Skoda Enyaq vRS Review 2024

The Skoda Enyaq iV vRS is a practical yet sporty electric SUV designed to tempt buyers away from a wide range of EVs - including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6 and BMW iX1. In typical Skoda fashion, the flagship Enyaq combines family-friendly versatility with low running costs and a relatively affordable price tag... but is it exciting enough to justify the vRS badge?

We used to rave about the Skoda Octavia vRS as the ideal all-rounder for anyone wanting a sporty family car without paying a fortune or compromising on practicality. But the market's changed and, while the estate car segment is shrinking, the world can't get enough of electric SUVs.

So, although the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS isn't a replacement for the Octavia (that's still very much on sale), it'd be interesting to see whether it can do a similar job by taking a very different approach.

The fact that it's a Skoda Enyaq iV is a good start. The Enyaq is one of the best electric cars going - we love how versatile it is, with a big boot and a range long enough for trips away from home. The vRS model tops the range, identified by its beefy 20-inch alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension and optional garish colour schemes (Hyper Green, anyone?).

Just like the regular Enyaq, you can buy the Enyaq vRS as a regular SUV or pay a little more for the sporty Coupe model with a more streamlined design and a very slight knock in practicality. Deciding between the two comes down to personal preference, really - we reckon the Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS looks a little more special, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's worth the £1700 premium over the SUV.

Pairing two electric motors to produce a combined 299PS, the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS is the fastest Enyaq on sale. And it certainly accelerates in a fairly urgent manner, although its 6.5-second 0-62mph time doesn't exactly push you back in your seat like in the fastest electric cars. That's not necessarily a bad thing in a family SUV but we wouldn't complain about a bit more drama.

The Skoda Enyaq iV vRS comes with a meaty 82kWh battery pack which makes it one of the longest range electric cars on sale. Officially, it'll travel up to 321 miles between charges, while the slippery shape of the Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS increases that to 323 miles... not that you're likely to notice the difference in the real world.

You can charge the Enyaq iV vRS at a rate of up to 135kW, meaning an 80 per cent charge can take as little as 36 minutes. As ever, though, we'd recommend charging at home for maximum convenience (as well as reduced electricity costs) - a 7kW home wallbox will fully charge the vRS in around 13 hours.

Priced from around £53,000, the Skoda Enyaq vRS doesn't seem outrageously expensive - especially when you consider how much you'll pay for a premium alternative like the Audi Q4 e-tron or Volvo C40 Recharge. For this money, we'd be very tempted by a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6 instead, but we have to concede that the Enyaq iV has them both trumped in terms of practicality.

Is it worth paying extra for the top-spec Skoda Enyaq iV vRS over a regular Enyaq, though? We're not entirely convinced it is - it's not that special to drive, while its bold design won't appeal to everyone. If you like how it looks and don't mind paying a little extra for a sporty electric SUV, though, the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS is an impressive all-rounder.

With its sports chassis sitting up to 15mm lower than the regular Enyaq, you'd expect the hot Skoda Enyaq iV vRS to be pretty nimble in the corners. That is, at least, until you remember it's a big, heavy electric SUV fitted with artificially light steering.

That's not to say the Enyaq vRS handles badly. With power divvied up between all four wheels, there's loads of grip, and it stays much flatter during cornering than you might expect from an SUV. But smaller, rear-wheel-drive electric cars like the Cupra Born and Kia EV6 are much more fun to drive along a twisty road.

We rate the Skoda Enyaq iV for how well it copes with bumpy road surfaces, and even firming up the suspension and fitting larger alloy wheels (20-inch as standard) has done little to ruin the Enyaq's ride quality. Sure, there's a firm edge to the way the Enyaq iV VRS handles potholes, but it's not as harsh as you might expect.

If you buy an Enyaq vRS with the optional Maxx pack, you'll also get adaptive suspension which can tweak the firmness of the ride depending on the driving situation and what drive mode you're currently using. It's a nice-to-have feature but not worth splashing the cash on the Maxx pack for alone.

There was a time when a power output of 299PS and 460Nm of torque sounded like an awful lot for a Skoda. If anything, though, we're not sure it's enough to justify the vRS badge on the Enyaq electric SUV.

Sure, it'll accelerate relatively quickly in a straight line, covering 0-62mph in just 6.5 seconds. But the world has moved on, and a lot of electric cars are sensationally fast. The fastest Tesla Model Y, for example, takes just 3.5 seconds. A twin-motor Volvo C40 Recharge will reach 62mph nearly 2.0 seconds quicker than the Skoda.

Not fussed about scrabbling away from the traffic lights? Then the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS is probably sprightly enough for the majority of buyers. The way it seamlessly builds speed is impressive (particularly if this is your first electric car)... we'd just like a little more drama.

Like all good Skodas, what the Enyaq iV vRS lacks in drama it makes up for in safety kit. Highlights include up to nine airbags (including a clever central airbag which separates front passengers), while Skoda's Travel Assist suite of driver-assistance features is also standard. This includes autonomous emergency braking systems which can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as other vehicles, while the Urban Evasive Steering Support will help the driver steer to avoid collisions with parked cars, roadworks or traffic islands.

