Skoda Enyaq iV 60 Suite 2021 UK first drive

The Enyaq is Skoda’s take on the Volkswagen ID 4, a crossover battery-electric vehicle (BEV) based on the VW Group’s MEB electric platform, with batteries beneath the floor and, until a four-wheel-drive version arrives, a motor at the back.

Let’s deal with the numbers first, because this is a BEV so they end up dominating the description. The Enyaq is 4.65m long and 1.88m wide but looks bigger, and comes in two versions.

One has a 58kWh usable battery (62kWh gross), makes 177bhp and has a WLTP range of 256 miles. It weighs 1890kg. Mysteriously, Skoda calls this one the 60.

The other has 77kWh of usable battery (82kWh gross), makes 201bhp, has a WLTP range of 332 miles and weighs 2015kg. Skoda calls it the 80. Of course.

Both can be charged at up to 50kW as standard, with the 60 getting 100kW charge capability as an option, and the 80 a 125kW charge capability option.

The additional power of the heavier 80 makes it a smidge quicker on paper than the lighter 60 but we’re talking 8.4sec versus 8.2sec for the 0-62mph sprint, and the peak torque is 229lb ft from rest in either case, so from the lights, there’ll be nothing in it.

Shortly before the on-sale date, Skoda tweaked the Enyaq’s pricing to account for the government’s recent changes to the plug-in vehicle grant (now capped at £35,000), so all 60 versions fit under it and get £2500 off their £34-something-grand list prices, while all 80 versions are over it and obtain no discount on their £39k-£42k ones.

I’ve driven both here but we’ve already tested an 80, so we’ll major on the 60 this time around.

Elegant and inoffensive outside, and well finished inside. The driving position is great, the car retains a strong centre tunnel in the front, even though I suppose it doesn’t technically need one – but storage abounds – and there’s generous rear room and a big boot. Skoda does this kind of family stuff well and is sticking with its ‘Simply clever’ line of equipment – an umbrella in the door and an ice scraper in the bootlid.

A pocket for drive cables and the drive motor beneath the boot floor mean there’s no spare wheel back there but the load capacity is still 585 litres with the seats up, rising to 1710 with them folded.