Skoda’s first electric car is the Enyaq mid-sized SUV and CarsGuide were given the chance to meet this Tesla Model Y rival ahead of its Australian launch in 2024.
Our first ‘face-to-grille’ introduction to the Enyaq electric SUV revealed more than we expected. Not only do we know how to pronounce the name properly, but we now know the range it can travel on a full charge, how fast it can accelerate, the cool technology on board and even have a better idea of how much it will cost.
So we’re going to tell you everything we now know so far about the Skoda Enyaq.
The name
Skoda tells us Enyaq is pronounced ‘Any-yak’, but there’s really no right or wrong way to say it because like so many ‘Skodarisms’ it’s a made-up name.
Skoda says the name is created using the Irish name Enya (yep, like the singer) and they’ve added a ‘q’ to keep the nomenclature in line with all of its SUVs that also end in that letter. There’s the Kamiq, the Karoq, the Kodiaq… Seriously, the company should just change its name to Skodaq.
Design
The Enyaq is a mid-sized SUV measuring about 4.7m long and that makes it about 100mm shorter than Tesla’s Model Y.
The version we met is the Coupe bodystyle, but it will also arrive in Australia with a regular SUV shape, as well.
The standout feature of this electric SUV is its grille which illuminates. Skoda calls it the Crystal Face grille.
The version Skoda showed us is an overseas car, which the carmaker has brought into Australia to assess, but we’re told that it’s almost exactly what we’ll get here too in terms of look and features.
Inside, the cabin styling is less futuristic than a Tesla but reassuringly familiar with a screen that’s not overly large, a small driver display and a high-quality feel throughout.
Price and features
How much will the Enyaq cost? Skoda hasn’t revealed pricing, but the executives have told us that it sees Tesla as a direct electric rival.
So, given the Tesla Model Y lists for about $70,000 and it’s the Enyaq direct competitor, you can probably expect the Skoda to match that price or even undercut it.
The Enyaq shown to us was the Sportline grade which sits in the middle of the range. Skoda told us that our version will be almost identical to this one.
Standard features will include 21-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights and the Crystal Face grille, there’s the body-coloured side skirts, rear sports bumper, LED taillights and the gloss black rear diffuser.
Inside there’s a 13.0-inch screen, head up display, Alcantara upholstery, dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel, stainless steel pedals, a wireless charger, and USB ports in the first and second rows.
The panoramic sunroof is also a standard feature and Skoda tells us that it will fit the expansive glass roof with a sunblind especially for Australia Enyaqs.
The head-up display is another interesting feature in that it’s an augmented reality display with a seemingly three-dimensional image to help with navigation and other functions such as adaptive cruise control.
Under the Bonnet
Australia will get the Enyaq 85 – that means it will have the 210kW electric motor, rear-wheel drive and a 0-100km/h time of 6.7 seconds.
A sporty RS version will also very likely come to Australia with even quicker acceleration.
Efficiency
The Enyaq will arrive with an 82kWh battery and have a range of 570km (WLPT) according to Skoda.
Charging time could be as little as 30 minutes to go from 10-80 cent full if you use a public fast charger.
Practicality
While not a large SUV, the Enyaq has a spacious cabin with good storage, a large boot with a smart storage compartments.
The rear seats offered this 191cm-tall writer enough legroom to sit behind his driving position, but the excellent headroom was a big surprise given that this was the coupe version.
The flat floor in the second row also made moving across the rear seat easier too.
Sunblinds in the second row are also a handy feature especially if you’ll have children in the back.
Of course, like nearly all Skodas there’s an umbrella in the door, too.
Safety
You can expect the Enyaq to arrive in Australia with Skoda’s full suite of safety tech from AEB and lane keeping assistance to rear cross-traffic alert.
The Skoda Enyaq scored the maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating and we’d expect ANCAP – our Aussie equivalent – to award it the same.
Ownership
Expect the Enyaq to be covered by Skoda’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. As for the battery warranty – Skoda hasn’t told us yet but the industry standard is eight-year/160,000km.
So that’s everything we know about the Skoda Enyaq electric SUV so far.
Skoda plans to launch another four electric SUVs by 2026, from small Kamiq and Karoq-sized cars to bigger Kodiaq-sized EVs too.
Keyword: 2024 Skoda Enyaq EV: What you need to know about Skoda's first electric SUV ahead of its arrival, and how to actually pronounce Enyaq