Autovista24 principal analyst Sonja Nehls and market analyst Dennis Borscheid look back at the success of the Skoda Enyaq and give a remarketing outlook for the new Skoda Enyaq Coupé.
The Enyaq Coupé RS iV builds on the strengths of the Enyaq iV SUV. Despite the sportier silhouette, the Skoda-typical roominess is not noticeably compromised.
The steep entry price of the Coupé RS version is justified by the comprehensive standard equipment, it comes at a convincing cost-performance and is a great package overall.
Flaws in terms of top speed or DC-charging capacity did not keep the Skoda Enyaq SUV from becoming the best-selling electric C-SUV in Germany in 2021. They will also not pose a major threat to new-car sales of the Skoda Enyaq Coupé now and the remarketing outlook is promising.
Skoda Enyaq Coupé remarketing potential
Remarketing upsides | Remarketing downsides |
True to Skoda brand characteristics with lots of space and practical solutions | Long delivery times, leading to belated entry into UC market |
Timeless design, unlikely to age quickly | Risk of cannibalisation with similarly positioned ID.5 |
Comprehensive standard equipment on the RS version | Comparably slow DC-charging capacity of only 135kW |
Long range of 499km |
The Enyaq Coupé follows the Skoda Enyaq which was launched two years ago. As is the fashion, especially with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), this derivative follow-up features a more dynamic design thanks to its strongly-sloping roofline.
The Enyaq already has an impressive track record, being the seventh best-selling BEV in Europe in 2021 and the third-best selling electric C-SUV. In Germany it even reached the number one spot among electric C-SUVs and overtook the Volkswagen ID.4 in its domestic market, an impressive achievement.
Our experts at EV-volumes.com expect the Enyaq and Enyaq Coupé to grow their joint annual sales volume in Europe to 95,000 units by 2026.
Delivery issues fuel competition
The compact- to medium-sized SUV segment has become the focal point of attention in the BEV market, with more and more models launched. The Enyaq Coupé therefore faces tough competition, especially from the likes of Volkswagen’s ID.5, the Tesla Model Y, the acclaimed Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the muscular Ford Mach-E.
New players are also entering the market, trying to claim a slice of the cake. These rivals, for example MG and its Marvel R, apparently can deliver their cars sooner than some of the established brands. Availability and attractive price points put brands like MG on the table with fleets and leasing companies, which currently struggle to secure enough cars from the European marques.
Furthermore, those leasing or subscribing to a car do not carry the remarketing risk, and are more willing to give new brands a try.
Delivery times will be a burden for the Enyaq Coupé as they already are for the Enyaq SUV. Customers seeking to buy an Enyaq must wait up to two years, and it is unlikely the Coupé version will have shorter delivery times.
At this point there is a lot of uncertainty around the level of BEV incentives likely to be available at the time of future registration, and whether the models ordered now and delivered much later will already feature upgraded specs.
In any case, there is a risk of models getting old before their time. Over-the-air updates and functions-on-demand at least can help keep the software-based features up-to-date.
True to family values
Simply clever. If Skoda had a family crest, it would sport this slogan, the very distillation of what makes Skoda models special across all segments, powertrains, or fuel types. And the Enyaq Coupé is no exception.
Following in the footsteps of the Enyaq SUV, it sports the same smart solutions, such as lots of storage spaces and the umbrella and ice-scraper holders.
Also, interior roominess and boot volume are excellent and exceed most rivals. For example, the boot volume is only 15 litres smaller than on the SUV, and although the sloping roofline takes away some of the headroom, it is still a comfortable place, even for taller people.
The smallest turning circle of compared models is another real asset, especially for inner-city driving. The towing capacity of 1,200kg stays below Hyundai’s and Tesla’s 1,600kg but is sufficient for most users, especially given that a premium model like the Mercedes-Benz EQB does not have any towing capacity.
