Test Car Specifications
Model: 2025 Skoda Enyaq 85 Edition
Price: Enyaq from £39,010; 85 Edition from £44,310
Engine: 210kW electric motor
Battery: 82kWh lithium-ion (77kWh usable)
Transmission: single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power: 286hp
Torque: 545Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 359 miles
0-62mph: 6.5 seconds
Top speed: 111mph
Boot space: 585-1,710 litres
Styling
The Enyaq may be structurally identical to its predecessor, but it looks quite different. For a kick-off, the new nose is inspired by the smaller Elroq SUV, with the little black stripe between the lights and a new front bumper, designed to be more aerodynamic than before. There's a new set of grey panels low down around the bumpers and the door sills, giving the SUV versions a two-tone look although it isn't fitted to the Coupe models or the Sportline versions, which get the standard single-colour look. We aren't great fans of the two-tone look, but the new nose looks alright, and the new lights match the sharp Skoda look. It's hardly an ugly mug, but nor was the original, and we suspect a few customers will prefer the old-shape car.
Interior
Inside, the Enyaq has changed even less dramatically, with only some new colour schemes to show for its latest upgrade. Ok, if you look closely you’ll spot the Unique Dark Chrome finish on all the things that used to be brightwork, such as the door handles and the new Skoda script across the steering wheel, but that’s easy to miss.
As before, you get a massive central touchscreen, which comes with Skoda’s latest infotainment software and is easier to navigate than before, while that’s complemented by a digital instrument display and, if you so choose, a clever head-up display that can pick out and highlight lines on the road or other vehicles.
In truth, the technology is clever without being all that brilliant – though VW has made improvements, the system still isn’t as easy to navigate as we’d like – and the touch-sensitive slider ‘buttons’ beneath the screen are an ergonomic nightmare. At least there are some proper shortcut buttons below to help you find the menus you’re looking for.
But while the minimalist approach has harpooned Skoda’s ergonomic credentials slightly, there’s no arguing with the solidity of the build quality. Every piece feels neatly attached to its neighbour, and the materials on show are almost all brilliant.
Practicality
With no structural differences between the old and new Enyaq models, there isn't much difference in terms of practicality. Not that that's a problem, because it's one of the Enyaq's strong suits. The basic SUV gets a 585-litre boot that grows to more than 1,700 litres with the back seats folded, and there's plenty of leg- and headroom in the back for passengers. The Coupe, which has a more swooping roofline, is a bit less spacious, but it's still pretty roomy. The boot space shrinks slightly to 570 litres, and the sloping window means it isn't quite as useful for bulky items, but space is still reasonable and more than adequate for most drivers.
Performance
The Enyaq range comprises three different powertrains at launch, with the basic '60' model getting a 63kWh battery and a 204hp electric motor, giving it an official range of 269 miles on a single charge.
Arguably the most appealing option, however, is the 85 model tested here. That has an 82kWh battery pack (although only 77kWh is usable) and a 286hp electric motor driving the rear wheels alone. That means the car gets from 0-62mph in a commendable 6.5 seconds, which is more than enough to keep pace with traffic, and it has more range than any other model in the Enyaq line-up.
In 85 form, the SUV manages 359 miles on a single charge, according to the official economy test, while the Coupe model manages 365 miles on a charge. That's more than the all-wheel-drive 85x, which has the same 286hp but uses two electric motors to produce it, creating more drag and therefore cutting the range to 332 miles for the SUV and 334 miles for the Coupe.
All three cars also get fast charging that allows the battery to be filled in less than half an hour using one of the fastest DC charging points. And if you use a domestic 'wallbox' charging point, you should be able to fill the battery completely overnight.
Ride & Handling
Given there are so few mechanical differences between the new and old Enyaq models, it's no surprise to find the road manners are more or less unchanged. The steering doesn't have much feel, but it's quite precise and linear, and the body control is pretty good. At least, it is if you have the Dynamic Chassis Control that was fitted to our test car, and you pop the suspension into its sportiest setting. Leave it in comfort and there's quite a bit of wallowiness.
The trade-off for that wallowiness, though, is impressive absorbency. While the Enyaq is hardly uncomfortable in Sport mode, it is noticeably more forgiving in its less aggressive settings, allowing it to soak up the potholes and imperfections relatively well. Admittedly, the weight of the battery means the low-speed ride is still a little wooden at times, but that's true of most electric cars, and the Enyaq is still better than many of its rivals.
Our one complaint is the brakes, which still feel very spongy and vague. It was a weakness of the old car, and it doesn't seem to have improved with the new model, which is not only something of a disappointment, but also reduces confidence in the Enyaq's abilities on the road. It was never a great problem on our test drive, it's true, but it doesn't exactly exude reassurance.
Value
New Enyaq prices start at £39,010, which makes the Enyaq about £600 cheaper than the VW ID.4 with which it shares so much. Admittedly, that money pays for the basic '60' version in entry level SE L trim, but that still gets 19-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control and heated front seats as standard, as well as keyless entry, a heated steering wheel and wireless phone charging. And, of course, it comes with the big touchscreen and digital instrument cluster as standard.
The SE L, then, has everything you need, but if you want the Coupe body shape, or one of the more desirable '85' and '85x' powertrains, you're going to have to choose one of the more upmarket trim levels. The Edition gets blinds for the rear windows, more upmarket headlights and an electrically adjustable driving seat with a memory function, while the SportLine gets black 20-inch alloys, sports seats and sports suspension, as well as the head-up display and a Canton sound system. It gets a 360-degree manoeuvring camera, too, as opposed to the reversing camera seen in all other variants.
Verdict
If you liked the old Enyaq and you like the new model's design, there's nothing about the new model that will put you off. Small tweaks have hardly moved the game on, but the Skoda is still one of the very best in its class, and anything that usurps it will have to be a very good car indeed.
