First drive: 2021 Skoda Enyaq iV 80 prototype review

But anyway, to driving. The heavily camouflaged prototype we’re in here is the rear-driven Enyaq 80, which Skoda says is around 60-70% representative of the final product. So by no means finalised, then, but developed enough to give a reasonable idea of what the Enyaq will be like when it arrives towards the end of the year.

On fairly lumpen Irish country roads still slick with most of the muck and sleet that Storm Ciara brought with her, the Enyaq feels, well, kind of how you’d expect an electric Skoda to feel. Ride quality is largely well judged so it feels tied down over undulating surfaces, although at town speeds, a sense of rigidity and brittleness does seem to creep in - suggesting its spring rates might have been increased to deal with the Enyaq’s jacked-up kerb weight. 

On 19in alloys (wheel sizes will range from 18in through to 21in), secondary intrusions are more prominent than you might like, too, but it’s their volume rather than the sharpness of the impacts that’s most notable. There’s also a bit of vibration through the column but it seems reasonable to expect this will be addressed before the car reaches production.

At the fairly sedate speeds dictated by our lead minder car, it corners tidily enough, with the steering providing reassuring weight and accuracy. With 229lb ft of instantly available torque on tap, throttle response is good, and although the Enyaq 80 doesn’t feel rapid - particularly above 50mph or so - there’s enough urgency to ensure overtakes are dispatched reasonably swiftly. Step-off is a bit aggressive but, again, Skoda will probably address this before the car is signed off for production. Same goes for the completely dead-feeling brake pedal.

Still, you get the sense that the Enyaq iV’s appeal will come from just how conventional it makes the concept of the electric car feel. Combined with its practical interior, comfortable driving position and decent real-world range, it’s a very easy car to appreciate from a pragmatic point of view (funny that). Perhaps the vRS model will do more to ensure it appeals to the enthusiast, but for the everyman, there’s already a lot to like.

Skoda Enyaq iV 80 prototype specifications

Where Dublin, Ireland Price £45,000 (est) On sale Late 2020 Engine 3-phase synchronous electric motor Battery 82kWh, lithium ion Power 201bhp Torque 229lb ft Gearbox Single-speed Kerb weight 2000kg (est) Top speed 105mph (est) 0-62mph 7.5sec (est) Range 311 miles (WLTP)

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