Skoda Enyaq Coupe iV vRS review: wannabe hot hatch gets more power... that it didn't need

What's this?

This is a new, upgraded Skoda Enyaq Coupe vRS, to use its pedigree name. Nothing’s really changed on the outside, but the Czech carmaker has tinkered under the ECU cover and made some equipment changes (new rear door-integrated sunblinds!) too.

What was the vRS missing?

Not more power, at any rate. Nonetheless that's what it's got, rising from 295bhp to 325bhp. That’s enough to lop a second off the 0–62mph run, which now takes 5.5 seconds. 

Charging is faster too: peak charge is now 175kW rather than 135kW and it can sustain the higher speeds for longer. Getting from 10 per cent battery to 80 per cent now takes 28 minutes, eight minutes less than before. That’ll add up over three years of running one.

What else has changed?

The efficiency has increased, along with the range. Clearly Skoda has been able to find cheeky software tweaks that use the powertrain differently ('a recalibration of the motors and the introduction of new power management software') in order to release more bang for your electron.

The Enyaq Coupe vRS will now go 16 miles further on a full tank of electricity (all 77kWh of it) with an official WLTP rating of 340 miles and 4.0mi/kWh. We managed a decent 3.7mi/kWh in our time with the car, achieved mostly by tinkling around in Eco mode, with occasional (and terrifying) forays into the more dynamic end of the drive mode options.

Has Skoda upgraded any of the irritating infotainment stuff?

The touchscreen menus have been updated. When we spoke to Volkswagen and Skoda at the Munich motor show towards the end of 2023, they both had teams working on making the functions better and easier to get to. It’s still an annoying setup, but there was marginally less screaming involved now.

There’s one thing, and we appreciate that it’s a nano-niggle, but when you change the volume on the speakers the volume display freezes out the touchscreen entirely for several seconds. You can’t even press elsewhere to make it go away. You don’t need that nonsense on a busy M25.

The digital cockpit and head-up displays have also been upgraded, apparently, with crisp new graphics. We didn’t really notice much difference, other than the information was perhaps laid out more clearly. It would still be nice to be able to customise the dashboard display a bit more, or have different ways of showing the information. Other carmakers do this particular feature better. 

But does it drive any better?

The few times we’ve driven the Enyaq vRS so far, we’ve been rather underwhelmed by the experience outside of mashing the accelerator pedal off the line. Passengers won’t welcome a full bore take-off, but to be fair the vRS is useful on the motorway for keeping up with the heave-ho of traffic.

Should I get one?

If you want an electric bullet that can’t go round corners, you’d be better off looking at the MG4 Xpower. Sure, it’s got a smaller battery and less range, but it does 0–62mph in a scarcely credible 3.8 seconds thanks to dual motors good for 429bhp. Oh, and it costs £18k less than the £54,820 price tag attached to the vRS. Phew. And that's before we mention the Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E (which actually does drive well) or the bonkers Kia EV6 GT. 

Nope, we’re still not sure what the point of the Enyaq Coupe vRS really is. It doesn’t handle well enough to make you want to blitz through the battery, so you'll just take things easy to save range. And it looks louche with that light-up plastic grille, bluff bodykit and lurid optional paint colours... none of which are very Skoda.

The standard Enyaq is such a good car. Don't be tempted to ruin it with added vRS-ness.