Overview

Skoda’s SUV is spearheading the brand’s charge into the world of purpose-built electric cars – offering a combination of space, practicality and usability that’s rare at the price. And in terms of value, spec, options and range, it’s such a good family car, we named it our Car of The Year back in 2022.

The Enyaq iV is a large family-sized car that’s based on the similarly-sized Volkswagen ID.4, yet it features Skoda’s value-for-money pricing as well as a more luxurious interior than its Volkswagen cousin. The cars it’s up against include the bestselling Kia Niro EV, Nissan Ariya, Toyota bZ4x, and Mercedes-Benz EQA at one end of the scale to the Mercedes-Benz EQC and Tesla Model Y at the other – that comes down to the monthly cost.

Its short bonnet and long cabin give it unusual proportions compared with a traditional SUV, but the shape is smart and looks classy. Combine those factors with a particularly inviting interior that’s available in a number of muted colours and trims, and really competitive range between recharges, the Enyaq iV is one of the most appealing electric family cars you can buy right now.

Given that it’s built for comfort rather than speed, you might come to the conclusion that it’s not good to drive – but you’d be wrong. Although the suspension is compliant, it’s also well damped so never feels anything other than controlled. The two-wheel drive model range starts with the Loft and Lodge models, followed by Lounge, Suite and EcoSuite – all are available in 60 and 80 forms.

Want something sportier? The Enyaq iV Sportline adds 20-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, the obligatory sportier bodykit and gloss black exterior trim. There’s also lowered sports suspension, which adds attitude. That’s available in 204hp 80 form or as the 265hp 80X, which adds four-wheel drive with a sophisticated ‘Traction Mode’ into the mix.

If those models still aren’t fast enough for you, you can also have the Enyaq in Skoda’s racy vRS specification. You get a more potent version of the 80X’s four-wheel drive system with 299hp. The extra power drops the Enyaq’s 0–62mph time down to 6.5 seconds and increase its top speed to 112mph.

Over the next few pages we’ll be thoroughly reviewing all aspects of the Skoda Enyaq iV and rating them in our verdict. Our scores will take into account the driving experience, how pleasant the interior is, the practicality on offer, what it was like to live with over six months, and how much it’ll cost you to run.