2021 Skoda Enyaq iV electric SUV teased: 225kW RS hero to lead the way

Skoda has handed down a whole mess of details for its upcoming Enyaq iV electric SUV, along with a number of photos offering our best look yet at the Czech brand's first purpose-built EV.

Let's look at the exciting stuff first: Rear-wheel drive in entry-level form, and a 225kW RS all-wheel-drive model at the top end.

Mixed in with those details is confirmation of three battery sizes, five power variants and a driving range of up to 500 kilometres.

The Enyaq follows the company's first-ever electric vehicle, the CitiGo-e iV, which was spun out of the petrol-powered, Volkswagen Up!-derived city car a year ago.

This time around, Skoda has turned to the Volkswagen Group's MEB electric vehicle architecture as the starting point for its new electric SUV.

The same platform will underpin Volkswagen's electric ID models and a host of Audi offerings.

At the opening end of the line-up will be the 109kW Enyaq iV 50, driven by a rear-mounted electric motor (thus, rear-wheel drive) with a 55kWh battery pack that promises a maximum driving range of 340 kilometres.

Next up is the Enyaq iV 60, again rear-wheel drive but with a 62kWh battery and a 390km driving range.

The Enyaq iV 80 follows as the top offering in the rear-motored set, its 82kWh battery offering 150kW and a maximum driving range up to 500 kilometres.

Stepping into the dual-motor all-wheel-drive takes us to the 80X and RS models. 

In both models, the 82kWh battery pack features again, but with a second electric motor driving the front wheels. In this form, the 80X delivers 195kW and the hero RS offers 225kW.

In both the 80X and the RS, the more powerful programming drops maximum driving range to 460 kilometres.

Performance figures for most variants are still to be revealed, but, no surprise, Skoda is keen for fans of the vaunted RS badge to know the Enyaq iV RS will hit 100km/h from standstill in 6.2 seconds. 

That's quick, particularly as the Enyaq iV's dimensions (4648mm long, 1877mm wide and 1618mm tall, on a 2765mm wheelbase) make it fairly comparable in size to the 4697/1882/1676/2791mm Kodiaq SUV, which claims a 0-100km/h time of 7.0 seconds in its top 176kW/500Nm diesel-powered Kodiaq RS specification.

And, while not yet detailed, there's a good chance the kerb weight of the Enyaq iV RS will top 2000kg (reports overseas suggest 2000kg on the dot for the rear-wheel-drive iV 80), making it a few hundred kilograms heftier than the Kodiaq.

For those road-tripping or otherwise requiring towing capability, Skoda claims the Enyaq will offer up to 1200kg capacity – in addition to its 585-litre boot (seats up).

Fast charging is also promised, again handy on road trips, with an 80 per cent 'fill' possible from 40 minutes at a 125kW DC-powered station. Home wall boxes, offering up to 11kW, can charge the Enyaq to full in six to eight hours (depending on battery size).

The Enyaq is set to go on sale in Europe from the start of 2021, but an Australian launch is still to be secured.

Speaking with CarAdvice today, Skoda and Volkswagen Australia communications boss Paul Pottinger said the Enyaq would be of great interest to Australia, but availability for our market has not yet been confirmed.

In the meantime, Australian fans of electric vehicles can look forward to Volkswagen's ID models, with the upcoming ID.4 SUV expected – though not yet announced – to be the company's first electric car in Australia.

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