Skoda Enyaq RS review

Pros: spacious, rides well, smart cabin

Cons: only slightly faster than existing models, divisive grille, limited styling tweaks

The RS badge is reserved for Skoda’s fastest cars, and it has now been applied to the all-electric Enyaq SUV. This 299hp powertrain has already debuted in the fastback Enyaq Coupe model, but now it’s the turn of the more practical, more conventional SUV.

Skoda Enyaq RS Design

Skoda has based its range-topping, high-performance, RS version of the Enyaq on the already stylish Sportline model, so the two cars share plenty of design features. The black trim around the windows and the slightly lowered suspension are common to both cars, but Skoda has added some individual upgrades to its top-end electric SUV.

Chief among these is the so-called ‘Crystal Face’ nose with LEDs in a grille pattern. It’s an option – albeit an expensive one – on other versions of the Enyaq, but it’s fitted as standard to the RS. As are the sportier bumpers, which are even more aggressive than those on the Sportline car, along with the red rear reflector strip, which pays homage to other RS models in Skoda’s range.

But while Skoda seems keen to hark back to existing RS cars in some ways, it has been quite sparing with its use of the RS logo. Whereas a petrol- or diesel-powered Octavia RS has badges on the grille and tailgate, as well as any other nook or cranny Skoda can find, the Enyaq has two simple RS logos near the door mirrors, and that’s your lot. There’s nothing on the tailgate or nose at all. It’s almost as though Skoda’s a bit shy about its new, go-faster baby.

Skoda Enyaq RS Interior

In many ways, the Enyaq RS’s cabin is more striking than the exterior, although changes are equally minor compared with existing Sportline models. Customers get a choice of two interior designs, with the basic Lounge option offering cool, green-flecked suede upholstery for the bucket-style, sport-inspired front seats, while the Suite version comes with perforated leather and grey contrast stitching.

Both options sit alongside a cabin that’s trimmed with carbon-effect decorative dashboard trim and suede panels, while posh floor mats with leather edging also come as standard. All that sits alongside the conventional Enyaq Sportline features, including the black roof lining and the massive central touchscreen that dominates the cabin. It also comes with the same solid engineering that marks out the Enyaq from its rivals, with all the panels and buttons firmly held in place.

There are small issues with some of the materials – some of the plastics feel a bit cheap in places – but the biggest issue is with the technology. The touchscreen looks great and responds to inputs well, but the operating system is too fiddly to be used on the move, and essential functions are hidden in the menus. And that’s made worse by the removal of most of the physical switchgear, so the screen ends up housing the climate control and drive mode menus.

Thankfully, the transition to RS power has not impacted the Enyaq’s impressive practicality, so customers still get the same 585-litre boot as the Sportline models and the same ample rear leg- and headroom.

Skoda Enyaq RS Performance & Drive

The Enyaq RS shares its two-motor, all-wheel-drive propulsion system with the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX, so both cars get the same 77kWh battery and 299hp power output. That’s plenty on both counts, so the RS can get from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 180km/h, making it marginally faster than the existing Enyaq 80x Sportline, which ‘makes do’ with 265hp from a similar two-motor, all-wheel-drive setup.

Despite the slight increase in performance, the RS has much the same maximum range as the 80x Sportline, so it’ll cover 517km on a single charge. And topping up the battery is a fast affair thanks to 135kW charging that can take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 36 minutes. Of course, charging at home will take longer, but a proper home charging point should allow the car to charge completely overnight.

While the RS powertrain might have subtle differences compared to that of the 80x Sportline, however, the driving experience is remarkably similar. The 0.4-second improvement in the 0-100km/h time is more or less imperceptible, and the identical suspension setup means the ride and handling are also much the same.

That’s a good thing, though, because while the Enyaq RS is strikingly agile for a big SUV, it also feels very stable and comfortable on the road. It’s nimble enough to have fun and manoeuvre easily, but the most impressive thing is the ride, which is excellent at high speed and acceptable around town.

Skoda Enyaq RS Pricing

Prices have not yet been announced for the Enyaq RS, but we expect it to come in at around €70,000 – just a few thousand more than the most expensive of the existing all-wheel-drive Enyaq models.

Carzone Verdict: 4/5

The RS versions of the Enyaq don’t feel all that much different from less powerful, less expensive Enyaq models, and that’s a shame. But it does at least mean the RS is every bit as good as those already brilliant Enyaq Sportline variants, with the same handling, range and practicality. And it’s likely to be only fractionally more expensive. The only real reason to buy one, then, is the light-up grille, which would normally be a pricey option. But whatever the justification for getting one, the Enyaq RS remains an incredibly capable electric SUV.