Used Skoda Enyaq (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: low prices boost EV’s appeal

Verdict

If you’re looking for a family-friendly electric car and don’t have tons of cash (or even if you do), the Skoda Enyaq should be high on your shortlist. All of the things that have made Skoda’s ICE models appealing for so long have been carried over to the EV world, which means the ownership experience is appealing. We ran an Enyaq 85 Coupé for six months and learned a lot about how much Skoda’s first EV has to offer in terms of user-friendliness, efficiency, comfort and space. There’s much uncertainty in the EV market right now, which has led to lower prices, so the Enyaq is more tempting than ever.

Ever since Skoda was reinvented under Volkswagen, the brand has represented something that consumers like very much.

They love the user-friendly design, practicality, excellent build quality, affordability and value that Skodas offer, so when the VW subsidiary introduced its first EV, there was no reason to think that things would be any different. Sure enough, the Enyaq comes with all of those characteristics as standard, and so far this generously sized SUV is also proving to be reliable, making it an enticing buy.

History

Enyaq iV orders opened in March 2021, with prices from £31,085. Buyers could pick from the 177bhp Enyaq iV 60 with a 62kWh battery and the 201bhp Enyaq iV 80 with an 82kWh battery. Within a few weeks there was a Sportline option, with 20-inch wheels, sports seats and matrix LED headlights; by August 2021 there was also a four-wheel-drive option: the 261bhp 80x Sportline. All Sportlines had a 82kWh battery. Those wanting more could buy a 295bhp vRS with standard four-wheel drive from the end of 2022.

At the start of that year a Coupé had been added to the range, with the 82kWh battery only and 201bhp, 261bhp or (from January 2023) 295bhp. In December 2023, the 80 and 80x editions were replaced by the 282bhp 85 and 85x, and the vRS was boosted to 335bhp. At the same time the Enyaq iV went through a minor rebrand and from this point on it was known simply as the Enyaq. In July 2024 the 168bhp Enyaq 50 replaced the Enyaq 60, with a 52kWh battery.

On the road

The Enyaq is a typical Skoda in that it’s easy to drive, but not thrilling. Buy one of the mainstream editions and the ride is compliant, there’s a reasonable amount of performance, while the brake and steering feedback are okay rather than exceptional.

Buy a vRS though, and in 335bhp form it’ll do 0-62mph in just 5.3 seconds; even the slowest Enyaq, the 50, can despatch this sprint in 9.1 seconds and has a 99mph top speed.

Which one should I buy?

There were five interior designs to choose from (Loft, Lodge, Lounge, Suite, ecoSuite), plus a range of equipment packs and options, so the chances of you looking at two identical cars is low.

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If you don’t cover a big mileage, an Enyaq 60 is all you need. Skoda claims a range of around 250 miles for the smaller battery packs, while the bigger batteries are claimed to give 330-350 miles – but in reality you can expect 200-220 and 240-270 miles.

The Enyaq iV 60 comes with 19-inch alloys, navigation, rear parking sensors and dual-zone climate control; the 80 adds front parking sensors, a rear camera and selectable driving modes. If you’re buying to tow, make sure the VIN plate displays a towing weight; Enyaqs need to have a towbar fitted at the factory.

Alternatives to the Skoda Enyaq

The Enyaq has some talented opposition, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and its cousin, the Kia EV6. Both of these come with long warranties, sharp design and impressive ranges.

Or, you could stay within the VW Group family and buy a Volkswagen ID.4, Cupra Born or Audi Q4 e-tron, all of which share the Skoda’s platform.

The Peugeot E-3008 looks great inside and out and the same goes for the Volvo EX30, which is expensive but a more rounded car that has an appreciably upmarket feel.

The Tesla Model Y has a long range and is widely available thanks to its popularity, while a couple of newer contenders include the Renault Scenic E-Tech along with the closely related Nissan Ariya, both of which are impressive family cars.

The Skoda is arguably the best all-rounder of them all, though.

What to look for

See the light

Water can get into the puddle lights in the door mirrors, resulting in weird light patterns. Replacement is the only option.

Tyre troubles

The Enyaq’s special tyres can’t be repaired, because they contain an acoustic foam lining. Once this is damaged, the tyre has to be replaced, and that’s not cheap.

Software

As with so many EVs, early Enyaqs can suffer from an array of electronic glitches, most of which are fixed by updating the software. This can be done over the air.

Peace of mind

The Enyaq’s battery comes with a warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles. Skoda guarantees the battery to give at least 70 per cent of its range by then. The overall warranty lasts for three years or 60,000 miles.

Interior

Each of the five interior design options provides its own ambience, but any Enyaq’s cabin is roomy, well made and crammed with kit. The big infotainment screen operates pretty much everything, including the climate control, which we don’t like, but otherwise it’s a cabin that’s generally easy to live with.

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There’s ample head and leg room for three adults in the back, there are cubbyholes galore, and the boot is enormous. Even with the back seats in use it can carry 585 litres; fold them down and this jumps to 1,710 litres.

Surprisingly, the Coupé loses little in terms of practicality compared with the regular SUV. Boot space is down by 15 litres with the back seats in place, or 100 litres with them folded.

Running costs

The Enyaq iV needs to be serviced every two years, largely because the pollen filter and brake fluid need to be replaced, although there’s no mileage cap between services. The service is pegged at £261 while the filter and fluid cost £73 and £63 respectively.

Insurance groups range from 22 (Enyaq 50) to 37 (vRS) and your Enyaq will be subject to the annual road tax fee from 1 April 2025. However, there’s no luxury tax applicable to cars registered before this date if they cost more than £40k, which many Enyaqs will have done.

Recalls

Skoda hasn’t issued any recalls for the Enyaq so far, which is impressive when you consider that it’s the company’s first ground-up EV.

Interestingly, the Audi Q4 e-tron, which is related, was recalled in May 2024 because of problems with the stability control. The Volkswagen ID.4, ID.7 and ID. Buzz have also all been recalled, but for problems unique to them, such as seats failing to latch properly. If you buy an Enyaq with an official Skoda Aero roofbox, be aware that these were recalled in February 2022 because some were fitted with faulty locks, which meant the box had to be replaced with a new unit.

Driver Power owner satisfaction

Skoda has enjoyed some great results in our Driver Power surveys over the years, including a few first places, but in recent times the brand has gone off the boil a bit. It came 23rd out of 32 in our 2024 Brands survey, and in the 2024 New Car survey, only its three SUVs were covered. The Kodiaq and Karoq came 16th and 19th; the Kamiq finished 40th.

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