2023 Škoda Enyaq Coupé iV RS, the one I’m scared of
There is a little sidenote to the title you need to know. The first thing: In the past, Škoda has made some excellent RS models, but also some “Don’t even call that an RS”. The second thing: I have owned a Škoda Octavia RS245 and was really happy with it. So I really really really want this car to be good. And that brings us to the third thing: It’s practically the same car as the VW ID.4 GTX I tested this year (and wasn’t convinced by it). So yes, I’m scared.
Everyone agrees
The color is so freaking awesome! And that’s something everyone agrees on. Strangers began to talk to me about the color and afterwards about the styling of this Mamba Green Škoda Enyaq Coupé iV RS. It’s shouty, without getting too much hate on it, because … it is still a Škoda and people like Škodas. That’s the power of this car: nobody hates it. It isn’t like an obstrusive BMW where everyone wants to throw their drinks at and it’s fully electric so the Greta Thunbergs of this world are happy as well.
As for the “SUV Coupé”-styling -which I’m not the biggest fan of- Škoda has knocked the ball out of the park. It is just so darn cool and especially if you compare it with the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX. That car is like a bubble with no edges on too much cortisone so it looks blown up (the medical term is called moon face). The car looks like the first BMW X6 with M-package made electric. It has black details -which really work with the Mamba Green- in the front bumper, making it look really aggressive and a big black grill followed by sharp, full LED, Crystal Face headlights. The only thing a little bit annoying in the front is the continuous LED strip with upward and downward outliers.
Moving to the side -often the weakest aspect of an SUV Coupé- and even there the Škoda shines! The car is so well-balanced and the lines moving down the car are a masterpiece. The small black details like the RS badge oblique above the front wheels, the contours around the windows and the small strip at the bottom of the door contribute to the sporty exterior. A must is the 21-inch Vision anthracite rims for only 735 euros. This is an option you really want to select when you order your Škoda Enyaq Coupé iV RS.
The integrated spoiler at the back gives the Enyaq Kia EV6 vibes and that ain’t a bad thing because that’s also a pretty cool-looking car. Here too, the black details -the black model designation- provide a sporty car.
Alcantara with green details
Like every sportscar, the Škoda Enyaq Coupé iV RS is littered with the “not so exclusive anymore” alcantara finish with green stitching and I like it! The heated sporty front seats hug you as soon as you get into the car and are nearly perfect for this vehicle. Add the easy-to-handle heated steering wheel and with the help of the fast-working 13-inch multi-media system, the interior is up there with the best. Especially with the extra storage room under the center console of 11,4 liters. At the front, the only “negative” thing is the same as with the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX: the small digital dashboard. Škoda, you could do so much more here!
At the back, my son (almost three years old) had an immense amount of space and enjoyed the panoramic roof -this adds to the gigantic feeling of space- while he was shaking his head at the beats of the Canton sound system. If he were a lot bigger, he would also enjoy the heated seats, but for now: taking his buggy with us on a family excursion certainly isn’t a problem with at least 585 liters of trunk space.
The most important thing about an RS
And that is: how does it drive? Like I said in the beginning, I have owned a Škoda Octavia RS245 and absolutely adored it but Škoda has missed the ball in the past. I’m happy to report that this Škoda Enyaq Coupé iV RS doesn’t drive like the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX. This Enyaq is so much sharper, gives so much more information, shows you more fun and sticks a lot better to the road! Do not forget that this car weighs more than 2.1 tonnes and it can still corner like it just lost 500 kg taking a big shit. I took a big shit the first time I needed to brake for a corner and the brakes could have provided some more stopping force. But still, I’m so impressed by how well Škoda made this Enyaq take a corner and at the same time, I’m asking myself where did Volkswagen go wrong! The 2.1 tonnes will hit 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds thanks to four-wheel drive and its 299 hp and 460 Nm of torque (in certain circumstances, go look at the VW ID.4 for a more detailed explanation on that) and on to a top speed of 180 km/h. All of this power is resurrected with a battery package of 77 kWh and should give the Enyaq Coupé RS a range of 556 kilometers (according to Škoda). It’s painful to say, but we could only manage around 450 kilometers with an average consumption of 17.9 kWh/100 km. That number isn’t half that bad if we think about the +20 kWh from the Toyota bZ4X.
Not only the driving dynamics of this car are on point, but also the safety features! Blind spot detection, lane departure system, adaptive cruise control with traffic sign recognition, automatic park system with 360 cameras and parking sensors. Most of these things are also standard on the car, adding to the great value Škoda provides.
Co to stoji?
Apparently, it means: “What does it cost?” in Czech. A normal Škoda Enyaq Coupé will set you back 52.820 euros, but we didn’t test a normal one. We have tested the RS and that will cost you 67.725 euros. Adding a few options and our Škoda Enyaq Coupé RS jumps to 76.820 euros. That isn’t cheap for a Škoda, but it’s a really good Škoda.
Conclusion
I ain’t scared anymore. Škoda showed us that an electric car can be fun as well. Even when it comes in a big SUV Coupé package. I really hope people will find their way to the Škoda dealer to order a Škoda Enyaq Coupé iV RS in MAMBA GREEN!
