Skoda Enyaq Facelift Review

Skoda’s electric dreams in India will be fulfilled by the Enyaq. While the earlier version could not make it here, the plan to bring the facelift into the country is on track and that is why I was in Lipno, Prague, to drive the facelifted version, which has a lot more to offer than before, atleast, that’s what Skoda promises. I got to drive the 4x4, the RWD and even both the battery packs. But before I get into the driving bits, let me talk about the design because that is one of the biggest changes that Skoda has worked on for the Enyaq facelift.

Skoda Enyaq Facelift Review: Design

I’ll talk about the SUV first. The Skoda badge is gone and is replaced by the Skoda lettering at the front and rear. There’s a new colour on offer as well and it’s called Olibio Green. It looks fantastic, I have to admit, but it’s not just about the colour now, the overall design has gotten sleeker and that’s also because the aerodynamic efficiency of the car has improved.

The front bumper gets functional air intakes to reduce the wind turbulences in the wheel arches. There is good enough muscle on the bonnet as well, and that too, helps reduce the coefficient of drag. But the part that even I noticed first was the LED DRLs. The segmented lights look damn good and they are standard in the car.

The top-of-the-line variant gets Matrix headlamps, but the overall design has just gotten sleeker and, therefore, extremely modern.

The profile remains the same, there are no changes in the dimensions of the car.

But there are certain elements that are new. There’s chrome on the door frames and even on the lower part of the doors. But it’s not overdone, and that’s good. But as you move towards the rear, the rear integrated spoiler is just plain plastic. Now, given the way the entire appearance of the Enyaq is, the spoiler could have had a glossy finish, it would have just enhanced the overall appearance.

Things on the Coupe version are slightly different as the roofline from the C-Pillar dips, giving it a very Tesla Model Y-like appearance. It’s a rival, in fact, for the Enyaq in other markets and maybe in India too soon (fingers crossed)!

The rear provides a massive canvas for the Skoda lettering, but from my standpoint, the Coupe is a looker and adds a new dimension to the Enyaq. Will there be takers? Only time will tell.

Skoda Enyaq Facelift Review: Interior

Skoda has been ‘Simply Clever’ with the kind of materials used inside. There are various choices provided to the consumers, but when it comes to India, I doubt there will be as many. The use of soft touch materials on the inside, really makes it stand out. There are touches of carbon fibre-like elements, too, and the overall design is clean. The steering wheel, too, has Skoda lettering now in the middle, and there is generous use of buttons on the steering wheel and the centre console. It’s not all virtual, thankfully!

The 13-inch infotainment system remains unchanged, but now there are some software updates made to make it more engaging to the users. But I faced some difficulty trying to change the AC temperature. It worked well, sometimes and not so well on other occasions. Some observations: The AC temperature setting button is too small for a stubby finger like mine and that makes it a bit problematic for me to change the temperature. I have to stop and change it and cannot do so on the go, which, again, is not ideal.

The 5-inch instrument cluster is too small for my liking, but you think about it, and you realise you don’t need a bigger one. Everything that you want is already on the head-up display, so there really is no point of contention.

Given that the dimensions of the car have not changed, the space inside remains the same. There’s good enough space as well, I have good knee room, head room and shoulder room as well. And you get seat warmers, too, at the rear. While most of the elements on the inside are similar in both the Coupe and the SUV, there is one massive difference. While the SUV gets a panoramic sunroof, the Coupe gets a fixed one.

Skoda Enyaq Facelift Review: Powertrain Options

On the powertrain front, the ENYAQ is available with two battery options – 59 kWh and 77 kWh. I know you’re wondering it says 85 on the badge and I have got the figure wrong. 77 is the usable battery capacity. Quick explainer here: Gross Capacity — or Total Capacity — is the total amount of energy a pack can theoretically hold. Net Capacity — or Usable Capacity — is the amount of energy the car can actually draw on to move.

The 77 kWh battery punches out 282 bhp, while the smaller battery is good enough for 177 bhp. But there’s one observation here, the 4x4 and the rear-wheel drive versions of the larger battery pack, boast an acceleration time from 0-100 kmph of 6.7 seconds. How is that possible? The 4x4 has an additional motor up front, and how does that not make a difference?

There’s a simple explanation for it. Skoda clearly wants to save the best for the RS version, which will come later in the year, so all the sporty credentials will be handed over to that car, and the 0-100 kmph times too will be faster on that one.

Skoda Enyaq Facelift Review: Driving Dynamics

With the bigger battery pack, the performance on the Enyaq is quick. It powers on steadily and the progression of power, too, is linear. The 1-speed transmission, too, is very reactive and helps provide power when needed. Yes, the heavier the right foot, the more the battery used, but that’s why there are the recuperation levels – 3 of them – and the final level is more or less single pedal driving. The paddle shifters help in changing to these levels. Did I feel it needed more power? Never, given how well it progressed, there’s no need for more frankly.

But there is one contention. The ADAS interferes a lot and you get a judder on the steering wheel, which basically means the car does not trust your judgement. It’s instructed to save you, and it’s doing its job to keep you within the two white lines (in the middle of the lane), but it’s unnerving and that man-machine bond is totally lost out on because it does not trust you taking corners.

Things are pretty similar in the smaller battery pack version. The power delivery is not as sustained as in the 77 kWh pack, but initial acceleration is very reassuring. It plateaus once it crosses the 120 kmph mark. Any push thereafter feels like the car just does not have enough to give and sometimes that’s disappointing. But that’s not the purpose it serves. It’s about driving in the city and going on long journeys as well, so that job it does very well.

Skoda Enyaq Facelift Review: Ride & Handling

You get the option of 19-21 inch tyres, but the ones I had were 20-inchers and the grip from them was immense. Given that it had rained and I was pushing the car hard, the tyres stuck to the tarmac even when pushing through the corners, and that’s very reassuring.

The steering, too, is precise, though it lacks feel and one can also say that feels lifeless sometimes. What’s encouraging, though, is the way in which it rides. It’s comfortable and very agile. The rear does not bounce about when it deals with the undulations on the road. The body roll too is contained, and that makes it even better in the handling department.

Skoda Enyaq Facelift Review: Rivals

In India, the Enyaq goes up against the Kia EV6, Hyundai IONIQ 5, BYD Sealion 7 and even the Volvo EX40. Does it stand out? Well, on paper, there is much to like, but does it set the benchmark here? Well, not really, because cars like the EV6 and the IONIQ 5 have a lot in terms of tech to boast about.

Skoda Enyaq Facelift Review: Verdict

Skoda’s play will be to bring the flagship model to India, so the lower battery capacity will not make it. There’s no confirmation on the AWD coming either, but the 85 with the rear wheel drive, would be the mainstay for India, because Skoda will be able to provide a powerful car and also price it right, Rs. 60 lakh is what we expect it to cost but if the smaller 59 kWh battery pack comes to the country, Skoda could go lower and that will showcase aggression, something that the brand has already showcased with the launch of the Kylaq. All I can do right now is wait to know more.