Facelift (What's New)
As far as facelifts go, this must be one of the most successful visual updates I've seen.
I mean, I get what Skoda was doing with the previous car. The firm wanted to celebrate the great glass-making heritage of the Czech people - a noteworthy cause. But that Crystal Face grille just stood out a little too prominently on the previous Enyaq. And this new iteration with its redesigned front just looks so much sleeker in comparison.
So, this new Enyaq is rather irresistible when it comes to sheer visual appeal. But is the rest of this updated car just as accomplished?
Let's start by taking a closer look at that new front.
Those of a certain vintage will have images of a little toy skateboard when you mention 'Tech-Deck', but that's what Skoda is calling the new black bar that sits at the front of this new car. Housing its front camera and safety radar sensors, this bar also plays host to an array of LED elements that visually link its pair of daytime running lights together.
But there are more tasty touches on this Enyaq. At the rear, the car's taillights now feature new illuminated crystalline sections.
And this Enyaq continues to come as standard here in Singapore in its 'Sportline' trim, so your car not only comes with gloss black badging at the front (in lieu of the Skoda winged arrow logo) but also at the back. And also added as part of this trim is a black spoiler and black wing mirrors. And these come on top of having the lower section of its front bumper and side skirts in the same colour as the rest of its body.
Step within, however, and you'll find the differences have been less dramatic.
Changes I could spot include the fact that the steering wheel now houses 'Skoda' lettering as opposed to the brand logo, and that the boot now contains a handy QR code. Scan this and you'll be brought to a video that shows you how to remove the luggage space cover, utilise the car's net system or fold down its rear seats, amongst other things.
But more handy still is the fact that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both now available via a wireless connection.
Not as easy to spot is the fact that this Enyaq also now gets a new augmented reality head-up display. And I'm glad to report that the system works well. It not only offers an additional visual warning if it thinks you're crossing lanes without turning on your indicators, but also casts a large exclamation mark that appears ahead of vehicles that it thinks you ought to be slowing down for, encouraging you to always keep a safe distance from the car ahead.
And don't take this lack of change in the cabin as a negative. This cabin is a thoroughly practical space, just as you'd expect from a Skoda. The sports seats that feature here are supportive and do a good job of keeping you in place without trapping too much heat. And I found it rather easy to find a comfortable driving position in this Enyaq.
Those seated at the rear also shouldn't have trouble staying cool thanks to sunshades that are integrated into the doors themselves, and the fact that the car comes with a three-zone air-conditioning system. There are even scoops taken out of the headliner here so those seated at either edge of the second row have just a bit more head room.
There's also quite a wide seat base for the third central passenger in the second row, although the placing of a central storage area and cupholders here means the one seated in the centre will need to keep his/her legs apart. I think most shoppers here will better appreciate a simple flat floor.
At least if you do take up driving duty, you can take heart in the fact that the Skoda Enyaq is one pleasant drive.
Highlights here include the fact that there's a nicely weighted steering ahead of the driver and an accelerator pedal that's well calibrated for smooth progress at his/her feet. This updated Enyaq is now arriving here as the '60' variant, which comes with a total power output of 150kW as opposed to the 210kW that the '85' variant previously offered here.
But if you've been eyeing this updated Enyaq, there's no need to fret: This new output still allows it to post a century sprint time of just 8.1 seconds, which is enough to keep up with traffic, and more importantly, enough to ensure that it always feels effortless off the line.
Don't expect an engaging drive, however. While the ride errs a little on the firm side (for a family SUV, that is), the steering here is for the most part mute. Show the car some bad roads and the ride does get a little fidgety. Those eyeing this Enyaq to serve as a car to do family transport duties, however, will be glad to note that its cabin insulation is excellent.
Our sole afternoon with the car saw it delivering an energy economy of 5.8km/kWh, which is actually a fair bit better than the car's claimed energy economy of 4.8km/kWh. Take note, however, that this new variant of the Enyaq also comes with a 59kWh battery instead of the 77kWh (nett capacity) one employed in the Skoda Enyaq that came before. That means that at the energy consumption rate that we observed, you should only be able to eke out close to 340km between charging sessions.
So, this updated Skoda Enyaq not only looks great, but pairs this new style with the sort of sensible cabin that has long won fans into the brand.
But here's the issue. This car comes in at $259,900 (price as of press time, inclusive of COE). At that price, you should be able to secure more powerful variants of alternatives such as the Tesla Model Y, Xpeng G6, or even the Toyota bZ4X. And these will even come with a greater battery capacity than what this Enyaq now offers.
So, should you still opt to make this Enyaq your all-electric SUV of choice? If you're looking for the very best for your dollar out there, this perhaps won't be the best choice. But if the sleek new exterior of this Enyaq appeals, you can take heart in the fact that its reduced power output also means that it now comes with a lower road tax bill.
Let's also not forget the fact that if you're looking for a family SUV, the rest of your passengers are also likely to find its interior quite capable. And isn't that what has always made owning a Skoda so attractive?
Shopping for an all-electric SUV? There's also these options you'll want to consider:
Did you know that there's now a variant of the Tesla Model Y that can seat six?
Or maybe the AVATR 07 is what you want if you're after something a little different
But perhaps this MGS6 will win you over with its generous space and strong value proposition?
