New Skoda Enyaq review

Buying an electric car used to require deep pockets or an acceptance of mediocrity, but that's no longer the case – and the Skoda Enyaq is a shining example of why.

The Enyaq is a fairly big family SUV (about the same size as the Audi Q5) that offers plenty of passenger space and a healthy range between battery charges. And you don't need to be a lottery winner to afford one.

Of course, the Enyaq – which has been updated for 2025 – isn’t the only SUV you plug in rather than fill up with petrol. There's also the closely related Volkswagen ID 4, the Ford Explorer, the Kia EV6 and the incredibly popular Tesla Model Y to consider – plus a fair few others.

Skoda Enyaq video review

Read on to find out how the new Skoda Enyaq compares with the best electric SUVs and how we rate it in key areas including performance, range and practicality...

The face-lifted Skoda Enyaq is available in a choice of two main versions, starting with the 60, which has 201bhp. Its official 0-60mph sprint of 7.8 seconds is perfectly adequate for everyday driving but slightly slower than a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Tesla Model Y. 

The more powerful Enyaq 85 – with a 0-60mph sprint time of 6.5 seconds – is much stronger and quicker off the line than the equivalent Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 or Nissan Ariya. Again, though, the Model Y is quicker. There's also an all-wheel-drive version called the 85X.

For the longest range, you'll want the 85, which officially manages 365 miles on a full charge. That further than the 77kWh Ioniq 5 but less than the Model Y Long Range RWD. The Enyaq 60 has a range of 268 miles, which is an improvement on the 50 model it replaces but still doesn’t beat equivalent versions of its rivals.

Electric SUVs have to carry around heavy battery packs so they tend not to smother bumps as brilliantly as the best-riding petrol or diesel alternatives. The same is true of the Enyaq, and there’s a slightly unsettled quality to the ride in urban environments.

It's still one of the most comfortable electric cars for the money, and the ride becomes even smoother on faster roads, where the Enyaq is better than the Model Y. Sportline trim adds sports suspension, which aims to make the Enyaq feel, well, sportier, but we’ve yet to try a version with it fitted. 

There's the option of adaptive suspension as part of the Maxx package, and that makes the Enyaq very smooth at speed, but we think the standard set-up is good enough to make the extra outlay unnecessary.

The Enyaq isn’t a supremely fun car to drive but it handles tidily though, and while it's not especially engaging, it is easy and relaxing to drive, which is the overwhelming priority for an SUV.

As long as you're not overzealous, it stays fairly upright through corners, and the light but precise steering allows you to position the car with confidence. Rear-wheel-drive models have a relatively tight turning circle, which is a boon when you're parking and manoeuvring.

If you enjoy driving more spiritedly, try the lower, squatter Cupra Born or the Kia EV6 (both have sharper handling). Also, bear in mind that the four-wheel-drive Enyaq 85X’s 4x4 gubbins means the front wheels can’t turn as sharply as other versions. You'll find the same with a four-wheel-drive Audi Q4 e-tron.

With no engine chugging away under the bonnet, the Enyaq is a peaceful companion. In fact, it's quiet even by electric SUV standards.

There's not much road noise except on really coarse surfaces, and only the faint whistle of wind around the door mirrors at a steady 70mph cruise. Indeed, our only slight criticism is that the suspension can be heard thudding away in the background occasionally when you’re driving along a bumpy stretch of road. It's much quieter than a Tesla Model Y though.

While you’ll be able to use the regenerative braking system for most of your light braking on the move, the brake pedal itself isn’t very feelsome. As a result, it can be a bit harder to slow down predictably because you need to press the pedal much harder than you think before it starts to work.

"The Enyaq leans more in bends than some rivals but still inspires me with plenty of confidence thanks to the accuracy of its steering.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor

If you’re shopping for an electric SUV rather than an electric car because you want to sit higher up, you’ll find that the Skoda Enyaq compares well with rivals. Why? Well, it places you higher up from the road than you are in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6.

The standard seats are mostly comfortable on long journeys and you get adjustable lumbar support as standard. The Enyaq Edition adds electrical seat adjustment and a massage function, while the top-spec Sportline adds more supportive sports seats.

You control the air-conditioning using the touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. We’d prefer physical buttons and dials, like the ones that you get in the Ioniq 5 and EV6, because they’re less distracting to use.

The Enyaq’s long, shallow-angled front pillars are a minor nuisance, obscuring some of your diagonal view and hiding the kerb area around the car (the VW ID 4 has the same problem). The rear pillars are fairly substantial too, somewhat compromising the view over your shoulder.

Luckily, front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera come as standard on all versions. Top-spec Sportline adds a 360-degree bird’s eye view camera while the optional Maxx package adds a system that lets the car park itself (and the 360-degree camera to the Edition trim). 

LED headlights are fitted as standard. Edition trim and above adds matrix LEDs that allow you to use high beam at all times without dazzling other road users.

All Enyaq trim levels get a 13in touchscreen positioned high up on the dashboard and tilted slightly towards the driver. It’s easy to see and reach, and the software responds quickly enough to inputs. Plus, it’s smoother to use and has a much more logical lay-out than the set-up in earlier Enyaqs.

It also comes with lots of kit, including DAB radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring, sat-nav and two USB-C sockets up front. Edition trim adds two more USB-C sockets for rear passengers.