Specifications and dimensions versus main rivals
The Enyaq Coupé adds a few interesting features to the mature and timeless design already established by the Enyaq SUV. The lateral view is different from that of the SUV version, thanks to the sloping roofline, which ends in a sharp drop at the rear. The large 20-inch wheels complete the sporty and dynamic look.
Also, the fully-functional air intakes help to lower the drag coefficient to 0.234 and therefore add a few extra kilometres of range. The ID.5, which is built on the same platform, has a cw-value of 0.26 which in the world of BEVs puts miles between the two.
Strong range, but slow charging
The Enyaq Coupé is currently only available as an RS variant, a guarantee for driving pleasure and sportiness. As with most rivals, except for Tesla, top speed is limited to around 180kmh and the 460Nm of torque fall a bit short compared to the 580Nm of the Mach-E, or the 605Nm the Ioniq 5.
But for BEVs, even for the sportier ones, acceleration and top speed are not everything.
Most customers will care more about how far they get on a single charge and how long it takes to get going again once the battery is depleted. The Enyaq Coupé’s 499km of range is only exceeded by the Tesla Model Y’s 533km, but the 135kW DC-charging capacity places it at the bottom of the league.
BEV specifications vs. main rivals
The comparably low DC-charging speed of 135kW can pose a minor risk for residual values as future used-car buyers will see it even less favourably in three years’ time due to advanced technology and higher market standards.
Almost fully equipped
Skoda has not held back on standard equipment on the Enyaq Coupé iV RS and even went above and beyond the offering of the SUV version’s highest trim (80x). This comprehensive equipment offer explains the steep starting price of the RS, €4,300 above the entry price of the ID.5 GTX in Germany, at €57,700.
It comes with a panoramic roof, advanced driver-assistance systems, matrix headlights and 20-inch wheels as standard. Once configured to a comparable equipment level, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y are 7-15% more expensive.
However, it may not go unmentioned that a like-for-like comparison is very challenging at the moment due to the implications of the semiconductor shortages and general supply issues. Available options on the car makers’ websites change almost on a daily basis.
By offering an attractively-priced and comprehensively-equipped model, Skoda avoids two pitfalls at the same time. First, there is no risk of ill-equipped Enyaq Coupé RS models coming to the market. Second, identification of future used RS trims will be easy and transparent. Unfortunately, it is likely that upcoming lower-powered versions will fall victim to these pitfalls, as they have for the Enyaq SUV.
A promising outlook
Residual values for the Enyaq Coupé are off to a strong start with especially high forecasts in the UK, coming in at 61% or £31,755 (€37,404) after three years and 60,000km. Despite a slightly lower forecast in Germany, the depreciation is equally low as in the UK due to a difference in list price of over €3,000.
Skoda Enyaq Coupé RS iV RV forecast, 36mth/60kkm, June 2022
While the RV forecast stays below the one for the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX in Austria, Switzerland and the UK, the Enyaq Coupé impressively exceeds its cousin by more than €2,500 in Germany.
The interactive dashboard gives a more detailed cross-country overview and benchmarks the Enyaq Coupé’s residual value and depreciation against comparable models in the markets.
The better Volkswagen?
When asking industry experts for their recommendations on which BEV to buy, the Skoda Enyaq comes up a lot. The Enyaq Coupé will complement it, for people who prefer the more dynamic look. It simply is a great package and long gone are the times when models of the brand were considered lower-quality budget versions of Volkswagen vehicles.
However, the Skoda Enyaq might well be the last to outperform its Volkswagen equivalents following plans made in 2019 to reposition the Skoda brand.
In October 2019 Herbert Diess, chairman of the board at Volkswagen Group, told the Süddeutsche Zeitung that all parties suffer if three or four brands fight for the same target group with similar products. In the second half of 2022 Skoda will share more details on their new strategy, called Modern Solid.
We can expect to see some aspects of the brand’s repositioning coming to life then, likely with a clearer differentiation to Volkswagen.