► Revised 2024 Enyaq gets a significant power boost
► It’ll become the fastest model in the firm’s line-up
► Skoda claims it’ll have a longer maximum range, too
Skoda has given the Enyaq vRS a shot in the arm for its 2024 plate change. The Czech brand has boosted the electric car’s output by 36bhp, pushing its maximum power to 335bhp. The change will make the Enyaq vRS the fastest car in Skoda’s line-up.
The extra poke means the Enyaq vRS can now sprint from 0–62mph in 5.5 seconds, compared to 6.5 seconds for the previous version of the car. The change should add a welcome dash of excitement to the car and make it more of a match for fast electric SUVs such as the Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y.
Despite the added grunt (and the fact the new car is powered by the same 82kWh battery as the outgoing model), Skoda also claims the revised Enyaq vRS has a longer range than before. The firm says its tweaks have increased the SUV’s range by 15 miles to a new maximum of 336 miles, while Coupe’s range has swelled by 16 miles to 340 miles.
If that wasn’t enough, Skoda has fiddled with the car’s charging technology, increasing the maximum DC speeds it can received from 135kW to 175kW. Now, the EV can charge from 10–80% capacity in just 28 minutes, which is an improvement of eight minutes.
Skoda’s software engineers have been hard at work, too. The Enyaq vRS’s infotainment system has been overhauled with fresh menu icons, a simpler climate control screen and clearer graphics for the sat-nav system. The car’s digital gauge cluster has received the same treatment. Whether or not these improvements will trickle down to the standard Enyaq is yet to be confirmed, though.
Order books for the revised Enyaq vRS will open by the end of October. Skoda hasn’t yet confirmed pricing, but we’re expecting a small uptick to reflect the additional performance and improved technology. The outgoing car had a starting price of £52,670, but this revised model could break past £55,000.
Wait. Wasn’t the Skoda Enyaq updated for 2023?
It certainly was. Skoda last launched a tweaked version of the Enyaq in August 2022. Revisions included some fresh infotainment software, a choice of four new equipment packages and an improved battery management system which increased the iV 80’s maximum range from 329 to 338 miles.
The tweaks were rolled out on all 2023 versions of the Enyaq – and Skoda hoped the upgrades would keep the Enyaq competitive in what’s rapidly becoming a densely populated electric SUV market. Key players include the Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y and Jaguar I-Pace.
The 2023 Enyaq featured Skoda’s latest ME3 software, which the company says has improved the sat-nav system and head-up display, while also making the climate control menu easier to operate. These tweaks obviously weren’t extensive enough, though, so Skoda has revised the tech again for 2024. The 2023 upgrade also brought over-the-air updates, meaning buyers could apply future software improvements from home via the internet.
From 2023, every Skoda Enyaq came as standard with a three-year subscription to Remote Access (it was option on older versions of the car). This allows buyers to check their car’s battery level, schedule charging and pre-condition their car’s interior using a smartphone application. The change added some new option packages, too – but first, we need to explain the Enyaq’s trim-levels.
Fine. Tell me about the Skoda Enyaq’s trims
Pay attention – there’s a lot to take in here. The Skoda Enyaq SUV range is separated into four models, but you can build on the spec of three cheapest options with a choice of four option packages and four upholstery finishes. Got all that?
The entry-level Skoda Enyaq iV 60 is powered by a 62kWh battery pack and a 177bhp motor mounted on the rear axle. The company says that’s enough for a 0–62mph time of 8.8 seconds and a maximum range of 246 miles. Standard kit includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control and a 13.0-inch infotainment screen.
Above that, there’s the Enyaq iV 80. It’s priced from £42,435 and features a larger 82kWh battery pack and a more powerful 201bhp electric motor, which trims the EV’s 0–62mph time down to 8.7 seconds and increases its maximum range to 338 miles. Other upgrades over the base-model include chrome roof rails, support for 135kW rapid charging and a set of model-specific 19-inch alloy wheels.
Buyers can also have the iV 80 model with Skoda’s racy Sportline Plus specification, which adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a more aggressive body kit, Matrix LED headlights, microsuede upholstery and carbon effect trim. Prices for this model start from £48,415.
At the top of the standard car’s range, there’s the Skoda Enyaq iV 80x Sportline Plus. It features the same 82kWh battery pack as the iV 80 model, but it gains an electric motor on the front axle. This increases the car’s output to 261bhp and adds four-wheel drive. As a result, its 0–62mph time falls to 6.9 seconds, while its maximum range is reduced to 318 miles. Prices start from £51,275.
Charge times vary depending on the battery pack, specification and the speed of the charger the car’s connected to. However, Skoda says the 62kWh battery pack in the cheapest iV 60 model will charge from 0–80% capacity in 55 minutes when connected to a 50kW DC rapid charger.
