New Car Review | Škoda Enyaq iV RS

The Škoda Enyaq has been a huge success both here in Ireland an internationally. Škoda are still trying to catch up, globally, with the orders for this car and it has been the recipient of many awards, and of course, one of the ones that really matters, the AA Ireland Car Awards’ Best Family EV in 2022. Buyers like the looks, the space, the comfort, the decent range and the quality fit and finish.

So it seemed inevitable, that at some stage, Škoda would give it the RS treatment. The RS badge first appeared on the very humble Octavia, at a time when it was a car that was as beige as an artificial limb. And it turned it into a remarkable cult classic, becoming ever-more fire breathing as the years went by. RS versions of the Fabia and Kodiaq followed and now it is here in the Enyaq.

So, the Enyaq RS is a fire-breathing  version of the family SUV EV right? Well sort of, but more about that later.

The Enyaq is already quite a looker. The Sportline version, which is very popular among Enyaq buyers boasts a good mix of sporty styling and giant alloy wheels (21” are a popular choice for buyers, come with eye-watering tyre bills.)

Naturally, the RS takes that a little further. Smart 20” wheels are standard, but most buyers will most likely opt for the stunning 21” Vision Anthracite wheels (€767), which are specific to the RS and they look awesome.

There are unique RS sports bumpers front and rear give the car a more muscular look. There are gloss black surrounds replacing the chrome in other Enyaq models. The RS’s window trims and tailgate lettering are also finished in gloss black.

The front bumpers features high-gloss back accents on the air curtain surrounds, with are E-shaped on the RS model. There are side skirts finished in body colour while there is a red reflector strip in the rear bumper running the full width of the vehicle, which is a trait of RS models. There are also specific green RS logos on the front wings, and these can also be found in the interior.

Colour-wise, there are some zingers. The Mamba Green (€468) is going to be a brave choice, for sure. Our test car came with the eye-catching but slightly more palatable Phoenix Orange colour (€1,171).

First thing you will notice are the seats. There are sports seats with integrated headrests and RS logos as well as a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel. There is a carbon finish used for the trim on the instrument cluster and doors, while the pedals come with a polished aluminium look.

There is generous space inside, seating five adults in comfort along with 585 litres of luggage. Fold down the rear seats and storage space can be expanded to up to 1,710 litres.

The optional panoramic sunroof (€1,157) is well-worth considering. It really brightens the cabin and looks great. The RS is very well-equipped anyway, but if you truly want everything, you can add the Maxx pack for €2,252. This includes the Driver seat massage function, Dynamic Chassis Control, Intelligent park assistant with trained parking, Area view and rear side airbags.

The expectations were pretty high with this car. The Enyaq is an excellent car, one of our favourites and we perhaps expected a bit more from the RS version.

Let’s explain. For a start there is the extra power and performance. There is “up to 300hp” available but the thing is, that there are terms and condition to it. The maximum power is only available if the temperature of the high-voltage battery is between 23 and 50°C and its charge levels exceeds 88% (sounds a bit like Back to the Future).

The RS has a higher top speed (180km/h vs 160km/h for the rest of the range) and it is slightly quicker to 100km/h (6.5 seconds v 6.9 seconds for the 80X, 8.5 seconds for the standard 80).

The RS sits lower than the standard Enyaq and the vehicle has firmer springs and damper tuning and is lowered by 15mm at the front axle and 10 millimetres at the rear axle. Dynamic Chassis Control is available as an option (comes as part of the €2,252 Maxx Pack) and this constantly monitors the situation on the road and automatically adjusts the damping. There is also a specific Traction driving profile on the RS, providing constant four-wheel drive on at speeds up 20 km/h.

The Enyaq is a heavy vehicle and this doesn’t really help make the RS that dynamic. Sure, it feels a light tighter than the standard models, but not that dissimilar to the very competent and €5,000 less expensive 80X Sportline.

Ultimately the RS feels a little underwhelming. It looks good, feels great, but doesn’t feel as sporty as an RS should, feeling more like an RS-line instead.

Hmm, the thing is perhaps the RS to buy isn’t the RS at all. The €68,235 Sportline 80X feels and looks just as good and it comes in a little less. If you want the styling features of the RS, then sure, go for the RS, but the 80X does just as good a job, for less money.

An excellent car, but doesn’t quite feel potent enough for the RS badge.

An excellent car, but doesn’t quite feel potent enough for the RS badge.

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For more information go to Škoda Enyaq RS