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James Batchelor goes electric with a Škoda that has impressed in successive Towcar events
It would be an understatement to say we’re fans of the Škoda Enyaq. This pure-electric SUV has now taken successive Class wins in the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s prestigious Towcar of the Year awards (in both 2023 and 2024). So, there couldn’t be a better time to run the rule over a car with such impressive credentials.
The Enyaq made waves when it arrived in 2021. While it used the same electric platform and battery and motor set-up as its Volkswagen Group siblings, the Czech brand managed to create one of the best EVs money could buy.
Škoda has since fine-tuned the Enyaq by increasing its battery range and expanded the line-up with a coupe model and a performance version – the former getting a more stylish, aerodynamic look, the latter the first electric car in Škoda’s range to sport the fabled ‘vRS’ badge.
It was the combination of both of these that impressed our Towcar of the Year 2024 judges – the Coupe vRS. The Enyaq triumphed over the similar Volkswagen ID.5 GTX – another 295bhp, twin electric motor coupe SUV – on account of its plusher interior, roomier boot and better all-round driving dynamics.
The vRS gets a set of sportier-looking bumpers, 20in black wheels as standard and plenty of black exterior trim, and there’s a range of bright body colours to choose from, including ‘Hyper Green’ – a fluorescent yellow/green that’s the standard, free colour.
The thing that really makes the car stand out, though, is the ‘Crystal Face’ – a ‘grille’ that is made up of more than 130 LEDs that form 18 vertical ribs and one horizontal bar. It gives the car a really distinctive look, but we’d imagine it’s something you’ll either love or hate.
Comfort – 79%
The interior is worth dwelling on. While the ID.5 GTX uses lots of hard plastics, the Škoda’s dashboard is covered in softer feeling materials. It feels solidly put together, too, and the flock-lined door pockets (to stop items rattling around) are a quality touch. More than that, the large central touchscreen is easy to use, featuring large icons and simple menus to navigate.
Coupe vRS models are loaded with kit, and include leather sports seats (the driver’s being electrically adjustable with electric lumbar support). The full-length glass roof gives a really airy feeling inside and, despite the Coupe’s roofline being lower than the normal Enyaq SUV, rear headroom is still generous. Although there is not as much bootspace as in the regular Enyaq, at 517 litres with the seats up (1,610 litres with seats folded), it is still sufficient to swallow most of your holiday kit – and there are various useful hooks and extra cubby holes in which to store items.
Our test car came with a couple of options including a ‘Family Pack’ that adds window blinds and a neat storage box in between the rear footwells. Škoda offers a multitude of packs to boost practicality, many of which we would expect caravan owners to lap up, although there’s only one towbar available – it’s an electrically-deployable one costing £815.
Gallery
Driving – 82%
Remember I said that Škoda has tweaked the Enyaq a couple of times since its launch? Well, the Czech firm has announced it is updating it again to improve performance and battery charging capability.
In terms of the vRS tested here, that means an extra 40bhp output from the twin electric motors plus a 16-mile range boost to 340 miles. Meanwhile, a faster DC rapid charging speed (from 135kW to 175kW) cuts a 10-80% charge to approximately 29 minutes – an improvement of seven minutes. The infotainment system has also been refined.
The car tested here is the now outgoing model which produces ‘just’ 295bhp and has a 323-mile range. In the real world, you probably won’t notice how this car is 1.1 seconds slower from 0-62mph than its successor, as it still feels impressively quick – a feeling exacerbated by how (like in all electric cars) the torque is there from the get-go.
The Enyaq has always been one of the better EVs for ride and handling, and the vRS only improves things with adaptive dampers – it just feels slightly sharper to drive. Even with the dampers put in their firmest setting (via selecting ‘Sport’ on the drive mode select menu) the ride isn’t too harsh, and while the steering is a little on the numb side it’s responsive enough.
The front-end can ‘wash’ a little wide if you carry too much speed into corners, but for the most part the twin electric motors (one on each axle) deliver good traction. It’s just a shame more of Škoda’s famous vRS magic hasn’t been sprinkled on the Enyaq Coupe – it could do with feeling slightly sportier to drive.
During our test I covered 250 miles driving solo, averaging 3.7 miles/kWh – which equates to a 285-mile maximum range. This test was conducted during a mild October, so you can expect that figure to dip well below 250 miles in cold weather, and naturally the range will plummet when towing (whether in warm or cold conditions – see the ‘Towing’ section).
Towing – 65%
Hitched up to a 2018 Compass Capiro 462 with an MRO of 1,177kg, the Coupe vRS was remarkably stable when towing. Even on a windy day there was no movement from the outfit, which just tracked straight and true. We found the dampers set in their stiffer ‘Sport’ setting give a slightly more balanced ride, but regardless it’s a relaxing experience whatever mode you’re in. The seats, with their electric lumbar support, are great for long tours, and it’s really only the sloping roofline hampering visibility over the shoulder slightly that is a negative.
Just like with any electric car we’ve tested, the range nosedives with caravan behind – on a 50-mile towing test route, I averaged 1.7 miles/kWh which equals to 130 miles before you’ll need to recharge the batteries. With the car fully loaded with family and paraphernalia that’ll likely be reduced to around 100 miles.
Verdict – 75%
Setting aside the range issues when towing (a common issue with all electric vehicles), the Enyaq Coupe vRS is a fine towcar. It’s fast, smooth and practical, but you could also say that about the regular, non-vRS Enyaq Coupe. You will have to really want the extra power, sportier styling and Crystal Face look to opt for the vRS, but we can see why it will be an attractive option for many.