Skoda Enyaq

There are no big drivetrain changes as part of this facelift.

As before, most Enyaqs are of the rear-motor, rear-driven sort, a format not seen on a Skoda since the brand's budget models of the '60s and '70s and one that benefits this car enormously in town, where it offers an impressively tight 10.2-metre turning circle.

Beyond the city limits, traction is impressive but there's a little more body roll through the turns than you'd get with the alternative Volkswagen, CUPRA and Audi versions of this VW Group design.

The pay-off for that though, is a much better standard of ride, with suppleness over poor surfaces and speed humps that's un-bettered in this class and is far superior to most rivals.

When fitted with an optional folding towbar, any Enyaq is also capable of towing trailers weighing up to 1,400kg. You ease away in an Enyaq, rather than needing to moderate the kind of frantic forward thrust that seems more normal of an electric vehicle these days.

That doesn't really suit any 2.0-tonne SUV and it certainly wouldn't suit this Skoda, the relaxed drive dynamics of which, it's immediately clear, are geared towards lowering the heartbeat rather than raising it.

What about powertrains? Well the base rear driven model, the Enyaq 60, has a 204PS electric motor powered by a 59kWh battery (net) with a range of 268 miles.

Above that sits the Enyaq 85, which has a 286PS motor powered by an 82kWh battery (net) that should produce a total WLTP-rated range of 359 miles for the SUV or 365 miles for the Coupe.

There's 545Nm of torque, top speed is 112mph and 62mph from rest takes 6.7 seconds. You can also opt for the Enyaq 85x, also uses the same 82kWh battery and motor output, but adds an extra axle motor to create four wheel drive, which means extra weight, hence the reduction in range to 332 miles (or 334 miles for the Coupe).

At the top of the range is the Enyaq vRS performance model, which shares its 82kWh battery and 4WD system with the 85x, but ups output to 340PS, sprints to 62mph in 5.5s and has a 336 mile range.

There's a quite different look for the front end of this updated Enyaq, still offered in both hatch (SUV) and coupe forms.

Skoda has grafted on the 'Tech Deck' face we first saw with the company's Vision 7S concept car back in 2022.

This sees thin daytime running lights and a flush-fit plastic panel below the leading edge of the bonnet, that bonnet now capped with Skoda script rather than the usual brand logo.

The changes have fractionally improved aerodynamics - from 0.257Cd to 0.245Cd for the SUV and from 0.240Cd to 0.229Cd for the Coupe (better than a Tesla Model Y).

There are far fewer changes inside - the main one being the restyled steering wheel, which now (like the nose) bears 'Skoda' script rather than a badge.

Small updates feature on the 13-inch central infotainment touchscreen, which as before can also be worked by both voice and gesture control.

The usual small 5.3-inch VW Group instrument binnacle display features once again.

And you'll like the wonderfully-named optional 'Jumbo Box', which adds 6.2 litres of storage underneath the centre console. Thanks to the clever design of the MEB platform it sits on, the Enyaq has always offered superb interior space.

With the traction battery housed in the floor and a compact motor mounted beneath the cargo area base, this Czech EV has a cabin unburdened by the packaging compromises of a traditional internal combustion engine car.

The cabin is 'inspired by modern living environments', according to Skoda, and uses 'natural, sustainably processed and recycled materials'.

Get settled in the back and, as usual in a Skoda, you'll find leg room that's difficult to better in segment.

Two six footers could sit comfortably behind a couple of front seat occupants of the same size.

This is also a wider cabin than you might expect a mid-sized SUV to be able to provide and with no central transmission tunnel to obstruct things, three adults could actually fit reasonably easily into the back of this car.

Boot capacity is ample at 585-litres for the SUV and 570-litres for the Coupe.

Fold the rear bench in the SUV and up to 1,710-litres of space is available (it's 1,610-litres in the Coupe)..

The range kicks off with two Enyaq 60 models, offered only with the SUV body shape at prices starting from £39,000 and available with a choice of either 'SE L' or 'Edition' trim.

