The rakishly styled Skoda Enyaq Coupé aims to build on the success of the brand’s first bespoke electric car, the Enyaq large SUV…
On sale Spring 2022 | Price from £41,600 (est)
The words ‘sensible’ and ‘stylish’ usually sit together about as comfortably as Meghan Markle and Piers Morgan, but one of the aims with the Skoda Enyaq Coupé iV was to show that it doesn’t have to be that way.
The latest addition to the burgeoning coupé SUV and electric car ranks, it swaps the squared-off rear end of the regular Skoda Enyaq for a roof that curves downwards far more dramatically and incorporates a panoramic glass sunroof as standard.
Crucially, though, that roof is almost as high as the standard car’s above the passenger area, so there’s enough room for all but the tallest of adults to fit in the back without feeling cramped. And visibility isn’t as compromised as it is in the closely related Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, where a high-set spoiler cuts the rear window in two.
True, the boot of the Enyaq Coupé is slightly smaller than the regular car’s, at 570 litres instead of 585. However, it’s still much bigger than those of most conventionally powered family SUVs.
Prices are still to be confirmed, but you will have to pay more than the £34,850 that the regular Enyaq costs from, not least because the Coupé isn’t available with its sister car’s smallest battery option (at least to start with).
Instead, all versions use a 77kWh battery, which can be charged at a rate of up to 125kW, meaning it’s possible to top it up from 10-80% in 29 minutes. Meanwhile, a full charge (0-100%) using an 11kW home wallbox takes six to eight hours.
As for range, the more aerodynamic shape helps here, with the Coupé managing up to 339 miles in official tests, compared with the 333 of the regular car.
We’ve driven a late prototype Enyaq Coupé, with this test vehicle a rear-wheel-drive 80 model (a four-wheel-drive 80X is also available) in Sportline trim. The latter option not only beefs up the looks but also brings laminated side glass to reduce wind noise and a lowered ride height in an effort to deliver sportier handling.
Specified this way, the Coupé feels rather crashy over urban potholes, but its ride settles down nicely at higher speeds, where refinement also impresses.
There’s good grip in bends, too, and the body doesn’t loll sideways a great deal, while the precise steering allows you to position the car with confidence. That said, it still feels like a heavy SUV, so if you’re after something that’s overtly sporty, you might want to consider the range-topping vRS performance version.
This uses the same twin-motor, 295bhp set-up as the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX, allowing it to accelerate from 0-62mph in a hot hatch-baiting 6.5sec.
Whichever Enyaq Coupé you choose, standard equipment includes a 13.0in touchscreen infotainment system, dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel and powerful LED headlights, with Sportline and vRS models upgrading these to matrix LEDs, which automatically adjust so they can remain on full beam without dazzling other drivers.
The vRS also gets an illuminated ‘Crystal Face’ front grille that’s a cost option on lesser models and as flashy as anything in the Crown Jewels.
Keyword: 2022 Skoda Enyaq Coupé iV revealed: price, specs and release date