The new Skoda Enyaq RS iV will cost around 59,000 euros

This report on driving before Christmas is a treat for people who like to turn up the music a little more than the good neighbor. In this case, though, they have a lot of time to decide if this SUV version of the Skoda Enyaq RS iV we drive is the right one for the private garage. And if this brilliant mamba-green paint job, which Skoda is only selling here for a meager 410 euros, is just plain rude or a considerable embarrassment.

Because if you go to a German Skoda dealer in a good mood and ask naively when this stylish full-electric car will be delivered (we tested it, of course), the new car salesman looks at us like we just landed from the moon and says something about the first quarter of 2024. as soon as possible. Suppose that everything goes well. Yes, a lot can happen between now and then. And if this keeps going, with what seems like a never-ending lack of wiring harnesses and semiconductor chips, we'll end up with Trabi waiting times like in the old GDR. We've heard that Enyaq registrations are already being used to make money in Berlin.

Well, the whole thing could be seen as an excellent topic to talk about in the future when the store owner comes around the corner and says, "Hello, your Enyaq is here!" Maybe soon after Christmas the following year. But maybe even to Santa Claus in the future.

Until then, save a little more because the price of this car is very high for a Skoda. The Skoda Enyaq RS iV will cost around 59,000 euros (or 61,550 euros for the coupe version). Skoda wants to know the exact price, so we will soon have to wait. And, of course, there are only some of the nice extras like strictly, mamba green, and so on.

But this high price is more exciting than the electric car itself. Even though Skoda says this SUV-RS will be a "sustainable top athlete," the coupe version has been around longer. But of course, that's just the usual marketing nonsense, which we don't take seriously, as we always do, even though the Czech's key numbers look good on paper.

Like its VW sibling, the ID.4 GTX, the two electric motors add up to a system output of 220 kW (299 hp) and 460 Newton meters of torque. At the front is a synchronous motor that is always turned on, and at the back is an asynchronous machine. This is how the electric, electronically controlled all-wheel drive works.

But just like the VW version, Skoda's expected 220 kW should be taken with a grain of salt, as the fine print shows. Even when it's at least 23 degrees outside and the battery is at least 88% charged, this pounding maximum electrical output is only available for 30 seconds. It was important to say that so we wouldn't get any nasty complaints in the mail later.

But don't worry blood. We still have some hope. As is often the case with sporty-looking cars, it doesn't have to be about speed. Sometimes, what gets our attention as drivers are quick-footed, creative dribbling, which our footballers in Qatar could be better at right now; the tricks of a chassis should be able to do much more than we can in tight turns or hanging serpentines—the excellent sound when moving faster.

Okay, let's quickly forget about the sound since this Skoda is fully electric, and we don't like this slightly strange background sound. Let's start out slowly by talking about how this 4.65-meter-long SUV model with the fancy RS abbreviation looks. As with the coupe, there is a lot of high-gloss black all over to give it a cool look. This red reflector in the rear apron makes all Skoda RS models stand out. The innovative Matrix LED main headlights (which invariably use high beams at night) are included, but the "Crystal Face" with its 131 LEDs that light up the vertical ribs and horizontal bars of the Skoda grille is the big show-stopper. All that's left to do for Christmas is add some tinsel.

Inside, there is a lot of black, a lot of carbon look, and these great (heated) sports seats with built-in headrests. The Skoda Enyaq IV is known for having a lot of space, and this is clear in both rows of seats. The standard version (RS Lounge) is made of microfiber fabric, which we like best. For an extra 670 euros, you can get a version that isn't vegan but is still made of microfiber (RS Suite). Striking: pretty good materials almost everywhere and careful work. The trunk is 585 liters, which is 15 liters more than in the coupe version. When the back seats are folded down, the trunk can hold up to 1720 liters, which is more than the coupe's 1610 liters. We're going to the hardware store with the athletes today.

Of course, sports suspension is required here. In this case, it lowers the body by 15 millimeters at the front axle and 10 millimeters at the back. Adaptive chassis control (DCC), which makes sense in this case, can be added for extra money, and basic settings like Eco, Comfort, Normal, and Sport can be chosen from a list of profiles. And only this RS-SUV has the extra drive program Traction for rural cross-country tours on unpaved, and now maybe even snow-covered, paths: it keeps all four wheels turning at speeds up to 20 km/h.

We're getting close to a tricky subject: top speed. Like the coupe version, this Skoda Enyaq RS iV has a top speed of 180 km/h, which is 20 km/h faster than the regular Enyaq models. But that's not the kind of sporty splurge people expect in this case. At least, nothing for highway speed freaks, who will now be sure to wave all of Skoda's data tables in our faces to show that even a tiny combustion engine SUV like the Kamiq can go between 188 and 219 km/h, depending on the engine. So, what are we going to say? During the test tour, this fact didn't bother us very often.