If you want an electric family car, but also want a little sportiness, the Skoda Enyaq Sportline iV 80x could be the ticket. Until the Enyaq RS iV comes along, it will be the most powerful version of the five-seat SUV, and it looks the part too.

In the metal

Since Skoda introduced the Sportline specification to its range of models, it has made some good-looking cars ever more attractive and it's no different with the Enyaq iV. There is a noticeable visual difference between the standard Enyaq iV and this Enyaq Sportline iV, bulking up the electric SUV through painting its lower side sills to match the bodywork. This detail makes the car appear lower to the ground. It's also worth noting that the Enyaq Sportline iV is 15mm lower on the front axle and 10mm lower on the rear.

Bespoke bumpers add to the unique look and, in typical Sportline fashion, this means a gloss black surround for the grille and C-shaped surrounds for the air inlets at the extremities of the bumper, while the rear gets a more pronounced lower section, again in gloss black. Contrasting black is also used for the door mirrors, roof rails and window frames. The Skoda lettering and model badges also have a gloss black finish to round off the theme.

Larger 20-inch wheels give the Enyaq Sportline iV a bold look, and the car looks particularly attractive in this Race Blue colour scheme. There is also the option to upgrade the wheels to 21-inch items, which is what are fitted to our test car pictured here. Another feature that the Sportline version gains is LED Matrix technology for the headlights. These are made up of 24 LEDs that can dynamically alter the high beam light to provide better illumination without dazzling other road users.

Skoda doesn't skimp on the interior either, where there is a three-spoke steering wheel with Sportline badging and a carbon fibre effect on the leading edge of the winged dashboard fascia. A 5.3-inch digital instrument display is standard and there is the option of adding an augmented reality head-up system. It features a large display and works great with navigation as it projects moving arrows to appear in front of the windscreen to help make direction changes easier to understand.

Sports seats in the front are draped in microfibre and leather upholstery with grey piping. They do feel a touch firmer than the standard seats and provide a good degree of lateral support. Just as importantly for some, they look great and finish off the Sportline look of the interior. In the rear, both of the outer seats get a similar treatment and there's plenty of knee- and legroom back there.

Driving it

There is a choice of three powertrain options in the Skoda Enyaq Sportline iV, starting with the 132kW (179hp) 60, featuring a 58kWh battery, then the 150kW (204hp) 80, with a 77kWh battery. Those are both rear-wheel drive, while the 80x we're driving here uses the same 77kWh battery but with a second motor on the front axle that increases total output to 195kW (265hp), making it the fastest and most powerful version to date. That maximum output is available for a maximum of 30 seconds at a time - providing the battery is within specific operating parameters based on ambient temperature and charge capacity. On a practical note, the Enyaq 80x also gets an increase in towing capacity to 1,400kg.

Despite rolling on the largest wheels that Skoda has ever fitted to one of its production models, the Enyaq Sportline iV remains a refined car as soon as it creeps away in near silence. For the most part it is the rear-mounted electric motor that does the driving with its 204hp output and 310Nm of torque, the latter being available instantaneously to allow for precise modulation at slow speeds.

In comparison to the less powerful Enyaq Sportline iV 60, the Enyaq iV 80 and the Sportline iV 80x get more substantial front brake calipers. As the energy recovery rates are high, all versions make do with drum brakes on the rear axle, as the electric motor scrubs off most of the speed in typical driving. It can haul up to a dead stop quite quickly when asked.

There isn't a great deal of weight difference with the fitment of the second electric motor on the front axle. All told the car weighs 88kg more than the rear-wheel-drive 80, so you're unlikely to notice any difference. As the bulk of the car's weight is set low in the vehicle, handling and cornering aren't much of a concern. It does grip the road well, though you are aware of the mass you're shuffling between bends. Skoda equips this version with progressive steering as standard, which alters the ratio depending on how far away from straight ahead you steer, making the car feel relatively agile.

From a standing start, the 80x is noticeably faster accelerating than its rear-wheel-drive siblings, yet does so without fuss. That surplus of torque the second motor provides means the Skoda can add a generous dollop of pace at a moment's notice. The creamy smooth acceleration is one of those things that makes driving electric so enjoyable and the measures that Skoda has taken to make this car so refined on the move are apparent. Laminated glazing helps to suppress wind noise at higher cruising speeds and a clear attention to build quality and material selection demonstrated no squeaks or rattles in our test car.

The overall driving range marginally reduces with the extra motor that requires feeding, but Skoda maintains that upwards of 500 kilometres remains possible. During our time, its detailed onboard trip computer displayed an average consumption of 17.7kWh/100km, though that was over a variety of different situations, including exploring its performance capabilities.

What you get for your money

The Enyaq Sportline iV will be at the upper end of the Skoda price list regardless of which powertrain you choose. Still, it does come with plenty of additional styling features that go some way to justifying the price premium. Skoda already offers a range of interior trim grades, but the Sportline is unique in that regard, including the different seats in the front.

However, for those that want the sporty look without necessarily all of the performance, the Enyaq Sportline iV will be available as '60' and '80' variants, too, at a lower price. Skoda Ireland has yet to announce pricing for the Sportline specification, but this 80x version should comfortably be one of the most expensive versions. When Irish pricing is confirmed, we will update this section and assign a rating.

Summary

The Skoda Enyaq Sportline iV 80x has no problem turning heads and it builds upon what was already a great piece of design. For those seeking as much performance as style, the 80x powertrain makes this the fastest electric Skoda to date. Aside from more power, some will appreciate the addition of an all-wheel-drive variant. This car sets a high bar in the EV world.