BUYER’S FILE
reality head-up display, which aims to make navigation directions easier to interpret.
Less impressively, Skoda has chosen to remove most physical controls – including the heating and radio knobs – so nearly all of the Enyaq’s features are operated through a 13.0in touchscreen. Now, operating an ipad is fine in the comfort of your living room, but PC Plod would rightly give you a rollicking if you Sellotaped one to you dashboard, so why Skoda and many other manufacturers believe it’s okay to do essentially the same thing is a little discombobulating. At least the screen is prominently positioned, and there’s a voice control system called Laura (yes, really) to help.
The Enyaq is roomier than the e-niro and Kona Electric, easily seating four 6ft-tall adults. A third, middle rear passenger will appreciate that there’s no hump in the floor
Skoda Enyaq 80 Price
Engine Power Torque Gearbox 0-62mph Top speed Range CO2, tax band but might find head room a bit tight. Storage cubbies abound, and the 585-litre boot is big enough for a family’s holiday luggage with space beneath the floor for the charging cables.
We tried the 82kwh rear-wheel-drive car, and it’s mostly on the money for a large SUV. It feels heavy but not ponderous on twisty roads, offering similar levels of dynamism to the e-niro. In addition, the steering is accurate, even though the weighting is a bit inconsistent; we were told that’s still being fettled.
Likewise, Skoda is continuing to try to improve the ride, but it isn’t uncomfortable as is, levelling all but the nastiest bumps reasonably well. Instead, the issue is some fidget and sway over undulations.
It’s tricky getting the brakes smooth on electric cars because the energy recuperation system, which harvests energy back into the battery as you slow down, makes them less predictable. And sure enough, the pedal was a bit snatchy on the prototypes (again, Skoda claims the finished car’s will be better).
Fortunately, refinement is otherwise impressive, with little wind or road noise reaching the interior. But while the Enyaq feels responsive away from the lights, in the way electric cars do, we reckon the e-niro is ultimately a bit sprightlier.
All in all, the Enyaq doesn’t feel groundbreaking, but it offers a familiarity that’ll be appreciated by those looking to ease progressively into electric car ownership. Starting at less than £40,000 (if the Government’s electric car grant continues), it’s also keenly priced relative to the smaller e-niro.