GREEN MACHINE
Skoda’s Enyaq Coupé arrives in style
IN March last year, I went to Tuscany for the international media launch of the Skoda Enyaq Coupé, the visually slicker and smoother version of the Enyaq crossover (in much the same way as the Volkswagen ID.5 is a coupé version of the ID.4).
The car was due to arrive here soon afterwards, but even at the launch, there were grim predictions that the then recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia would affect delivery dates, because wiring harnesses for the car were made in Ukraine.
It wasn’t the only company hit by the wartime gap in production. So too were sister brands in the Volkswagen group, along with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Ford, a reminder of the global supply chains that now feed into car manufacturing.
Eventually, Enyaq production restarted, thanks to a new wiring harness line in the Czech Republic, and further supplies from Morocco. Even Ukraine eventually came back on stream, but production focused on left-hand drive versions of the Enyaq coupé, and so we waited again.
The good news is that the car finally went on sale here on Thursday, so even though I wrote about it last March, it’s a good time to refresh your memory. One key difference is a rise in prices compared with those announced at the time, reflecting the overall market. The entrylevel 60 iV model now costs €56,710 on the road, and comes with a 62kWh battery (58kWh useable), 180hp, and WLTP-certified range of 390km. A three-year maintenance and tyre plan is included. That price does not reflect the €5,000 SEAI grant, so realistically you should be paying €51,710.
The 80 iV version has an 82kWh battery (77kWh useable), costs from €62,685, delivers 200hp, and has range of up to 545km. Because it is over €60k, it does not qualify for the grant at all, so that actually is the retail price. Both of these cars are rearwheel drive; if you want full 4x4 functionality, the 80x iV cost from €65,645. Order the latter version of the car in Sportline trim, and you’re looking at a top-of-the-range price of €73,035, for now. Pricing on the thumping 302hp RS version will be announced in two weeks’ time.
So what is it like? Well, despite the tapering roofline, headroom is actually greater in the coupé than in the crossover style, and cargo space of 570 litres is just 15 litres smaller. All versions of the coupé come with a tinted black glass panoramic roof, the largest available on any Skoda model.
The crystal face, which is a bit Beyoncé’s handbag for my taste, is standard on the RS model not yet available here) and an optional extra on other trim levels; it has 131 LEDs illuminating the vertical ribs and horizontal slight strip. This is where I slightly part company, because while it looks great at night, it seems a bit cheap and gimmicky in daytime. The wheels come in sizes between 19 and 21 inches.
The cockpit has a 5.3-inch digital cluster, while the infotainment screen measures a generous 13 inches. A headup display is available as an option.
On mostly rural roads in Tuscany, I found the handling to be sharp without being thrilling. The real attraction is that massive bursts of speed are possible when you need to overtake in a short window of opportunity, which was often, thanks to farm vehicles, trucks, and just generally slowcoach drives in clapped-out old Fiats.
The test drive wasn’t long enough to put the range fully to the test but from what I managed to ascertain, the official claim wouldn’t seem to differ greatly from what I achieved.
Fast charging of up to 135kW is available for the allwheel-drive models. For the 82kWh battery, that means recharging from 10-80% in 29 minutes, or adding 100km of range in seven minutes or thereabouts. On an 11kW home wallbox, you’re looking at between six and eight hours to fully charge the battery, for most drivers an operation that shouldn’t be necessary more than once a week.
For me, the greatest appeal of the car is the design. Colours can be divisive, for sure, but I particularly loved the Hyper Green paint job that makes the black detailing really stand out.
In profile, the car looks maybe a little chubby, but from the rear, it is a delight, which all too often is far from the case.
It’s easy to see significant demand for the Enyaq iV Coupé, in all its power versions, because it certainly is eye-catching, and with the range, charging speed, and driving chops to match.