The Skoda Enyaq’s larger 82kWh battery will charge from 0–80% in one hour and 10 minutes using a 50kW rapid charger or around half an hour when connected to a 135kW rapid charger.
What about the vRS model?
Because it’s the flagship of the Enyaq range, the vRS is loaded with extra equipment. Upgrades include lower sports suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels and a more aggressive body kit. The cabin gets a lift, too, with heated sports seats, an aluminium pedal box, LED ambient lighting, three-zone climate control and carbon fibre-effect trim for the dashboard and door cards.
Buyers also have an extensive options list to pick through. Upgrades include larger 21-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof and a choice of upholstery finishes. For example, Skoda’s Design Selection vRS Suite upgrade pack adds black perforated leather with grey piping and contrasting stitching.
Can you explain Skoda’s option packs?
There are four option packs to choose from called Clever, Plus, Advanced and Maxx – and your choice of upgrade depends on the model of Enyaq you opt for. For example, the cheapest Clever package is only available on the iV 60 and iV 80 models, although the contents of the pack are included as standard on more expensive Sportline Plus models.
Skoda’s Clever package adds £2,755 to the Enyaq’s price. Upgrades include keyless go, a wireless smartphone charger, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, three-zone climate control and a pair of USB ports for rear-seat passengers. You also get some extra driver assistance technology, such as adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist and blind-spot monitoring.
Above that, there’s the Plus package. It adds an extra £4,830 to the Enyaq’s price and builds on the Clever pack’s specification with Matrix LED headlights, headlight washers, an electrically operated tailgate, an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and Travel Assist. Again, it’s only available with iV 60 and iV 80 models.
Skoda’s Advanced package is only available with iV 80 and Sportline Plus models. Upgrades over the Plus package include a head-up display, a premium sound system, heated front and rear seats, a heated windscreen and Skoda’s backlit Crystal Face radiator grille. It cost an extra £6,980.
At the top of the range, there’s the Maxx package. It’s also only available on iV 80 and Sportline Plus models and costs an extra £9,375. Upgrades over the Advanced package include an electrically adjustable passenger seat, a massage function for the driver’s seat, a 360-degree parking camera and a self-parking function. Buyers also adaptive dampers and three-spoke sports steering wheel.
What’s the Skoda Enyaq’s interior like?
It’s a bit of a departure from the brand’s combustion-engine cars. There aren’t many buttons, with most of the cabin functions being operated using the enormous infotainment system in the centre of the dashboard. Like most Volkswagen Group EVs, there’s also a tiny digital gauge cluster mounted ahead of the driver.
Buyers have a choice of four upholstery finishes called Loft, Lounge, Suite and EcoSuite. The first option is fitted to the car as standard with the other three adding £1,200, £1,380 and £1,650 to the Enyaq’s price respectively. Loft cars feature fabric seats, Lounge models get a blend of leather and microfibre, Suite variants have synthetic leather seats and EcoSuite cars are trimmed in brown leather which was tanned using a sustainable extract from olive tree branches.
Like most Skodas, the Enyaq promises to be practical. There are loads of clever storage solutions dotted around the cabin, such as an umbrella storage cubby in the driver’s door and folding tray tables for rear-seat passengers. The boot’s a good size, too, measuring 585 litres with the rear seats in place or 1,710 litres with the bench folded flat.
Where does the Enyaq Coupe fit into this?
We glossed over the Enyaq Coupe at the top of this page, but it’s worth going into a little more detail. If you go for the Coupe, your options are a little more limited than they are with the standard SUV. Currently, you can only have the car with Skoda’s performance-focused vRS specification in the UK, meaning you need to fork out more money to get your hands on one. You also have access to fewer option packs.
Prices for the most basic Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS start from £54,370. For that, you get a 295bhp dual-motor electric powertrain, a 0–62mph time of 6.5 seconds, a top speed of 111mph and a maximum range of 323 miles thanks in part to the car’s slipperier fastback silhouette.
You also get a set of 20-inch alloy wheels, a sporty body kit, a fixed panoramic sunroof, sports seats, aluminium pedals and most of the equipment found in the standard Enyaq’s Plus package. If you want some extra toys, you can choose to upgrade the car with Advanced and Maxx packages.
The Advanced package adds an extra £2,335 to the Enyaq Coupe iV vRS’s starting price. It’s features a similar level of equipment as the same pack for the standard car, although it also features manual window blinds for the rear windows, two USB ports for the rear seats and a tow bar preparation kit.
Skoda’s Maxx package adds £4,280 to the Enyaq Coupe’s price. It adds items like electrically adjustable front seats with power adjustable lumbar support, a massage function for the driver’s seat, a 360-degree parking camera, adaptive dampers and rear side airbags.