Update – Skoda has released new images in its story detailing how it prepared for the five-day media drive (first drive) of the Enyaq in Ireland in February, and a few images issued by the company show some of the car’s frontal features like the grille and bumper closely. The camouflage is applied to disguise the car’s design details and lines but there’s still something visible. You can catch a full story we did detailing the camouflaging of the Skoda Enyaq to know more about the process of how prototypes are hidden in plain sight.
May 8, 2020 –
Yesterday Skoda Auto released teaser images and specifications of its first MEB-based electric car, the Skoda Enyaq iV. A while before the lockdown, the company had invited European journalists to take a quick drive in camouflaged prototypes and the the first drive impressions are very positive for the electric SUV.
Auto journalists were given a chance to briefly drive the Enyaq iV and all of them came away impressed. Predictably many of them were happy with the performance of the vRS variant, which is armed with an 82 kWh battery pack, two electric motors making it an all-wheel-drive with a maximum output of 225 kW (301 hp). The Enyaq iV vRS offers a range of up to 460 km, has a top speed of 180 km/h and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds.
Autocar UK has said that the Enyaq combines a practical interior, decent real-world range and comfortable driving position to be an easy car to appreciate and there’s a lot to like for the everyday driver.
Feeling confident that the Enyaq iV will open Skoda to yet another appreciative audience, Auto Express has said that Enyaq gets an extremely refined electric motor, clever cabin configuration and onboard tech.
The Enyaq should appeal to most people in terms of design and has good range and features but Netherlands based Autoblog.nl believes that availability and price will be the deciding factors.
Although it was impressed by the headroom and excellent rear seat space, Irish publication Independent.ie praised how the Enyaq felt to drive on the rural roads. It was appreciative of the suspension setup, acceleration and the light steering.
The Enyaq iV 80 surprised all reviewers with its 500 km of range (WLTP). Skoda says that this range is possible due to the highly efficient batteries, low rolling resistance tyres (5.9 per mile) and excellent aerodynamics (cd starting from 0.27). Skoda has categorized the variants to satisfy the requirements of a family city car (entry variants) that offer space, functionality and optimum range for city commutes; for long-distance commuting (Enyaq iV 80) with great range; and performance lovers (Enyaq iV 80X and vRS) with the all-wheel-drive and high output. The Enyaq iV will also be the first car based on the MEB platform to be built outside Germany in Europe, at Skoda’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav. Of course MEB cars will be made in China (2020) and the USA (2021) in the next phase.
All of those who have driven the Enyaq iV were pleased with the interiors (which were not allowed to be photographed), especially the large 13-inch infotainment system and the amount of space for both the passengers and the luggage (585 litres).
Some of the reviewers reported that the Enyaq iV could have a price tag similar to a Skoda Superb diesel. We will know more details of the Enyaq iV once the car is launched, which is expected to happen in early 2021.
