Skoda Enyaq gets 5000 reservations in Germany; demand exceeds supply

Skoda Enyaq customer deliveries began with a Norwegian family in Moss (Norway) on 27 April 2021. While Scandinavian dealerships are already handing over the keys of the Enyaq to customers, retail outlets in Western and Central Europe were confirmed to commence sales in May and June, respectively, at the time of the announcement last month.

Ireland & Denmark

Skoda had started taking pre-orders for the Enyaq iV in September 2020 and began manufacturing at the Mlada Boleslav plant in the Czech Republic in December 2020. In January, the company’s Irish subsidiary had said on Twitter that it had received 280 online reservations and sold out its allocation. In February, the Danish subsidiary had announced that it had received more than 1,400 pre-orders.

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, interest is high for the electric SUV. Skoda’s top boss, Thomas Schäfer, has told Lidovky.cz that the Enyaq iV will hit the local dealers this week (May 13), and the allocation for the country is 2,000 units in 2021.

Germany

Martin Jahn, BoM member responsible for Sales and Marketing, Skoda, said at the company’s annual press conference this year on 24 March that in total, there are over 20,000 customer orders for the Enyaq iV from Europe. The Enyaq iV is seeing high demand in Germany, the parent company Volkswagen Group’s home market. Christof Birringer, Head of Communications, Skoda (Germany), said in an interview with DMM in April that 5,000 units have been reserved in Germany.

Skoda said last week that it delivered 500 units of the Enyaq to customers in the first quarter of 2021.

The Enyaq is Skoda’s second fully electric model after the Citigo iV. The starting letter ‘E’ signifies electro-mobility, while the last letter ‘Q’ links to the virtues of an SUV. Skoda has stated that the Enyaq name has been derived from the Irish name ‘enya’, meaning ‘source of life.’

Here’s an in-depth look at the Enyaq iV

Skoda Enyaq iV exterior

The VW Group brand says though the Enyaq iV breaks new ground, it retains the core values of a Skoda, which are ample space, emotional design and a “sustainable yet fun driving” experience.

Skoda’s exterior design chief Karl Neuhold says sculpted lines, clear surfaces and crystalline elements that take inspiration from Bohemian crystal art are presented on the exterior. The Enyaq iV’s proportions, however, are quite different from the Kodiaq or Karoq. Due to no combustion engine, it gets a shorter front-end, and it has a more extended roofline, both of which lead to a spacious cabin. Skoda describes this as the proverbial ‘space shuttle’.

Neuhold says the SUV’s front is the main highlight, with the distinctive illuminated radiator grille comprising 130 LEDs lighting up the vertical slats. Also worth noting is the company’s first double barrel headlight setup with DRLs styled like the ‘Thor’s Hammer’. The headlights are full-LED Matrix units. The rear end gets a flat tailgate and is designed more like a people-mover than a crossover. There are 9 different wheel options, including one set of 18-inch steel wheels and eight sets of 18-21 inch alloy wheels.

The overhangs and the vehicle’s height are quite different compared to ICE-powered models as electric drive components consume less space, and there is a need to place the battery on the floor of the vehicle. A Cd value of 0.27 is quite a feat for an SUV of this size. Neuhold summarizes that the Enyaq iV embodies the virtues of the Skoda brand while taking a step towards a sustainable future. He insists that the Enyaq iV is designed for families, long-distance travellers, and customers with an active lifestyle.

Skoda Enyaq iV interior

The interior of the Skoda Enyaq iV is all about digitalisation, sustainability and, of course, as in the case of every Skoda, practicality. The dashboard is sleek, and its minimalist lines make the cabin seem roomier in the front. Overall, the interior space is close to that of the Skoda Kodiaq mid-size SUV.

Depending on the configuration, the Skoda Enyaq iV gets either a conventional three-spoke steering wheel or a classier two-spoke steering wheel. What’s oddly interesting here is Skoda scaling back on the Digital Cockpit’s display size, which is the opposite of what one would expect in EVs. The virtual instrument cluster of this model measures roughly half the size of other Skoda models in the market – 5.3 inches. The driver can choose from four different layouts for this display via the steering wheel.