Move up to the mid-range Enyaq 85 (priced from just over £44,000 and offered with 'Edition' trim) and if you'd like a sleeker version of this Skoda, the brand will give you the opportunity of finding £2,900 more for the Coupe bodyshape.

With body bodystyles, there's also the option of an AWD 85x drivetrain, offered with more dynamic-looking 'Sportline' trim at prices starting from around £49,000.

You'll need more than £50,000 for the AWD vRS range-topper. All variants are well equipped.

Even with base trim there's LED front and rear lights, heat for the front seats and steering wheel and Tri-zone climate control.

Plus keyless entry, Predictive adaptive cruise control, a powered gesture tailgate and a rear-view camera with front and rear sensors.

A wireless charging mat with cooling and Drive mode select are also included as standard. 'Edition'-spec adds Matrix LED headlights and animated indicators, an electric driver's seat with massage function, power adjustment lumbar support for the passenger seats, Dynamic headlight range control, rear side airbags and manual blinds for the rear windows.

'SportLine' trim gets you sports suspension, an area view camera, 20-inch Vega black alloy wheels, sports bumpers, a head-up display, front sports seats and steering wheel and a CANTON sound system.

Let's finish with a look at safety.

You'd expect some sort of Forward Collision Warning autonomous braking system on a car of this kind these days; Skoda's is called 'Front Assist' and as usual with these sorts of set-ups, it scans the road ahead as you drive.

If a potential collision hazard is detected, you'll be warned.

If you don't respond - or aren't able to - the brakes will automatically be applied to decrease the severity of any resulting accident.

It incorporates 'Swerve Support' that stops you from turning into a junction into the path of another car.

Plus there's 'Dynamic Road Sign Display' (which pictures speed signs as you pass and displays them on the dash).

Every Enyaq also gets a 'Lane Assist' lane-keeping system that warns you when you stray out of your lane and applies gentle steering assistance to ease you back into it.

The sleeker styling has marginally improved the EV driving range figures - we gave you those in our 'Driving Experience' section: they're very class-competitive, though, as you would expect, don't differ much from what you'd get in a comparable Volkswagen ID.4 or CUPRA Tavascan EV (or indeed this car's Ford Explorer and Ford Capri close cousins).

The base Enyaq 60 models have a minimum DC rapid charging capability of 165kW and a 10-80% public DC charge takes 24 minutes.

With the 85x and vRS versions, that's raised to 175kW and a 10-80% DC charge needs 28 minutes.

All variants support AC inputs at up to 11kW for home or workplace charging.

At home with an Enyaq 60, the AC charging process with a typical 7.4kW wallbox takes approximately 9 and a half hours (up to 100% charge).

It'd be 12 hours 45 minutes with the 85 and vRS models.

Unfortunately, Skoda still wants extra for a heat pump There's a fixed servicing schedule, with a basic inspection after two years (unlimited mileage) and subsequent services every year or 18,750 miles.

Skoda says that its aim is to make sure that the battery pack lasts as long as the car too and, sure enough, that battery pack is warrantied to have at least 70% of its usable capacity after eight years or 100,000 miles.

There's the usual unremarkable three year / 60,000 mile Skoda warranty (only the third year has a mileage limitation).

And there's 12 year body protection guarantee, a three year paint warranty and three years of Skoda assistance, which includes European breakdown cover.

For us, the Enyaq continues to represent a sweet spot in the family EV market.

A Volkswagen ID.4-sized model for the price of a little ID.3 you might say - and you wouldn't be too far wrong.

Skoda's certainly made very good use of that same German engineering here - and with this facelifted model packaged it more sleekly.

A typical Skoda customer will like the rather relaxed way that this car goes about its business on the road.

These people may well also value this Crossover's impressive cabin space, superb ride quality and neat 'Simply Clever' practical features.

They'll also like the excellent build quality, the accuracy of the range predictions and the way you can option up the cabin in a really classy way. The Enyaq's emphasis on offering more for less is very Skoda-like, an approach that's characterised the company for as long as we can remember.

We're pleased it's being continued here.

More importantly, we think you will be too.