While you’ll rely most on touch to control the infotainment system, we like that you get some physical shortcut buttons below the screen to help you navigate the system more easily. That’s better than the ID 4, which gives you the same operating system but with no shortcuts.

The quality of the Enyaq's interior is very good for the money. It's slightly more impressive than a Ford Explorer or VW ID 4 inside, and uses more appealing materials than those in the Tesla Model Y.

It feels pretty well screwed together and there are plenty of squidgy plastic on the dashboard and doors, plus piano black and metal highlights to jazz things up. Even the entry-level interior (called Loft) gets leather on top of the dashboard, while Lounge and above add even plusher materials.

Loft comes with fabric seats, which are upgraded to microsuede if you go for Lounge or Sportline. Suite Black and Suite Cognac both come with full leather seats – either black or brown.

“There's a pleasing mix of finishes inside the Enyaq. I like that most versions feature nice and soft materials on upper surfaces.” – Doug Revolta, Head of Video

You certainly won’t complain about space in the front of the Skoda Enyaq, even if you’re well over six feet tall. There’s loads of head room and the seats slide back a long way on their runners.

Storage space is excellent thanks to the large carpeted door pockets and an enormous cubby under the centre armrest. You’ll find more stowage at the base of the dashboard and between the seats, including two good-sized cupholders. The only minor gripe is the slightly small glovebox.

The Enyaq is huge in the back, with more than enough leg room for a couple of six-footers to lounge out behind equally tall folk sitting in the front.

If you want even more space in front of your knees, check out the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. Head room in the Enyaq is plentiful – overall, it's brilliant for carrying passengers in the back.

There are loads of other handy features, including phone pockets on the backs of the front seats. Edition trim includes sun blinds on the rear windows.

The rear seatback splits and folds in a 60/40 arrangement, and if you stump up for the reasonably priced Transport Package, you get handy remote levers on the walls of the boot to make dropping them easier.

The seats don’t slide, recline or do anything else clever, but you do get a ski hatch, allowing you to carry long, slender items between two passengers.

The Enyaq doesn't have a front boot but the rear boot space is very big, with 585 litres of storage. That's more than in the VW ID 4 and allowed us to fit nine carry-on suitcases under the slide-out load cover. The Tesla Model Y – which does have a front boot – did even better, taking 10 cases.

The Transport Package adds some cargo netting and a height-adjustable boot floor. When raised, that smoothes out the step in the floor you're left with when you fold down the rear seats. Whether you select it or not, there’s enough storage space for the charging cables under the floor.

The boot is easy to load thanks to the wide tailgate opening and reasonably low load lip. It’s also handy that every version comes with an electric tailgate with gesture control.

“I have plenty of room to stretch out in the rear seats of the Enyaq, and if you regularly carry three people on the rear bench, it's a better bet than most rivals.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

If you're looking for a practical runaround and only need to make the occasional long journey, the Skoda Enyaq 60 is the version to go for. The problem is that the slightly smaller Skoda Elroq costs quite a bit less and goes a similar distance between charges, so if you can live without the extra space and equipment, it’s worth saving your money.

We’d go for the 85 version because it gives you a much longer range. It costs about the same as an equivalent Nissan Ariya or VW ID 4 and is cheaper than a Tesla Model Y. Resale values are predicted to be strong and the Enyaq is very cheap to run as a company car because it's in a very low BIK tax band (the same is true of all electric cars).

The Enyaq 60 has a maximum charging speed of up to 165kW for a 10-80% top-up in around 24 minutes. The 85 and 85X charge at 135kW and 175kW respectively and both take around 28 minutes to charge from 10-80%. A 0-100% charge on a home EV charger will take nine hours in the Enyaq 60 and at least 12 hours in an 85 or 85X.

Even if you go for the entry-level Enyaq trim – SE L – you get loads of standard equipment. That includes 19in alloys, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, wireless phone-charging and touchscreen infotainment. 

Stepping up to one of the Edition trims adds the larger battery, along with matrix LED headlights, an electric driver’s seat with massage and some styling upgrades. It’s the one we’d go for.

Top-spec Sportline 85X gets all the bells and whistles. Indeed, it gives you sportier styling, 20in alloys, a head-up display, an upgraded Canton sound system, sportier steering, sports suspension and a variable boot floor. It’s only available in four-wheel-drive guise.

The Enyaq finished towards the top of the electric SUV section of our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. Skoda came 13th out of 31 brands in the overall rankings, ahead of Ford, VW and Nissan but behind Hyundai and Kia.

Every Enyaq comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty on most parts, while the battery is covered for up to eight years with a 100,000-mile cap. If the battery falls below 70% of its original usable capacity, Skoda says it will pay to have it put right.

The Enyaq scored five stars out of five for safety when it was tested by Euro NCAP. Adult occupant crash protection was found to be fractionally better than in the closely related VW ID 4 – the two cars scored the same for child protection. The Enyaq also did well for protecting pedestrians. 

You get lots of safety technology as standard, including multiple airbags, e-Call emergency assistance, automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keeping assistance. Blind-spot monitoring is standard from Edition trim up.

“All things considered, I think the Enyaq represents excellent value for money if you stick to the lower trim levels.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here