Everest, EV3!
It is now on our shortlist.
5teep, the current base model Enyaq, the SE-L has heated seats and wheel and ACC.
We went to see and drive both yesterday.
EV3 may physically not be as tall as Enyaq, but the passenger seats can be adjusted to the same heights off the road.
Unfortunately, despite the Skoda dealer knowing we were interested in SE-L, the demonstrator was a Sportline, which didn't have the 19" wheels the SE-L is shod with. On top of this, it had lowered and stiffened suspension. It had 235/50 R20's on the front and wider 255/45 R20's on the rear.
The net result was that it performed similarly to the MG4 in terms of dealing with potholes, speed bumps and sleeping policemen. Just not quite as bad.
The boot is the big selling point of Enyaq. 585 litres, vs 460 for the EV3 vs 363 for the MG4.
The EV3 also has a 25 litre frunk, which the charging cable can be stored in.
We bought one for the MG4 and have only used it a handful of times (and I think we will get one with the car if we choose an EV3) but it will be easier to lift the bonnet to get at it if needed than getting it out with a full boot.
One of the things I wanted to measure was the interior width between the door cards front and rear.
Now, the MG4 and EV3 are very similarly sized cars.
Enyaq is around 4" wider than EV3, externally, including the mirrors.
But my internal dimensions tell a different story.
My measurements between the door cards just above the arm rests in each car are as follows:
MG4 Front 149.5 Rear 145
Enyaq Front 150 Rear 146
EV3 Front 151 Rear 148
We also sat in the back of Enyaq and EV3 and measured the available space left in the middle, the Enyaq had just 2cm more than the EV3.
There are lights in the rear of both, the EV3 has a touch sensitive button in the overhead panel which you can tap to turn them on if elderly parents are struggling to get their seatbelts on. Tick!
Also a tick for the other camp, Enyaq has a door unlock button in the middle, rather than on the driver's door like the EV3 and MG4. It's daft, I know, it just makes me feel a bit better that I can reach it!
The small screenwash reservoir size of the MG4 has increasingly peed me off. It's amazing how it's tiny, seemingly inconsequential things like that that really niggle!
So I got nerdy and looked up the sizes for these two cars.
Apparently Enyaq is 5.5 litres (which makes sense, as my 2002 Octavia was the same, or just slightly less) and EV3's is 3.78l. And according to the specs, there are warning indicators on both cars for low washer fluid too.
So, either way, it's a big improvement.
We drove the EV3 in a different area. One of the things we wanted to test was driving the car over a really badly made road, as one next to our road is full of bumps and potholes and is a pain every day.
Luckily, there was one near the dealer that was even worse! And the Kia coped very well.
The GT Line model we drove had 19" wheels, compared to the base Air's 17". The car had EV-specific Hankook tyres.
It had a much more compliant ride than the Enyaq, but then, it's probably not so much of a driver's car like the Sportline, less so the MG4.
It also handled potholes and speed bumps much better. My spine didn't complain once!
But I can't imagine chucking the FWD EV3 round the country lanes like the RWD MG4.
I'm no longer a driver, but I think I'll miss that!
Our conclusion is that we would like to try and drive an SE-L Enyaq to see how much difference the non-lowered, non-stiffened suspension with the same size tyres as the Kia we drove makes to the ride quality.
It's just a question of whether any dealers have one as a demonstrator.
The Enyaq being around 4" wider must make it a bit more of a pain to park in car park bays. But the extra boot space is really attractive.
I'd like to think it would fare better in a prang, but do you consider crash safety when you choose a motor?
I mean they are mostly 5 star these days, but some have better side, front and rear impact scores. And, having driven commercial vehicles up to 7.5t, you do feel safer higher up.
Edited for clarity.
