7 ways the new Skoda Enyaq is even better than its predecessor

2 Breath of fresh aero

As much as we all love a bit of fresh air, it’s a bit of a pain when it comes to travelling efficiently. The faster you go, the more the air resists – and that’s rather inconvenient for a car. So the sleeker and more efficient the shape of that car, the easier it will move through the air, and the more economical it will be.

That’s why the new Modern Solid styling of the latest Enyaq has such a positive effect on efficiency. The Tech Deck has a smooth transition to the leading edge of the bonnet to minimise air disturbance, plus a minuscule gap between the radiator and front bumper. The air ‘curtains’ at either side of the car have been optimised to cleave the air cleanly, and even the wheels have been made as aerodynamic as possible.

And the numbers prove that Skoda’s engineers have worked wonders, because with an aerodynamic-drag coefficient of 0.245, the new SUV is significantly more aerodynamic than its predecessor, and the figure of 0.229 generated by the Enyaq Coupé makes it the most slippery model in the entire Skoda line-up.

3 Future tech, now

The new Skoda Enyaq is designed to make you feel special, indulged, cosseted, and to do this, Skoda has fitted it with a huge amount of standard equipment. 

So, the entry point to the range, SE L trim, comes with LED lights at either end, heated and electrically adjustable door mirrors that are also self-dimming, heated front seats and LED cabin illumination. The avalanche of technology doesn’t stop there, because three-zone climate control is also standard, as is keyless entry with ‘walk away’ locking, and parking sensors fore and aft. There’s also a rearview camera, and predictive adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assistance. There’s also a phalanx of tech designed to prevent an accident, such as blind spot detection, systems designed to detect cyclists and pedestrians, and emergency steering support. There are also numerous airbags, and ISOFIX preparation on three seats, plus an automatic emergency-call system, should the worst occur.

The next trim level up, Edition, adds full Matrix LED headlights, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat that can massage away the strains of the day, and manual blinds for the rear windows. And if you’ve invested in the stunning-looking Enyaq Coupé, it comes with a panoramic glass roof that floods the cabin with sunlight.

SportLine trim gives the new Skoda Enyaq a dynamic appearance, with its illuminated Tech Deck plus gloss-black highlights, including badging. It also features an Area View camera system, sports seats, an upgraded 12-speaker CANTON audio system and a head-up display for vital information.

And should you wish to explore the options list, you’ll find a clever Park Assist function that will steer your Enyaq into a space for you, while Remote Park Assist does the same – but you control the car from outside using the MySkoda app on your smartphone. 

Still not space-age enough for you? Well how about Remote Trained Parking, in which the Enyaq can learn five specific parking areas, and drive itself there from 50 metres away.

4 A sustainable SUV

Sustainability is key to the new Skoda Enyaq, which highlights innovative fabrics throughout. For example, the Lodge cabin design features a material called TechnoFil, which is made of 75% ECONYL. This is constructed from sources such as discarded fishing nets, old carpets and fabrics discarded by large factories.

Meanwhile, Lounge Design is made from artificial leather and microsuede, and the leather in the Suite Cognac Design Selection is tanned using an eco-friendly process that utilises olive leaf extracts. In this way Skoda is productively using something that’s considered a waste material by other industries.

Elsewhere in the new Enyaq, the car features other Simply Clever features such as a sustainable umbrella in the driver’s door and a sustainable ice scraper and tyre tread-depth gauge in the boot.

5 Making a connection

Connectivity is key to much in the modern world, in which case the new Skoda Enyaq is a leading-edge machine.

When you’re inside the cabin, the newly redesigned infotainment system is more interactive than ever. The bar along the top of the touchscreen contains quick-access icons for favourite features, which include battery pre-heating, Intelligent Speed Assist, and the new Heaters function. In this last system, one tap of the screen activates all heating functions, including windscreen demisting, seating heating, steering wheel heating (where fitted), and rear window demisting.

In addition, users are logged in to the system automatically, with no need for additional confirmation.

The new Skoda Enyaq also features an enhanced digital voice assistant, which is known as Laura. This system now uses ChatGPT software, which allows Laura to give more natural responses to questions, and also offer answers to more complex questions. For example, rather than needing to know specific commands, you could simply say ‘my hands are cold’ and Laura would activate the heated steering wheel. Laura can also be used to control various internal systems, including navigation, climate control and infotainment.

But you don’t need to be inside your Enyaq to be connected to it. The MySkoda app allows owners to keep an eye on the maintenance needs of their vehicle’s brake pads, batteries and air-conditioning systems, as well as pre-condition the cabin to be at the preferred temperature on any given day. You can even lock or unlock the vehicle from afar.

In addition, the MySkoda app allows users to direct their Enyaq into a parking space while standing alongside the vehicle, and it also includes Powerpass, which provides access to more than 800,000 charging points throughout Europe, and allows owners to charge up their vehicle when they arrive. 

6 Power and performance

No matter which model you end up choosing, the new Skoda Enyaq is certainly not short of performance. The range comprises two battery sizes and three electric drivetrain options.The Enyaq 60 model features a 63kWh battery and a 204PS (201bhp) electric motor on the rear axle. This electric motor also delivers 310Nm of torque, which endows the car with sprightly acceleration (0-62mph in 8.1 seconds). The 60 also has a considerable official WLTP battery range of 268 miles.

Above this sits the Enyaq 85, which contains an 82kWh battery and a rear-axle electric motor that generates 286PS (282bhp) and a prodigious 545Nm of torque. Performance is even more electrifying, with the 0-62mph sprint dispensed within a mere 6.7 seconds, and a top speed of 111mph. The Enyaq 85 is a long-distance machine par excellence, with its official battery range of 359 miles (365 miles for the slightly more aerodynamic Coupé).The Enyaq 85x model features the same battery and electric motor as the 85 model, but with the addition of a small electric motor on the front axle, which gives the vehicle four-wheel drive – ideal for when extra traction is needed. Performance is unchanged over the 85 model, while the 85x can cover a vast 332 miles (334 for the Coupé) in one charge.

7 Charging ahead

The new Skoda Enyaq is a car designed to keep you on the move, which is why the 60 model supports a charging rate of 165kW, and the 85 and 85x models support charging rates of 175kW. In the real world, these rates translate into a charge time from 10-80% of 24 minutes for the 60 model, and 28 minutes for the two 85 versions – enough for a sensible break from the road, plus a cup of coffee.

But the new Enyaq isn’t just a car designed to deal with the give and take of modern traffic. It’s also able to deal with the give and take of modern power demands, so if you have a suitable wallbox at home, your car can double as an energy-storage facility for the home, and can be used to power your house’s vital systems in the event of a power cut.