NEW SKODA ENYAQ COUPE

Having previously enjoyed a week in an Enyaq 80 SUV, it was almost inevitable that we’d be entertaining a swoopier, more stylised version before too long. And right on cue, here is the Enyaq Coupe – or Coupe Sportline Max 80 iV to give it its full name – with a Harbour Bridge roofline and glasshouse that mimic those of certain other Volkswagen Group e-products, and a profile that is not dissimilar from the ubiquitous Model Y.

Our tester certainly stood out with its appealing shape and Sportline detailing but also for its brash colour scheme, making it a beacon in crowded summer car parks. Escaping the crowds and returning to the cool Coupe always felt like retreating to an oasis of calm. Much credit goes to the Sportline Max spec sheet that includes some choice standard features (and contributes to the premium price, of course). Suede seats that major on comfort and support never got uncomfortably hot in peak sunshine and the driver’s seat gets a massage function. Adaptive suspension allows you to tune the ride and sporting feel according to your driving mood and can make the big, respectably brisk Coupe feel quite dynamic on the right road. It’s rear-driven and, for the record, features staggered rubber, with broader 255/45 boots at the rear.

At the quieter end of the driving scale, a 360-degree camera and Parking Assistant help with close-quarters work, and a head-up display makes the tiny dash almost redundant. The jury’s out on both the illuminated front panel, or Crystal Face, and the panoramic glass roof which admits light into an already airy cabin but is not a clever idea on a hot day. In fact, the glass roof became hot like an oven element in the January sun and put the air-con system under pressure at times.

Despite the sloping coupe roofline, occupant space is first-rate up front and in the rear, and there’s barely any compromise with load space totalling 570L with the rear seats in place, plus a handy variable cargo floor. The on-board tech is also quite user-friendly despite many functions migrating to the large 13in central touchscreen. These screens are never all that much fun if you’re right-handed or not long-limbed. Voice activation cannot be far away to make life easier for drivers and improve on-the-move safety?

Overall, another impressive addition to the Skoda line-up that has the range, practicality and point of difference to win over design-conscious buyers.