Škoda ENYAQ 85x Sportline Estate Test Drive Review

Anthony Hibbs took a test drive of the new Škoda ENYAQ 85x Sportline Estate 82kWh.

Anthony was contacted by Barlow Motors Škoda, Newcastle-under-Lyme in under 1 hour of making his initial enquiry and took his test drive on 19th July 2025.

Please provide an OVERALL RATING for the electric car

Rate the electric car on its exterior

What did you like/dislike like about the exterior?

The ENYAQ makes for a good-looking estate car. No one is going to get excited spotting one but the styling is very nice on close inspection. The Sportline has body colour sills and lower doors, the gloss black detailing on the front wings, mirrors and lower rear bumper look good with any of the (limited) colour options. I tested a graphite grey model.

Rear tinted windows look right on an estate, as do the black roof rails. It’s a fine line between stylish and funereal and Škoda got it just right with this car, in my opinion. The front is radically different from the usual bold distinctive grille which has dominated this brand’s models. This is now at the bottom, still there, still recognisably Škoda but so much more discrete. DLR/headlamp setup looks up-to-date too.

Rate the electric car on its interior

What did you like/dislike like about the interior?

The Sportline is very, well, black! Who knew it was possible to have so many black finishes in one vehicle? Having driven a base model with more colour, the black detracts from what is quite a stylish interior. The sports seats are comfortable with memory and a massage function no less on the driver’s seat.

Seat fabric is awful. Not sure whether it’s leather, fake leather or alcantara but it’s a dust and bit magnet. Invest in a clothes brush if you buy one of these. The front is a pleasant place to be but the rear is positively limousine-esque. It certainly got grandson approval with its USB-C ports, rear zone climate control, tinted glass and pull up blinds. Plenty of pocket space in the seat backs too. A real passenger’s car!

Rate the electric car for its tech features

What did you like/dislike about the tech features?

There are just too many features, all buried in menus and sub-menus. Finding simple functions is a challenge. This is a car which would keep you entertained for a week trying to find and set it up to your liking. Best features for me are the driver’s display and its heads up counterpart, the superb 3-zone climate control and the excellent proximity and speed warning.

The voice recognition and sat nav were hopeless but thank goodness for wireless Apple CarPlay. The sound system is good but in two days I never discovered how to turn the radio off, constantly having to turn it down. A car that’s short of nothing, if you can find it of course.

Rate the electric car for how it drives

What did you like/dislike like about how it drove?

I can usually get into most cars and settle in within a few miles, not the ENYAQ. After a day of snatchy pull offs and tinkering with settings I found B setting, ECO mode and with Auto Hold off, the only way I could drive this car smoothly.

The high driving position is nice. I loved the perforated leather steering wheel, so tactile. The suspension is what makes this car. I think it’s a sports suspension on the 85x but it’s the best car I’ve driven on my local, 3rd world roads. Road noise is however, disappointing. I couldn’t get over the ‘big car’ feeling when manoeuvring. Reversing using the awfully distorted image from the camera was no fun but the 360° birds eye view helped a little. Definitely not the best EV I’ve driven.