The Skoda Enyaq was the best-selling EV in our country in 2022, but had to relinquish its throne to the Tesla Model Y last year. To have a serious chance of taking the lead again, the Skoda Enyaq has now been updated. We drove the more streamlined Enyaq Coupé.
The biggest change concerns the new electric motor with 286 hp – the previous one did not exceed 204 hp. This changed the name from Enyaq 80 to Enyaq 85. Where that last number comes from is a mystery to us. At Skoda, the figures refer to the capacity of the battery, rounded up. For example, the Enyaq 60 has a 58 kWh battery. But the battery of the Enyaq 85 has remained the same as that of the Enyaq 80, namely a usable 77 kWh.
“Skoda has improved the loading capacity of the Enyaq.”
Skoda has improved the loading capacity of the Enyaq (the iV addition has been dropped). From now on, the battery will be brought to the ideal operating temperature as soon as the driver has started navigation to the nearest available charging point. Then you lose as little time as possible when the lithium-ion battery is supplied with power at the fast charger (maximum 135 kW). Due to the improved efficiency, the battery is charged in 28 minutes (10-80 percent).
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Skoda Enyaq range
The shrewd Skoda technicians were also able to increase the range of the Skoda Enyaq to 563 kilometers (WLTP), which was 537 kilometers for the Enyaq 80. The more favorably streamlined Enyaq Coupé that we drove has a Cd value of 0.23 in instead of 0.25 and on paper it is 10 kilometers further. This means that the Skoda Enyaq at least beats the Tesla Model Y, which can travel 533 kilometers (with a usable battery capacity of 72.5 kWh).
Warp speed
It soon becomes clear how much better the Enyaq has become due to his strength treatment. Despite its weight of 2290 kilograms, the Enyaq takes off like Usain Bolt. And while the Jamaican athlete runs out of breath at a certain point, the Czech electric SUV takes it up a notch. You benefit from this inexhaustible acceleration, especially during overtaking maneuvers; then you can gratefully use its maximum torque of 545 Nm and it is like overtaking a truck at warp speed.
By putting the Enyaq Coupé in sport mode via the central screen, the performance becomes even sharper, but that does not mean that you have to drive with a velvet right foot. The controllability of the ‘accelerator pedal’ remains excellent.
The chairs shown with massage function and Laurin & Klement logo are not available in the Netherlands (but are available in Belgium).
Gnome screen
After a while, our sporting intentions are over and we opt for the quieter B-mode of the automatic transmission, where the car slows down the moment you release the right pedal. We drive through mountainous areas (where it had snowed heavily) and this shows how good the SUV coupe is at recovering the energy released during descent. In the digital instruments we see that the remaining range simply increases by a few kilometers, without us having to put in much effort.
What does take some effort is reading the information you see on the 5.3-inch instruments. The gnome screen is barely larger than that of a smartphone. However, this is more than compensated for by the new, intuitive layout of the central display. From now on, it has a row of clear icons both above and below that give you direct access to the most important functions.
Skoda Enyaq test conclusion
The mourning period for the loss of the Skoda Enyaq 80 can be short. The Skoda Enyaq 85 that replaced it is even better. The extra power makes the SUV coupe appear more lively. The fact that Skoda has not overlooked comfort and everyday usability is to be commended.