While i love the looks of the Enyaq, i’m not sure i’m on board with charging for virtually everything that’s somewhat standard even in lower trims in other cars.
If you go by purely objective standards, it’s a bit of a no-brainer. If you don’t need a vast boot, the Megane E-Tech beats all of them in terms of value. I’ve test driven it, and it’s genuinely a cracking car, made me eat my words poking fun at it for being a Renault.
If you do need a big car, out of the three, the Enyaq is the worst to go for. There’s just no way to get the Enyaq “desirable” in terms of spec without spending way too much money for a leasing car. Another thing to consider, since it’s been brought up: heat pumps are nonsense. Objectively. To put it in numbers, a car with heat pump will lose around 10% less range in cold weather compared to one that doesn’t have one. So if your car loses 50 miles of range in the cold (random number) – a car with a heat pump will lose around 45 miles. So in the example given by @MFillingham the range dropped from 230 to 190ish miles – with a heat pump, that would drop from 230 to 195ish miles (ish). For one thousand pounds. You’ll not make that money back in savings.
If the car comes as standard with a heat pump, sure. Don’t pay money for it though, it’s absolutely nonsensical. The slightly increased range (in winter only, might i add) just doesn’t make up for the price. Maybe in countries that are cold (and by cold, i don’t mean 5 degrees C, i mean -10 degrees C) for at least 5-6 months, but certainly not in the UK.
In the end, it’s between the Ariya and the ID5, if you look at it objectively. I personally think that neither is good looking (the one category that for me, the Enyaq wins easily if you spec slightly bigger wheels), but the interior appears to be nicer in the Ariya. Haven’t sat in it though, i can only compare pictures. The ID5, much like all other ID cars, is a bit.. sterile on the inside.
In terms of range, the ID5 is a no brainer. Even if you can’t drive 300 miles straight, having more range = better, in any situation. Even if you don’t particularly need it genuinely. It’s also better equipped than the Ariya, despite some people for some reason arguing otherwise – while being cheaper.
Downsides of the ID5 quite obviously are the (sterile) interior, and for me personally, the lack of oomph. 170hp isn’t great for a car that size/weight, 10.5 seconds to 60 is slow by any measure.
Considering it’s also a grand cheaper than the Ariya, to me personally, it would be an obvious choice. For the Matrix LEDs on the ID5 alone, which you can’t even spec optionally on the Ariya (and which are a vast improvement when you live rural like we do). On top of that, if you’re willing to spend Ariya money, you could get the ID5 with the optional Infotainment Package Plus (AP + optional package is £300 more than the AP on the Ariya) – which then adds the very desirable augmented reality sat nav, amongst a few other things like sound system, the big sat nav etc (basically what you’ve experienced in the GTX).
That all said: i’d still go for a Megane if your circumstances (disabilities etc) allow it. The suspension in the Megane is superior to pretty much anything electric south of at least £70.000+. At the very least, i’d test drive it.
Prior: SEAT Ateca Xcellence Lux 1.5 TSI DSG MY19, VW Golf GTE PHEV DSG MY23
Current: Hyundai Ioniq 6 Ultimate
Next: we'll see what's available in 2028.