2023 Skoda Enyaq Sportline 80 review

This month we have been getting better acquainted with the Skoda Enyaq, the Czech maker’s EV offering. It’s the more pragmatic variant we’ve been in too, the entry-level Enyaq, the $79,990 one.

We drove the opposite end of the Enyaq range a couple of months back, the $89,990 Skoda Limited Coupé Sportline Max, and would happily save $10k opting for this one.

You might wonder how many of these things have they sold? That number was 270 last year. Enyaq was overshadowed on the sales front by its Volkswagen equivalent, the VW ID.4, which uses the same platform.

But interest in the VW alternative was spurred on by a healthy manufacturer discount, which was on top of the now defunct Clean Car Discount, giving people almost $15k off the ask.

The Enyaq’s chances were also stymied by a disjointed arrival. We first drove this in early 2023, where pricing sent mixed signals to the market; it started at an indicated $93k, rising to $103k.

Sanity prevailed, however, pricing realigned to meet the market and it started arriving in September. That meant it had just a short time to reap the benefit of the discount.

There’s a general consensus that many of these EVs priced at the $80k point will linger a little longer on car lots over the next few months, with most interested parties having made the leap late last year.

And those who did should be happy with their Enyaq, a practical and convenient type of EV.

The 77kWh battery gives a max potential WLTP range of 534km for this model, a figure we saw briefly on the DTE when we collected it, almost fresh out of the box.

That quickly recalculated to 430km after driving a few short kays down the road. But range has not been a worry.

This is more than ample for what it has had to do so far, which is ambling around the city doing the mundane daily stuff.

EVs are spacious things, the Enyaq offering large, family car room despite it being a moderate 4.6m in length.

The flat floor in the rear helps make three across the back possible, while the more practical shape of the rear three quarters gives this Enyaq more cargo area than the Coupe version, rated at 585L and 1710L with the seats folded, a task made simpler via remote levers.

Other helpful characteristics include the auto unlocking as you approach, and that it’s ready to go once you have your foot on the brake.

Gear selection is easy, and so is ending your journey; just flick the park brake on and get out. The quick, progressive steering and tight turnaround dimensions (under 10m) make easy work of the carpark duties.

Being the Sportline, it wears large alloys and gets sports suspension but the ride is okay, a few thumps on the rear axle over large bumps aside.

It also gets spiffy sports seats that are supportive but the squab bolsters get in the way on entry and exit; they might not look so flash after 50,000km of use.

In the news recently, there has been a lot of noise from international outlets regarding the slowdown in EV sales around the world. Many cite concerns regarding the lack of charging infrastructure.

Guess that’s a fair point if you are forever doing intercity mileage or, more likely, don’t have a place to plug in at home.

That’s where ideally an EV owner does the majority of their recharging, when the car is sitting idle. And during off-peak times to help even out the demand for electricity.

We haven’t yet needed to visit a public charger, plugging in at home every two or three days, keeping the battery between 20 and 80 per cent charged.

That’s the generally accepted best practice now to ensure prolonged capacity. Some even suggest it’s best to charge every day, little and often, to maintain optimal state of health.

Skoda provides both a ‘Mode 2’ home charger and a ‘Mode 3’ cable for public AC boosting (up to 11kW), the former being just long enough at 5m for us to charge at home.

Our situation isn’t perfect, the power outlet in an odd location, but it’s not so bothersome to be regarded as some kind of chore to plug in every other day or so.

It sure beats paying good coin for fuel at the gas station. This charger has a handy readout relaying time on charge and the amount discharged, so the accountant within you can keep tabs of the figures.

And those we’ll delve into more next month.

This article first appeared in the March 2024 issue of NZ Autocar magazine.