Skoda has a good reputation for making family-friendly, affordable cars. Their electric offering, the Skoda Enyaq iV delivers comfort, room and enough range to manage busy family life without long stops to recharge. It’s a large and practical SUV worth considering if you want to take your family down the electric car route.

The Enyaq iV competes with the VW ID.4 and Audi’s Q4 e-Tron and does pretty well too. She made it to our top ten of best cars for women earlier this year for that very reason. She’s the first Skoda model to be built in the Czech Republic and uses the same powertrain as the VW and Audi SUVs. You’ll find she has a little more room than the VW though.

Tech specs for the Skoda Enyaq iV

There are three different levels of choice when it comes to the Enyaq iV – 60, 80 and 80x. All are fully electric, otherwise known as battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs).

The 60 is the smaller of the three with a 58kWh battery that’s paired with a 177 hp engine with total torque of 229lbs per foot and rear-wheel drive. The 80 and 80x are a little more expensive, but have larger batteries to run more powerful engines.

The 80 gets a 77kWh battery paired with a 201 total hp engine and torque of 229 lbs per foot and rear wheel-drive.  The 80x is powered with the same sized battery but has 261 total hp and all-wheel drive, making her a true 4×4 in every way.

Performance

When it comes to electric cars, acceleration is near-instant and range is often a greater concern than speed. Even so, you’ll get from 0 – 62mph in just over 8 seconds for the 80 models and 8.4 seconds for the 60.

But, it’s the range that is the deal clincher when it comes to family EVs. Of course, some of the battery’s range is dependent on driving style, circumstances and temperature. If most of your travel is restricted to the city, the 80 models will run for around 380 miles per full charge in mild weather and 250 or so when winter chills set in. The 60s have a little less range at 300 and 200 respectively.

Long-distance driving in cooler temperatures is what saps the battery power most, but you should be able to reach around 185 miles of highway driving in the depth of winter, which is still enough to visit the family on Christmas day without any unscheduled stops.

As for handling and comfort, the Skoda Enyaq iV is solid and stable. If you’re looking for a more dynamic drive, consider something like the Tesla Y Model. The Skoda is sure-footed though in the 80x model and you’ll notice good traction if you do take her off-road.

Dynamic Chassis Control comes as an optional extra and delivers a more refined ride, but it’s unlikely you’ll find too many used models with this option – it’s a rather expensive add-on for day-to-day use.

Notes on the Skoda Enyaq iV interior & exterior

The Skoda Enyaq iV has fairly typical SUV styling – she’s big, chunky looking, and sturdy – much as you’d expect from an SUV nowadays. Aerodynamic lines give her a somewhat sharper look and sleeker shape than some other SUVs on the market (ahem, ID.4), but overall there are no massive surprises.

Inside the tech is controlled by a large 13” touch screen that sits front and centre on the dash. Some of the functions can also be controlled by a smattering of buttons found on the steering wheel – volume control for the stereo and radio channel selections.

A smaller screen in front of the driver and embedded into the dash provides the usual readings for speed, battery charge and various other readings. There isn’t any front storage like the Tesla’s have, but you do get a cavernous boot with 585 litres of space with seats up, and 1,710 litres with back seats laid flat.

The driving position is comfortable, there are plenty of storage pockets and you get some nice Skoda touches like the umbrella in the driver’s door and ice-scraper tucked away in the tailgate.

Accessories

The infotainment system is nifty. The large 13” screen is used to control the sat-nav and stereo. Standard tech includes Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto along with LED headlights, cruise control, rear parking sensors, lumbar support and a heated multi-function steering wheel for the 80s models.

The Parking Package Basic gets front sensors and a reversing camera added to the car’s kit with the option of throwing in a 360° birdseye view camera too. Icons for the infotainment system are large and clear so you won’t find it too distracting to control the air-con or stereo when on the road.

Speaking of which, the eight-speaker system has very good sound and with the good insulation cutting road and engine noise drastically. You’ll be able to easily enjoy your tunes or audiobooks if you’re trying to entertain little ones on long journeys.

Practicality for families and long journeys

The Enyaq iV is a large and practical family SUV that is up to longer journeys as much as running about for groceries, school runs and other day-to-day tasks. The longer range means she can easily fit into family life.

Isofix fittings at the rear can take three car seats, and the cavernous boot space means there’s enough room for all of the things families need to pack for smaller kids, so she’s great for younger families too.

The longer battery range and faster charging times for long journeys make the Skoda Enyaq iV a great contender as a family EV.

Our Verdict

We love the Skoda Enyaq iV, which is why she made it to our list of best cars earlier this year. The styling is smart, but most of all, the space combined with the battery range make this SUV a winner for families.