Review
The Skoda Enyaq coupe will appeal to drivers seeking a no-nonsense electric car with a spacious and practical interior, long range and good driveability. It offers sharper styling than the VW ID 4 and contains a variety of Skoda’s innovative simply clever features, to sweeten the deal.
The standard specification is a little sparse, however, and some options are costly, which may make overall affordability less compelling.
Overview
The Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV follows the growing trend for streamlined SUVs by offering a more aesthetically pleasing and slightly more aerodynamic alternative to the Enyaq SUV.
Its sloping rear end gives the car a sportier stance, but there’s still no mistaking it for a svelte sports car. The Enyaq Coupe is a tall, wide and SUV-like in its appearance.
Based on VW’s MEB platform, the Enyaq family is closely related to the Audi Q4 e-tron and the VW ID 4. Other rivals include the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model Y.
The Enyaq Coupe is priced from £44,825, which is almost £2,000 more than the equivalent Enyaq SUV, but does offer more driving range. Alongside the standard and Sportline trim grades, the Enyaq Coupe is exclusively available in a performance-focussed vRS variant.
Comfort and practicality
Like the Enyaq SUV, the Coupe has a minimalist interior that is designed to maximise space and comfort. The Skoda’s interior feels plush and upmarket, thanks to the mix of soft touch plastics and high-quality fabrics.
There’s plenty of room for passengers, even in the rear where headroom for the average-sized adult is unaffected by the sloping roofline. The standard-fit glass roof means the cabin remains light and airy, too.
Skoda’s handy ‘simply clever’ features include smartphone pockets in the seats, umbrellas in the front doors and an array of useful storage compartments around the cabin.
Boot space up to the parcel shelf is almost on par with the Enyaq SUV, at 570 litres vs 585 litres. It’s a fair bit larger than the load space in an EV6, but eclipsed by the Model Y.
The Enyaq Coupe’s seats are comfortable and supportive, with fabric or leather upholstery options available. A heated steering wheel comes as standard, but heated seats are an optional extra.
Safety and technology
The Enyaq was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP and is among the best in its segment for occupant safety. It comes as standard with an unintrusive lane keep assist system and front assist. Adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring is optionally available, or standard on the Sportline Plus.
All Enyaq Coupe’s are equipped with a 13-inch central infotainment touchscreen, which includes sat-nav and wireless smartphone connectivity. The system is easy to use and incorporates the car’s climate control functions, which can be accessed at anytime via a row of icons at the bottom of the display.
A smaller 5.3-inch screen is placed in front of the driver, providing speed, range and trip computer functions.
Driveability and range
The Enyaq Coupe is available with three powertrain options. The entry-level 80 uses a 77kWh battery and a 204PS electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The maximum range for this model is 345 miles (WLTP).
Stepping up to the 80 adds a second electric motor and the reassurance of all-wheel-drive. It gives more potent acceleration, with an output of 265PS, and reduced the range to 322 miles.
The range-topping vRS has an output of 299PS and a maximum range of 324 miles. Bespoke suspension and body styling add to the sportier nature of this model.
The 80 provides ample performance and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds. It delivers its power progressively, rather than like a slingshot, but doesn’t feel sluggish. The throttle pedal has a long travel, making it easy to moderate the power delivery.
The twin motor cars are more spritely but don’t feel significantly more powerful from behind the wheel.
We found 300 miles to be achievable from the 80, with the car happily returning close to 4.0mi/kWh at motorway speeds.
The Enyaq Coupe is easy to drive with a relaxed nature, good visibility and light and responsive controls. There’s a degree of firmness to the suspension, which gives stability in corners and at higher speeds, but doesn’t affect comfort levels too much.
There are three levels of regenerative braking, plus an adaptive mode where the car will use an appropriate amount of recouperation based on the upcoming road or traffic conditions.
Our test vehicle emitted a faint whine from the electric motor when the regeneration was active, which we’ve not noticed in other VW Group electric cars.
Company car tax and running costs
Prices start at a touch under £45,000 and all Enyaq Coupes attract a 2% benefit-in-kind (BiK) charge. For the cheapest derivative, drivers will pay as little as £15 per month (20% taxpayer). You can compare company car tax and running costs by clicking here.
The twin motor Sportline Plus variant costs £52,450 and will attract a BiK charge of £17.50 per month.
Running costs over a typical four-year 80,0000-mile cycle are 46p per mile, which places the Enyaq Coupe slightly above the Enyaq SUV and VW ID4 but still among the cheapest in its segment.
Optional extras are grouped into packs, which means the Enyaq Coupe can get quite pricey if you want to add extra kit. Keyless entry, heated front seats and adaptive cruise control comes as part of a £2,755 pack. A heat pump is also an option, costing £1,000.
Charging speeds
3-pin plug: 39hrs
7kW wallbox: 12hrs
11kW AC: 7.5hrs
135kW rapid: 29mins (0-80%)
Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
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