Skoda Elroq Review

Introduction

The Elroq kick-starts Skoda’s second phase of electrification. The first wave brought us the Enyaq three years ago, and now the Czech manufacturer is about to hit us with two follow-ups in the space of a year. This new Elroq will arrive in the UK early next year with an even more compact (and cheaper) Epiq baby SUV launching towards the end of 2025. Exciting times.

Skoda has big plans for the Elroq. It’s set to compete in the biggest sector of the new car market (mid-size SUVs) and has some seriously tough competition in the form of cars like the Kia Niro EV, Hyundai Kona and Volvo EX30. Priced from £31,500 for the entry-level model the Elroq looks to have everything going for it, but will that be enough to convince buyers?

Design and interior 

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.

The rear end has a more familiar look, with design that mirrors the Enyaq in both form and detail. It’s not as radical as the front end, which makes the Elroq a curious mix of old and new. 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.  

Inside, the Elroq 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 clear Digital Cockpit borrowed from from Enyaq, an optional head-up display with Augmented Reality visualisations and a 13-inch central display.

Battery, range and charging 

The entry-level Elroq 50 has a net battery capacity of 52kWh, the Elroq 60 has 59kWh battery, while the Elroq 85 and Elroq 85x variants use a 77kWh pack. The Elroq 85 has an electric range of 360 miles while the entry-level 50 comes with 260 miles of official range.

The Elroq 85 offers DC charging at up to 175kW and the batteries of all four powertrain versions can be charged from 10% to 80% in under 28 minutes. And, 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 a lot of other electric cars, 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.

Boot space and practicality

The Elroq might be more compact than the Enyaq, but it's still a remarkably practical package with 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 litre.

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. Rear seat space is excellent and although leg room isn’t quite as generous as it is in the Enyaq, there’s still considerably more space on offer than you would get in Skoda’s ICE-powered equivalent, the Karoq. 

Performance and driving 

The Elroq uses the hardware from the same box of bits as most VW Group electric cars, although there are some interesting new options. From launch, customers can choose power outputs from 168 to 282bhp - all with rear-wheel drive. An all-wheel drive 85x model is expected to be added to the range later next year with a combined power output of 300bhp. 

As part of Skoda’s launch preamble, we were invited to drive a late prototype which gives us a good idea of what the final production model will be like. Although our test was short, 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. We 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.  

Verdict

It’s too early to make a definitive call on the Elroq, but we’ve seen nothing that leads us to think that it will be anything other than brilliant. I’m glad that Skoda has opted to offer the bigger battery option because many switchers will need the reassurance of having a 350+ mile range. The line-up is surprisingly broad, which is great because it allows Skoda to compete over a number of sectors. If the final version drives as well as the prototype, we could be looking at a new class favourite.