We’ve been given a sneak preview and early prototype drive of Skoda’s all new mid-size electric SUV – the Elroq – which will slot below the Enyaq when it goes on sale in early 2025. Here are the eight things we learned:

1. The name means ‘Electric Karoq’: The Elroq name perfectly suggests where this new model fits in the range, as it’s an electric model which will replace the existing mid-size Karoq. It’s around four and a half metres in length, making it a rival to cars like the Nissan Qashqai and Ford’s new Explorer and smaller than the existing Enyaq. There will also be the Škoda Epiq appearing late in 2025, which will be a size smaller, replacing the Kamiq. 

2.  It has a whole new look: You might not be able to see much underneath the disguise of the car in the pictures, but the Elroq is the first Skoda to feature the company’s new look, called Modern Solid. This might sound like something teenagers say to each other when they bump fists, but it’s a departure from the current Skoda style. At the front, the traditional grille gives way to the ‘Tech-Deck Face’ with a cleaner look and Skoda lettering to replace the badge.

There are also aerodynamically optimised wheels and a wheel gap reducer, which extends the wheel arch cladding to enhance airflow. Wheel sizes range from 19 to 21 inches.  

3. The boot is big and has clever bits: There’s 470 litres of space with the seats up and 1,580 litres when they are down. That beats the Ford Explorer’s 445 but is beaten by the Kia EV3’s 485.
There are some typical Skoda clever touches too, such as an optional storage net for a charging cable under the parcel shelf. It also has a QR code in the boot, which lead to interactive video instructions on how to use the adjustable parcel shelf or nets.

4. There are lots of surprisingly powerful motors: The Elroq uses the hardware from the same box of bits as most VW Group electric cars, although there are some interesting new options. You can choose power outputs from, 170 HP to 300 HP and rear or four-wheel drive. The The rear-wheel-drive Elroq 85 sounds like fun as it has a peak output of 285 HP. The Elroq 85x includes an additional electric motor on the front axle, offering all-wheel drive and 300 HP. 

5. It has a range of up to 348 miles: The entry-level Elroq 50 has a gross battery capacity of 55 kWh, the Elroq 60 has 63kWh battery, while the Elroq 85 and Elroq 85x variants use a 82kWh pack. The Elroq 85 has an electric range of more than 348 miles.

6. They charge fast, and have a special button to help speed it up: The Elroq 85 and Elroq 85x offer DC charging at up to 175 kW. The batteries of all four powertrain versions can be charged from 10% to 80% in under 28 minutes. 

One clever bit – to make sure you can top up as quickly as possible, the Elroq has a manual battery pre-conditioning function. This preheats the battery in preparation for DC charging in low temperatures, optimising charging speed. But unlike all the other electric cars I’ve tried you don’t have to prompt the car to do it by entering the charging station in the navigation – you can just do by pressing this button. That means you can use your phone’s navigation instead. 

7. It gets the best of the VW bits, without the stuff we don’t like: Somehow Skoda has managed to avoid being lumbered with the hated haptics and cheap switches which are used in cars such as the ID.4 and even Ford’s new Explorer. Like the Enyaq, the Elroq has four proper switches for the windows, a row of buttons for important functions and a chunky knob for gear selection. There’s also a 5-inch Digital Cockpit borrowed from from Enyaq, an optional head-up display with Augmented Reality visualisations and a 13 inch central display.

8. It drives really well: Yes, Skoda let us have a short stint behind the wheel in the early prototype. It was enough for us to ascertain that it is tuned for comfort rather than sportiness, which comes as a welcome relief for anyone worried about the state of the UK’s roads. Even on 20-inch wheels the Elroq has a cosseting ride. 

The trade off is a some body roll in the bends, but that’s unlikely to concern many family SUV drivers. 

I tried the 85 version and it had all the power you could need, although the brake and throttle control software needed a bit of fine tuning on the car I drove as it was inconsistent, making it difficult to drive smoothly.