While the Virtual Cockpit is smaller, the infotainment system’s display is a 13-inch free-standing touch panel. That’s the largest central display Skoda has offered on any model to date. The most basic configuration settles for an infotainment system with a 10-inch panel and touch keys. The centre console has a bridge-like design. The Enyaq iV is the first Skoda available with a head-up display featuring augmented reality. The AR-HUD projects information onto two different areas, for details like speed, traffic signs, directions, etc.

As for the sustainability aspect, in select configurations, Skoda has used seat covers made of 40% wool. The remaining 60% is made of polyester from recycled PET bottles. Also available is cognac-coloured leather upholstery, and in its case, the hide has been treated using olive leaf extracts instead of chemicals.

Norbert Weber, Head of Interior Design, Skoda, says that the long-wheelbase (compared to the length of the vehicle) gives it “exceptional” interior space, helped by the flat floor design and the lack of a central tunnel. In addition to a 585-litre boot capacity, also worth noting is the space for additional storage compartments under the centre console. There are two new storage spaces, a 6.2-litre Jumbo Box under the centre armrest and an 11.4-litre compartment under the centre console.

Skoda Enyaq iV specifications

The Skoda Enyaq iV sits on Volkswagen Group’s dedicated EV platform MEB. The new electric SUV is 4,649 mm long, 1,616 mm tall and 1,879 mm wide. It has a 2,765 mm wheelbase. Customers can choose from multiple configurations in rear- or all-wheel drive, with a range of up to 537 km in the new stringent cycle WLTP.

Skoda will sell the Enyaq iV in five powertrain variants: 50, 60, 80, 80x and RS eventually.

Powertrain & Chassis

Aspect50 Specs60 Specs80 Specs80x SpecsRS Specs
Drivetrain LayoutRWDRWDRWDAWDAWD
MotorsOne (rear)One (rear)One (rear)Two (front & rear)Two (front & rear)
Total Power109 kW (148 PS)132 kW (180 PS)150 kW (204 PS)195 kW (265 PS)225 kW (306 PS)
Total Torque220 Nm310 Nm310 Nm425 Nm460 Nm
Battery TypeLithium-ionLithium-ionLithium-ionLithium-ionLithium-ion
Battery Capacity (Gross/Net)55 kWh/52 kWh62 kWh/58 kWh82 kWh/77 kWh82 kWh/77 kWh82 kWh/77 kWh
Range340 km410 km537 km460 km460 km
Top Speed160 km/h160 km/h160 km/h160 km/h180 km/h

Charging

The Skoda Enyaq iV supports 2.3 kW AC normal charging, 7.2-11 kW AC fast charging and 50-125 kW DC fast charging. However, the charging support varies as per the powertrain variant.

Charging Type50 Specs60 Specs80 Specs80x SpecsRS Specs
2.3 kW AC ChargingYesYesYesYesYes
7.2 kW AC ChargingYesYesYesYesYes
11 kW AC ChargingNoYesYesYesYes
100 kW DC ChargingYesYesYesYesYes
125 kW DC ChargingNoNoYesYesYes

As for the charging time, one can charge the biggest, 82 kWh battery pack from 5-80% SoC using a 125 kW DC fast charger in just 38 minutes. We will update this section when Skoda releases information.

Safety

The Skoda Enyaq iV comes with a plethora of active and passive safety features. Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Lane Assist (including roadwork recognition), Emergency Assist, Travel Assist, Collision Avoidance Assist, etc., are the main driver assistance systems. Up to nine airbags protect the driver and passenger(s) in the event of an accident.

The Skoda Enyaq iV has received a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, and it is among the safest vehicles on sale in Europe today. It has topped in the Euro NCAP test for occupant protection with 94% in adult occupant protection and 89% in child occupant protection.

Production

As stated in the beginning, Skoda is manufacturing the Enyaq iV at its Mlada Boleslav plant, which is Volkswagen Group’s only factory that can roll out both MQB and MEB platform vehicles on the same line. Once the production ramps up to full speed, the company will manufacture up to 350 units of the Enyaq iV every day.

Featured Image Source: Skoda