Test Car Specifications
Model: 2023 Skoda Enyaq iV vRS
Price: From £52,670
Engine: two electric motors
Battery: 77kWh lithium-ion
Transmission: single-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
Power: 299hp
Torque: 460Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 321 miles
0-62mph: 6.5 seconds
Top speed: 112mph
Boot space: 585 litres
Styling
The Enyaq vRS is set apart primarily by its Crystal Face illuminated grille, which is fitted as standard, as well as its vRS body kit and 20-inch alloy wheels. It also gets some vRS badges on the wings and a red reflector across the rear bumper, just like the Octavia vRS. But unlike the Octavia, the Enyaq vRS eschews logos on the grille and tailgate, which makes it feel almost as though Skoda is sheepish about its new car's performance credentials...
Interior
Overall, the Enyaq vRS’s cabin is much the same as that of the Enyaq Sportline, but it does have a few differences. As standard, it gets sports seats with suede upholstery flecked with green trim, while vRS logos are stitched into the head restraints, but customers can upgrade to leather upholstery for a small consideration. The tech is the same, too, and that means there’s a massive central touchscreen joined by a smaller digital instrument display. Neither system is a triumph – both are a bit fussy and over-complicated for our liking – but the optional head-up display is brilliant, using augmented reality to pick out hazards on the road and provide navigation instructions, as well as offering speed and traffic sign information. Quality is good, too, and it must be said that the Enyaq cabin is more appealing than that of the VW ID.4 GTX.
Practicality
Because Skoda hasn't changed the Enyaq's cabin too dramatically, the vRS is just as spacious as any other Enyaq, which makes it hugely practical. There's a massive 585-litre boot behind the rear seats, which should be more than enough to satisfy the majority of customers, and there's plenty of head- and legroom in the rear for adults to sit in comfort. And though the fastback-shaped Coupe version is a bit cramped in the rear seats, it only reduces overall boot space by 15 litres.
Performance
The Enyaq vRS gets much the same propulsion system as the Enyaq 80x Sportline, with an electric motor at either end providing all-wheel drive and a 77kWh battery slung between them. However, the vRS gets an extra 34hp to play with, resulting in a 0.4-second reduction in 0-62mph time, and taking the sprint down to 6.5 seconds. Whether you notice that in the real world is debatable, as is the difference in range. Officially speaking, the vRS has slightly less range than the 80x, but the difference is a couple of miles and you aren't likely to notice that on the road, where around 250 miles is probably more realistic than the quoted 321-mile range.
Ride & Handling
The Enyaq vRS has exactly the same suspension setup as the 80x Sportline, so it’s no surprise that the two cars handle more or less identically. That’s no criticism, because the Sportline’s slightly lowered suspension makes it very agile for a car of its size, and though the steering is light it does offer a little feel. What’s most impressive, though, is the ride comfort, which sees the Enyaq vRS iron out bumps in the road with ease – especially at high speeds. Around town it suffers from the weight of the battery, but at least that big lump under the floor keeps the weight low and makes the car feel stable in corners.
Value
With prices starting at £52,670, the Enyaq vRS is only fractionally more expensive than the 80x Sportline. In fact, the difference is less than £1,000, but all you're really getting for that extra investment is power that you won't miss in the real world. So whether that represents value all comes down to the grille. It's an expensive option on Sportline models, but it's standard on the vRS, so those who want the Crystal Face might find the vRS is the cheapest way of doing it.
Verdict
It seems a daft situation to be in – particularly when the vRS is very good in isolation – but whether you should buy the fastest Enyaq really comes down to the grille, rather than the performance. If you want an 80x Sportline with the Crystal Face, this is a cheap way of getting it, but otherwise you can save yourself a few hundred pounds and stick with the Sportline. You won’t be missing much.
