Is the need for speed taking a back seat?

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Car Reviewed: Škoda Enyaq iV vRS

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On the road, the coupe is an exciting, refined, smooth-driving car with 299PS, 0-62mph of 6.4s and a top speed of 111mph. However, the performance is slightly underwhelming for the vRS, a tradition for sporting Skodas. However, it does probably feel slower than it actually is.

The hyper-green test car was undoubtedly a looker. On the iV vRS Enyaq, you get twin motors with all-wheel drive, adding another motor to the front axle, unlike the standard Enyaq. It is a great set-up, with taut handling, the power delivery is deliciously smooth, with a bundle of torque, 460Nm, the all-wheel-drive makes it more sure-footed with the additional power.

The car is powered by an 82kWh battery, giving you around 309 miles of range. In reality, you should expect around 250 miles…ish recharging can be quick on a fast 150kW charger with 10-80 per cent in about 35 minutes.

The performance is brisk but not the pretty all-encompassing performance expected from a vRS, and it is just not quite the same fun as with the petrol vRS versions. It does have oodles of EV torque and is pretty quick off the line. You can choose from five drive modes, from eco to sport to individual. It certainly can pick up the pace and is rapid for overtaking.

The vRS power is better for short sharp rapid bursts of performance rather than constant foot-down motorway driving. The iV RS has a sports suspension and a lower ride height that stiffens it all up, but on the twisty bits, it is a heavy car, 2.2 tonnes; this weight does hamper proceedings, so it can only do its best.

As with many EVs, the steering feeling is good but not overtly sporty. The performance is really enjoyable, smooth and silent, without any jerkiness. Lifting off the throttle dramatically brings the speed down without depressing the brake pedal; stopping power is even more impressive if you do use the brakes.

It’s a striking, memorable-looking car, especially in this Hyper green colour of our test car. Cool vRS badges on the flanks and the front translucent grill light up in a cool fashion at night.

The instruments are large, bright and clear, and the large infotainment screen is intuitive and easy to read; sometimes, the input selection could be faster and less fiddly to set up, and it is usually best done while not driving. In the cabin’s quietness, the Canton sound system offers superb sound with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. There are plenty of sockets for mobiles front and back.

However, the Heating and ventilation settings are straightforward to select; heat output or aircon was strong and reasonably quiet, although their use, as with many EVs, was best avoided to maximise the range.

The is plenty of space for oddments throughout, with many compartments, pockets, bins and trays. The boot space with provision for storage of cables was very generous, even with the rear seat up. The boot was low, wide and had the ability to take more oversized items.

With wide opening big doors, access to the cabin is very easy, and once inside, the seats were very well shaped and supportive, with lots of head and legroom on the test car; the powered driver’s seat is easily adjustable.

All around, vision was very clear despite the sloping coupe roofline; the high-performance Automatic LED beams light up the road at night.

It’s a quiet car, the noise levels were extremely low, and as with EVs, some road noise made it into the cabin, with only a trace of wind noise from around the big door mirrors.

The high equipment levels were as you would expect from a top-of-the-range performance coupé; many choices are available to cherry-pick to tailor your car to your spec.

The 20″ Taurus alloy wheels with aero inserts are very good looking; I understand 21″ are available, but why, don’t spoil the ride.

At the top of the Škoda range, the Enyaq iV vRS is an excellent, attractive, and enjoyable car. It holds its own amongst some stiff competition with the Kia EV6 and EV6 GT, Mustang Mach-E GT and Tesla Model Y, to name a few.