The temperature display on the touchscreen shows minus 16 degrees. In the early morning it is crisp and cold, there is a wafer-thin layer of ice on our Skoda Enyaq RS iV and the roads here in Sweden are completely covered in snow. The glittering crystals will be with us all day long as the weather forecast has forecast minus 11 degrees. It’s a harsh winter in the Swedish kingdom and when we set off in the all-electric SUV, it’s still pitch dark.
Our northern European neighbors offer the best conditions for our project. We want to take a close look at the four-wheel drive properties of the Skoda Enyaq RS under extreme conditions. It’s not so much regarding the dwindling range in exceptionally cold weather, but regarding the question of how an electric car actually reacts to ice and snow and how does it behave on particularly slippery roads? After all, the four-wheel drive of a Stromer works on a different principle than vehicles with petrol or diesel engines.
All-wheel drive on demand
In contrast to conventional 4×4 models with combustion engines, an all-wheel drive electric car like the Enyaq does not have a cardan shaft or an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch. The all-wheel drive is generated by a second electric motor on the front axle and the power is distributed via sophisticated control electronics. Nevertheless, there are similarities with other Skoda 4×4 models such as the Octavia, Karoq, Kodiaq, or Superb.
Even with the Enyaq, all four wheels are only driven when the grip on one axle decreases. The all-wheel drive technology works as needed and only switches to 4×4 operation when it is really needed. The so-called all-wheel drive on demand therefore works extremely efficiently and saves energy. In the case of our 220 kW (299 hp) Enyaq RS Strom. Fortunately, there is no sign of the imposed consumption waiver when driving. On the contrary. In conjunction with its two electric motors, but also the spiked tires permitted in Sweden, the sporty RS model literally claws its way into the ice and even takes the fear out of snow-covered sections of the road.
We take an important insight with us right away: The streets here in central Sweden are only rarely strewn and, if at all, only with ash. Despite this, the residents drive their cars, which are also fitted with spikes, as quickly as if they wanted to win the next World Rally Championship. At an increased speed, swim along in the morning traffic and turn off at the next intersection. We continue on a lonely side road, where even more imponderables await.
The freezing cold can’t harm us. The well-contoured sports seats are comfortable and the interior is pleasantly warm. In addition, the steering wheel and seat heating ensure pleasant temperatures. The roads are getting slippery, so we switch to traction mode with a click on the touchscreen. The special driving program ensures maximum grip, in which all four wheels are now permanently driven.
Confident and safe
The Enyaq RS appears to be almost unimpressed by the more severe road conditions, with sometimes heavily icy surfaces. If you drive hard, the heavy weight of the 2.2-ton SUV is noticeable from time to time, but the Enyaq moves calmly even on the narrow and winding sections of the road. The electric Skoda masters its tasks perfectly and the high safety reserves that electric all-wheel drive offers ensure trust. Of course, under the icy conditions, the many consumers that are switched on pull hard on the radius of action of the 82 kWh battery, but the remaining range is still a reasonable 250 kilometers. In the ideal case and under warm temperatures, the Enyaq RS would cover a distance of up to 512 kilometers with a full battery before it has to be plugged in once more.
Next discipline: In order to test the way the all-wheel drive system works, including the control quality, we go to a frozen lake. The surface was prepared by a professional team of instructors and the course is not only peppered with different curve radii, but above all smooth as a game. But even with a brisk pace on the ideal line, including rear-biased drifts, the Enyaq is also very confident here. On the one hand, the electric all-wheel drive acts at lightning speed and is there to help, on the other hand, the system regulates gently and very precisely at the same time. With the Skoda Enyaq RS iV, not only extreme conditions can be mastered safely, but also difficult winter situations in everyday life. (Guido Borck/cen)