The Skoda Enyaq iV conquers the Netherlands. It is the most popular electric car at the moment. Can we really turn the Enyaq into the ideal EV? Or does the competition have hotter irons in the fire? In a comparison test with the Mercedes EQA 250, the Skoda Enyaq iV 80 and the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro, we look for all the pluses and minuses of the power SUVs.
The Netherlands has warmly embraced the electric Skoda Enyaq iV. The Czech SUV, based on VW’s MEB platform, is currently the best-selling EV in the Netherlands. But the car doesn’t just score high in the sales statistics. The business market – such as leasing companies and fleet owners – is very fond of the Enyaq iV. During the Business Car of the Year 2022 election, the car was awarded the title ‘Best Newcomer’.
Earlier we told you that the Enyaq iV deals in living and luggage space – as befits a Skoda. The Enyaq makes even smarter use of the available space on the MEB platform than the technically largely identical Volkswagen ID.4. Pay special attention to that word ‘largely’, because there are also fundamental differences between the Enyaq iV and the ID.4.
The trump card of the Volkswagen ID.4 is its suspension comfort
Because those who are especially often on the highway will experience the Volkswagen ID.4 as an even more comfortable car than the Skoda Enyaq iV. VW has managed to find even more flexibility in the chassis of its electric SUV, which benefits the suspension comfort. Especially if the car is equipped with adaptive shock absorbers, every bump in the asphalt is swept under the carpet. Thanks to the thick insulation mats, the wind and tire noise also remain neatly outside the interior of the ID.4.
The flexibility of the chassis, however, isn’t good news for ID.4 drivers who get it on their hips. The Volkswagen makes a very distant impression on a winding road. The controls cannot be caught on disruptive reactions. In fact, the controls cannot be caught on any response. When you give the powerful electric motor (204 hp and 310 Nm) the tracks, you get premature understeer as an answer.
The Skoda Enyaq iV would like to communicate with you
At Skoda they have chosen to give the chassis of the Enyaq iV a somewhat firmer tuning than their colleagues from Volkswagen. Even with optional adaptive dampers, the Enyaq can be felt in motion. On a bad road, the rear suspension in particular shows little flexibility. At low speeds, the occupants get unfiltered by what the wheels have to endure.
However, on the other hand, the Skoda does its best to communicate with the driver. Because the suspension is somewhat stiffer, there is a more direct feeling of contact with the car. When you address the power and torque (which are just as high as with the Volkswagen), understeer also stays out longer than with the ID.4; you can dive into the curve at a higher speed. Incidentally, all this does not mean that the control of the Skoda is the epitome of sharpness and feedback.
The Mercedes EQA is like mincemeat half-and-half
Unlike the Volkswagen and the Skoda, the Mercedes EQA 250 has front-wheel drive. Although the wheels get 190 hp and 375 Nm to process, they have excellent traction. In addition, the control of the EQA transmits sufficient information. The fact that the EQA is about 150 kilograms lighter than the Enyaq and ID.4 also contributes to the good driving characteristics.
In terms of tuning the chassis, the Mercedes EQA is between the Skoda and the Volkswagen. The car is not completely free from rocking movements, but it is not as colorful as the Skoda. The noise from the chassis is annoying. As if someone has forgotten to mount tires … The beautiful instruments of the EQA can also be seen as a bringer of comfort. The TFT screen can be extensively configured and all information is displayed in clear punctuation marks. For some data you soon need a magnifying glass in the Skoda and Volkswagen …
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Conclusion
Sublime comfort is always at the expense of the sharpness of a chassis. And if you want more dynamics, the flexibility of the suspension will soon be compromised. The Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq iV clearly show that. In this case, the Mercedes EQA is a happy medium. Or is this also the case for all other test items? Purchase Car Review number 9 in our webshop, and read the entire comparative test.