Euro NCAP awarded the Skoda Enyaq IV five stars for safety when it was crash-tested in 2021, branding it one of the safest SUVs you can buy.

As electric SUVs go, the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS is a pretty big one. You could certainly use it as your main family car - it has a big boot (even the sporty Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS) and plenty of space for passengers.

It feels huge in the front. You sit high up, with loads of adjustment in both the driver and front seat passenger seat. And you won't have any issues stowing away your odds and ends, either - from generous door bins to some useful storage under the central arm rest, the Enyaq iV vRS has it all.

Space is generous for rear-seat passengers, too. Kids will enjoy the high seating position and large windows, while even the Coupe model with its sloping rear roofline has loads of headroom. It's a shame there isn't a sliding rear bench (to help you prioritise boot space when necessary), while the narrow middle seat could prove to be an issue if you regularly carry three in the back.

In terms of boot space, the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS can carry an impressive 585 litres of luggage. That drops marginally to 570 litres in the Coupe - not a huge loss and still a lot more than in a Volvo C40.

To make the most of the practicality on offer in the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS, it might be worth spending extra on the optional Transport Package. This adds a variable-height boot floor which reduces the lip for lifting bulky items over, as well as a net to stop items sliding around. You can also drop the rear seats using a handy lever in the boot.

The Skoda Enyaq iV feels solidly put together and like it'd deflect family life well. You get some neat touches in the vRS model, too - including suede finishes and sporty contrast stitching. The Design Selection vRS Suite does feel a bit posher, thanks mainly to its black perforated leather upholstery.

If you're comparing the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS with premium alternatives, though, it might feel a tad mainstream. Both the Audi Q4 e-tron and Volvo C40 feel like a step up in terms of interior quality.

Just like every other Enyaq in the range, the vRS uses a large 13.0-inch navigation system positioned high on the dashboard. It's a pretty slick and responsive system to use, with clear graphics and sensible menu layouts. You can access your phone features via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too.

While climate control functions are lumped into the touchscreen display, there are at least a few handy shortcut buttons below the main screen.

There's also a 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. This looks a little weedy but provides all the information you could need - speed, mainly, as well as energy consumption and your remaining range. An optional augmented-reality head-up display is also offered, projecting key navigation data onto the windscreen.

Skoda Enyaq iV vRS prices start from around £52,500, while you'll pay more than £54,000 for the Coupe. That's a premium of around £2000 over the top-spec 'regular' Enyaq.

Pitch the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS against other sporty electric SUVs and it starts to look like reasonable value for money. You'll pay more than £56,500 for a Volkswagen ID.5 GTX, while the equivalent Audi Q4 e-tron is at least £57,000. A Kia EV6 GT is a mighty £62,645 - but, in reality, the Enyaq is more of a direct competitor for the EV6 GT-Line AWD. That starts from £51,745.

If you wish to skip the waiting list, we've already seen pre-registered Skoda Enyaq iV vRS discounted at dealers. The savings aren't huge, but you can expect to save £1000 or so by hunting out an ex-demonstrator model.

The Skoda Enyaq iV vRS has a huge 82kWh battery (77kWh net), which takes some charging. Depending on your home electricity tariff, you can expect to pay around £26 to fully charge the Enyaq vRS using a 7kW home wallbox. Doing so will take around 13 hours.

A speedier way of charging the Enyaq iV vRS is by using a 135kW public rapid charger. You'll pay a premium to do so (£0.69 per kWh is pretty typical) but an 80 per cent charge can be completed in a little over 30 minutes.

The Skoda Enyaq iV vRS Coupe has an official WLTP range of 323 miles, while the regular Enyaq iV vRS manages 321 miles. Like a petrol or diesel car's MPG figure, this is a little pie in the sky... we comfortably saw 220-240 miles while cruising at motorway speeds in the depth of winter, though.

Skoda servicing ought to be reasonable, while the Enyaq iV vRS comes with a three-year/60,000-mile warranty. The high-voltage battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Buy a Skoda Enyaq iV vRS before 2025 and you'll enjoy free road tax. New rules will be introduced from April 2025, though, hitting electric car drivers with an annual bill of £165/year. On top of that, cars with a list price of more than £40,000 (including the Enyaq iV vRS) will be stung by an additional £355 in premium car tax for five years.

Standard equipment on the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS includes a 12-volt socket in boot, three-spoke leather heated sports multifunction steering wheel with paddles for recuperation level selection, aluminium pedals, electrically adjustable drivers seat with memory function, heated front seats, power adjustable lumbar support for driver's seat, sports seats, privacy glass and tri-zone climate control. On the outside standard equipment includes 20-inch alloy wheels, black roof rails, Skoda's 'crystal face' and full LED Matrix beam headlights. There's a gloss black radiator grille, rear spoiler and vRS bumpers. Safety and driver-assistance tech includes adaptive cruise control (with traffic jam assist), blind spot detection, drive mode select, front/rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera.