For decades, the RS badge has been a symbol of Skoda’s performance aspirations. Originally derived from their motorsport heritage, the RS models have become a staple for enthusiasts who want a dash of excitement without sacrificing the practicality Skoda is known for. From the Octavia RS that comfortably shuttled your groceries home in record time, to the Kodiaq RS that dared to make seven-seater family transport fun, the RS badge means more than just a sportier trim. But now, Skoda is turning a new page in its performance history, and the Enyaq RS is the first electric model to wear the coveted badge.
Although the Enyaq name may be new to Australian shores, it’s been quietly making waves in Europe for the last couple of years. However, Skoda wisely held off bringing it Down Under until they had something special—a power plant upgrade that puts the Enyaq RS at the pointy end of the electric SUV market. With a beefed-up 250kW powertrain and all-wheel drive, Skoda has ensured that their first electric RS isn’t just here to fill a gap in the lineup; it’s here to rustle some feathers.
Euro-built, Skoda hopes their reputation for delivering value alongside performance shines through with the Enyaq RS. It offers a balance of range, power, and practicality that should appeal to both the eco-conscious and the performance-minded. Throw in a seven-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, and you have a package that ticks a lot of boxes.
While Australian customers will have to wait until the end of the year for their pre-orders to be delivered, I had the chance to take the Enyaq RS for a spin through the Southern Highlands of NSW. Here’s what future owners can look forward to.
Design
The Enyaq RS’s exterior immediately stands out with its dynamic and purposeful styling. Built in the Czech Republic, the Enyaq Coupe benefits from meticulous European build quality. The front-end is dominated by Skoda’s striking ‘Crystal Face’ LED grille, which gives the Enyaq a bold presence on the road. This grille is not just for show—it integrates 131 LEDs that create a unique light signature, further enhanced by the matrix LED headlights with dynamic cornering. The sleek, Sportback silhouette is not only aesthetically pleasing but also contributes to the Enyaq’s aerodynamic efficiency, with a drag coefficient of 0.234—one of the best in its class. The result is a vehicle that slips through the air with minimal resistance, boosting both range and performance.
For a bit more sportiness, the Enyaq RS comes equipped with 21-inch Vision Anthracite alloy wheels, adding a muscular stance to its profile. Gloss black detailing around the windows, mirrors, and rear diffuser further enhances its RS underpinnings. While the 21-inch wheels certainly add visual drama, they also raise the question of practicality, which we’ll revisit later.
Moving inside, Skoda stays true to its reputation for blending functionality with comfort. The cabin feels familiar to anyone who has driven a Skoda before—intuitive, minimalistic, yet peppered with just the right amount of tech. The 13-inch capacitive touchscreen infotainment system serves as the nerve centre of the cabin, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, while the wireless charging pad ensures you stay connected without the clutter of cables.
While the (smaller than your iPhone) digital dash is a little lack-lustre, the Augmented Reality Head-Up Display (HUD) is full of gusto. It projects key driving information, such as navigation directions and vehicle distances, directly onto the windshield, allowing important info to enter your periphery. The AR HUD integrates seamlessly with the adaptive cruise control and lane assist systems, making long-distance drives feel effortless.
When it comes to comfort, the Enyaq RS doesn’t skimp. The seats, upholstered in sports design leather, are both heated and power-adjustable, with lumbar support and even a massage function for the driver. The panoramic glass roof floods the cabin with natural light, while features like tri-zone climate control and intelligent air conditioning scheduling ensure the cabin remains a nice place to call home.
Powertrain and Charging
At the heart of the Enyaq RS is a powertrain that’s ready to boogie. Skoda has fitted this model with dual electric motors, giving you all-wheel drive and a total output of 250kW. That’s enough to get the RS from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, a reminder that this isn’t just another electric SUV. With 134Nm of torque up front and a hefty 545Nm at the rear, there’s plenty of rear-biased pull and confident overtakes at the helm.
Under the floor sits a robust 82kWh lithium-ion battery, which provides a solid WLTP range of up to 530km. Stick to city driving, and you’ll stretch that up to 657km. Even the more conservative Enyaq Sportline, with its rear-wheel-drive setup, offers up to 561km—making range anxiety a fading concern.
Charging is another area where the Enyaq RS shows off its practicality. Skoda provides both Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables, so you can plug in pretty much anywhere. Need to top up at home? Using a 11kW AC home charger, a full charge from 0 to 100% takes about 8 hours—perfect for overnight charging. But if you’re in a hurry, you’ll want to seek out a 175kW DC fast charger. With that, you can go from 10% to 80% in just 28 minutes, making long road trips much more convenient.
And about that battery—Skoda has thought long-term here. The battery is modular and repairable, meaning if one module fails, you don’t need to replace the entire thing. Just swap the faulty module, and you’re back on the road. It’s covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty, so you’re in good hands. What’s more, independent testing on Skoda’s MEB battery platform shows that even after 100,000km of driving—yes, with frequent 100% charging cycles—the battery retains 93% of its original capacity. A nice statistic to feed your backwards uncle with a penchant for EV conspiracy theories.
On the Road
The Southern Highlands provided the perfect backdrop to put the Enyaq RS through its paces, offering a mix of highway cruising, twisty mountain roads, and a few stretches of less-than-perfect asphalt. Starting in Bundanoon and making my way to Berry via Fitzroy Falls, the Enyaq RS demonstrated just how versatile it is across varying conditions. On the highway, the punchy acceleration was immediately noticeable—Skoda’s dual electric motor setup delivering seamless, instant power that makes overtaking a breeze.
As I headed toward Jamberoo Mountain Road, the rain started to fall, and the twisty, narrow roads became the perfect test for the Enyaq’s all-wheel-drive system and braking capabilities. The RS is equipped with a progressive braking system that works in tandem with regenerative braking, giving you three levels of regen to choose from. While some EVs can feel jerky under heavy regen, the Enyaq RS strikes a good balance, especially in its middle setting. The transition from regen to mechanical braking is smooth and predictable, which is exactly what you want when navigating hairpin turns in the rain.
Despite the challenging conditions, the Enyaq RS never felt out of its depth. Skoda’s electronic stability program and traction control worked quietly in the background, detecting any slip and making small adjustments to ensure the car remained planted. The only minor gripe was the slight hesitation when accelerating out of tighter corners—it takes a moment for the power to fully engage after you’ve started unwinding the wheel. But you’d rather this than torque steering into a bush, so play on Skoda.
Driving back through Robertson, I got the chance to appreciate the Enyaq RS’s adaptive suspension at lower speeds. The roads here are far from perfect, but the suspension soaked up the imperfections without transmitting too much to the cabin. It’s a testament to how well-engineered the RS is—on the one hand, it’s sporty and engaging, but on the other, it’s more than capable of handling the real-world roads most people will be driving on.
Then there’s the driving comfort. Skoda has really nailed the ergonomics in the RS. The seats, supportive yet plush, held me in place during the more spirited sections, and the heated steering wheel and seats were a welcome luxury after a wet, chilly day in the Highlands. As much as the Enyaq RS is about performance, it’s equally a comfortable SUV.
A final note on the wheels: while the 21-inch alloys look fantastic, especially with the anthracite finish, the low-profile tyres might be a bit overkill for day-to-day driving. On smoother roads, they feel fine, but hit a few potholes, and you might start to wish for a bit more sidewall to cushion the ride. Personally, I think 20-inch wheels would be the sweet spot for the RS, which would still retain its sporty look without sacrificing too much in terms of ride comfort.
Verdict
In an increasingly crowded EV market, it can be difficult for any one model to stand out, but the Skoda Enyaq RS manages to do just that. It’s not just about numbers on a spec sheet—though with 250kW of power, a 530km range, and a sub-six-second sprint to 100 km/h, the numbers are certainly impressive. What truly sets the Enyaq RS apart is its ability to deliver an engaging, dynamic driving experience while remaining true to Skoda’s core values of practicality and value for money.
The RS badge has always meant more than just extra horsepower—it’s about a more complete driving experience. And in the Enyaq RS, Skoda has brought that ethos into the electric age. Whether you’re carving through winding roads in the Southern Highlands or cruising on the freeway, the Enyaq RS feels like it’s built to handle whatever Australia’s roads might throw at it. Yet it never forgets the day-to-day practicality that makes Skoda such a compelling brand. With its spacious, well-thought-out interior, advanced tech features like the augmented reality HUD, and a long list of standard safety features, the Enyaq RS is as much a family-friendly SUV as it is a performance machine.
For those who don’t need the full muscle of the RS, the Enyaq Sportline is a compelling alternative. With 210kW on tap and a rear-wheel-drive setup, the Sportline still offers plenty of punch, all while delivering an even longer range of up to 561km on the WLTP cycle. Priced lower than the RS, the Sportline maintains many of the same features that make the RS special, including its striking design, intuitive infotainment system, and impressive build quality. For buyers looking to strike a balance between performance and range, the Sportline offers a sweet spot in the lineup.
Of course, with any EV, there are the usual considerations about charging infrastructure and range anxiety, but the Enyaq’s modular, repairable battery system and Jetcharge partnership for home charging help ease those concerns. Skoda has also ensured that the Enyaq is backed by a robust service network—something not all new EV brands can claim. And with a seven-year unlimited-kilometer warranty, plus an eight-year battery warranty, it’s clear that Skoda is playing the long game with its EV strategy.
The Enyaq RS may not offer the outright lunacy of some high-performance EVs, but that’s not the point. Skoda has never been about excess for the sake of it. What the Enyaq RS delivers is balance: a blend of performance, comfort, practicality, and style that makes it a well-rounded choice in a segment often dominated by flashier names. It’s the kind of car that doesn’t need to shout about its abilities—it just gets on with the job, whether that’s tackling the daily commute, a family road trip, or a weekend drive through the mountains.
In the end, the Enyaq RS, like the Sportline, exemplifies what Skoda does best: offering a vehicle that punches well above its weight in terms of value, performance, and practicality. As Australia continues to embrace electric vehicles, the Enyaq, in both RS and Sportline trims, is perfectly positioned to become a major player in the market. It’s an EV that does everything, and it does it with aplomb.
