’s talk about charging the Enyaq iV. The charging point is conventionally located in the rear flank. All batteries are fast-charge compatible for up to 125kW. The biggest 82kWh battery can be charged from 5 to 80 per cent in under 40 minutes using a powerful DC fast charger. At home, the Skoda AC wall box of up to 11kW would take 6 to 8 hours (depending on battery size) for a full charge. You could charge it via an ordinary household AC socket as well but that would take too long and is best reserved for emergency use so that you can get your Skoda EV to the nearest fast-charging station.
In regards to the charging logistics, Skoda has stuck with its slogan of ‘Simply Clever’ solutions. The cable can be stowed under the boot floor and there’s a protective cap for the charging socket too. For ease of charging in Europe, Enyaq iV owners are part of the MySkoda Powerpass ecosystem.
Like all Skodas, the Enyaq iV is well-equipped in terms of safety features as well. It gets up to 9 airbags and plenty of tech like collision avoidance systems, adaptive cruise control and lane assist, and the enhanced version of its parking assist. That includes remote-controlled parking which allows the driver to guide the Enyaq iV (not exactly a small SUV by any standard) into tight parallel and bay parking spaces via the Skoda phone app as it does the steering and braking automatically.
These days, no all-new unveil is complete without some kind of special edition variant and this all-electric SUV is no different. Skoda is offering a special Founders Edition of the Enyaq iV to celebrate the brand’s 125th anniversary. This special edition will be limited to just 1895 units and features sporty cosmetics with gloss black elements and 21-inch wheels. It is only available in two special colour options – Black Magic and Arctic Silver. The powertrain options are both RWD only in either 60(132kW, 390km) or 80(150kW, 510km) trims. These limited edition models will also get Founders Edition branding on the front fenders and the steering wheel. The Black Magic option looks sportier with the bronze accents but I think Arctic Silver looks more appropriate on the Enyaq iV.
The Skoda Enyaq iV made its public, on-the-road debut as the lead support vehicle for the 2020 Tour de France. It covered the 183km stage from Gap to Privas as well as accompany the cyclists in the individual time trial from Lure to La Planche des Belles and the final 122-kilometre stage as well. The Enyaq iV looks pretty cool in red.
What do you think of the new Skoda Enyaq iV? Would you pick it over one something more German? Or would you rather have a Swedish electric crossover? Let us know in the comments below the gallery and don’t forget to subscribe to the Auto Loons for more cool updates from the car world.
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