Skoda Enyaq: 2023 Australian release confirmed for Enyaq and Enyaq coupe next year

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Skoda has confirmed that its fully-electric Enyaq midsize SUV will be released in Australia in the second half of 2023 – between July and December.

The new Enyaq, which sits on the Volkswagen Group’s electric MEB platform, will be released in Australia in standard wagon-body form but also in sportier Enyaq Coupe guise – while the hot 220kW Enyaq RS has not been confirmed for an Australian release as of yet.

Australian Enyaq orders start early 2023

Skoda will begin taking Australian customer orders for the Enyaq in 2023 ahead of its local arrival, though the brand has not said how many examples of the Enyaq will be sent to Australia in 2023.

The performance-orientated, dual-motor Enyaq RS is currently only available in the coupe body shape but previous reports have indicated that a wagon version will become available in the future. 

Initially going on sale in Europe in 2020, the Enyaq was the first to sit on the Volkswagen Group’s dedicated electric vehicle platform known as MEB which promises greater capability and internal packaging than a converted combustion-engine platform

Skoda Australia head of sales Kieran Merrigan told Chasing Cars the Enyaq would mark the beginning of the brand’s Australian electric car strategy.

“We [Skoda] definitely have an EV strategy and it’s something we want to launch,” Merrigan said.

82kWh battery, 532km range expected for Australia

While the exact specification is not yet known, Skoda has previously told Chasing Cars that the Enyaq would likely be offered in highly-specified grades to suit the preferences of Australian buyers.

This means that Australian buyers are likely to score the larger of the Enyaq’s two battery packs. Overseas, a 62kWh usable battery provides 412km range (WLTP) but Australian-spec Enyaqs are expected to use the bigger 82kWh pack that promises 532km range on the WLTP testing standard.

The Enyaq is capable of DC rapid-charging at speeds of up to 125kW – some way off the 230-240kW promise of the competing Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, but enough to replenish the battery from 10-80 percent (53km to 425km) in 38 minutes.

RWD and AWD Enyaq models likely

In Europe, Skoda offers the Enyaq with a single rear-mounted electric motor making 150kW/310Nm, as well as a dual-motor variant making 195kW/425Nm.

Last month, the range-topping RS joined the Enyaq line-up with its high-performance dual motors capable of producing 220kW/460Nm and recording a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.5 seconds.

Higher trims of the Enyaq include features such as a panoramic sunroof, sustainably-sourced seat covers along with technology such as a 13-inch touchscreen and a head-up digital driver’s display.

More details on the exact specification will become available closer to the launch of the Enyaq in the second half of 2023.