Skoda Elroq Review

The Skoda Elroq is the brand's second electric SUV, after the larger Enyaq that sits above it in the Skoda range. The Elroq occupies a space in the Skoda line-up that, in petrol form, is filled by the Karoq. It’s designed to pull that old Skoda trick of providing better-than-average space for a lower-than-average price, but does it hit the mark? Read our in-depth Skoda Elroq review to find out…

The Elroq was the first car in Skoda's range to feature the firm's latest design language, called ‘Modern Solid’, although this language has been retro-fitted to other Skoda models since. It’s designed to give the car a more rugged, contemporary look. This includes a split headlight design at the front, along with what Skoda calls a 'Tech-Deck Face' that cloaks the various driver assistance sensors on the front end for a cleaner look. 

Proportionally, the Skoda Elroq is a bit shorter than the Enyaq - 161mm to be precise - but the wheelbase is pretty much the same as the Enyaq. Which is no surprise when you discover that the Elroq shares the same underpinnings as its bigger brother, along with a host of other models from Volkswagen, Audi, and Cupra, while those considering a Ford Explorer or Capri might be interested to know that it’s pretty much the same car underneath as well.

The Elroq was initially launched with the choice of two batteries, a 55kWh one and a larger capacity 84kWh battery (called 85), but the 232-mile 55kWh battery has since been replaced by a larger 61kWh battery (labelled 60). This has an official range of up to 279 miles, while the 84kWh battery sees the Elroq capable of travelling up to 370 miles between charges officially. The standalone vRS model at the top of the range has its own 82kWh battery, giving it a range of up to 344 miles. We mention the vRS in this review, but we have written a separate review for that version so that we can concentrate more on the versions most people will actually buy here.

Inside, the Skoda Elroq has a spacious and simple interior with clean lines heavily inspired by the Enyaq. The larger car's digital driver display and 13.0-inch infotainment screen have also been inherited, with similar results, the nitty-gritty of which we’ll get to in a while. The materials have a sustainable focus, with recycled fabric aplenty.

The Skoda Elroq's boot capacity is a spacious 470 litres, and while 115 litres down on the Enyaq, it should provide enough space for a lot of families. Not only that, but you'll find some 48 litres of storage space dotted around the interior, while it also comes with plenty of what Skoda calls 'Simply Clever' features, including a compact umbrella tucked away in the driver's door.

Unlike with some other manufacturers, you can happily mix and match what trim and battery option you want with your Elroq, so you can balance price, features and range as your needs dictate. 

The Elroq range starts with SE L, followed by Edition and Sportline trims, topping out with the vRS. Even the SE L trim is comprehensively equipped, with things like dual-zone climate control, front- and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, adaptive cruise control and heated front seats all coming as standard. 

We don’t think you’ll feel short-changed with the SE L, but for a little more, the Edition trim brings a few more luxuries, including keyless entry and wireless phone charging and is probably the best-balanced trim. That said, we wouldn’t judge you if you were tempted by the snazzier-looking Elroq Sportline with its sharper looks, front sports seats and adaptive matrix LED headlights that don’t dazzle oncoming drivers when on full beam. It’s pricey, though, and the top-of-the-range Elroq vRS is even more.

The sensible choice in our book, then, is an Elroq 85 Edition with the larger 84kWh battery, but if you’re not planning on covering long trips on a regular basis, then the Elroq Sportline 60 won’t disappoint, and it comes in quite a bit cheaper.

All Skoda Elroqs apart from the vRS are entitled to a £1,500 discount thanks to the Government's Electric Car Grant (ECG). That takes the price of the entry-level Elroq SE L 60 down from £33,970 on-the-road to £32,470.

With the ECG factored in, the Edition 60 costs you £33,370, with the Sportline 60 coming in at £36,320. Depending on the trim level, you’ll be paying about a £4,000 premium for the 85, with its larger battery and extra power. 

In a crowded sector, the Elroq is still good value against its closest competitors. Though the Kia EV3 and (smaller) Volvo EX30 undercuts the starting price of the Elroq, it’s not by much. It comes in at about the same price as the Renault Scenic E-Tech and quite a bit less than the Ford Explorer.

If you're in the market for a compact electric SUV, you're spoilt for choice at the moment. There's the Kia EV3 for starters, which is perhaps the closest rival to the Skoda Elroq. Then there's the closely related Ford Explorer, while you should also take a look at the Renault Scenic E-Tech. That's not forgetting the Jeep Avenger and Volvo EX30. Need something a little larger? Then the obvious choice is the Skoda Enyaq.

The Skoda Elroq's cabin looks smart and modern, without looking too fussy. You'll find it easy to get comfy thanks to the nicely designed seats, but don't expect to sit that high up like you do in some SUVs. 

You could be forgiven for thinking that the tempting price of the Skoda Elroq might mean that costs have been cut somewhere, but you won’t see that in the interior. It feels every bit as plush as a much-pricer Audi Q4 e-tron when you sit in the cabin, with a smart and sophisticated design. You'll find plenty of soft-touch surfaces gracing the Elroq's interior, while it'll stand up to the rigours of family life: you won’t find any cheap, flimsy plastics here. 

If you’re comparing the Elroq to the Enyaq, the interior design and space are virtually identical, but the most obvious difference between the two is the luggage capacity. The Skoda Elroq has 470 litres of boot space, compared to the Enyaq's 585 litres. 

When that’s compared to rivals, the Elroq’s boot space is exactly the same as the Ford Explorer's, while it's a touch more than the Kia EV3 and significantly more than the Volvo EX30, Jeep Avenger and MINI Aceman. You'll have to look at something like a Renault Scenic E-Tech if you want more space in the boot for similar money.

It's not just about the overall space, though: Skoda's applied some of its famous 'Simply Clever' thinking to the Elroq's boot. You'll find a neat storage net for the charging cable, while the parcel shelf can be positioned lower down in the boot to act as a shelf: ideal if you want to keep shopping separate from muddy boots, for example. As well as that, there are some useful storage shelves on either side, and some underfloor storage.

Space for people hasn't been compromised, either. If you're sitting up front, you'll have plenty of room to get comfy, while you'll have plenty of storage space to stash stuff around the floating central console and the large door bins. Passengers in the back aren't short-changed, either - even if you're over six feet tall and you have a person of similar stature in front of you, you’ll still have a good amount of headroom and legroom.

The Skoda Elroq measures 4,488mm long, making it only 161mm shorter than the Enyaq. It's exactly the same width at 2,148mm (including mirrors). In terms of height, it depends on trim level: the SE L and Edition are 1,625mm tall, the SportLine is 1,626mm and the vRS is 1618mm, not that you’ll notice such tiny differences.

All versions of the Elroq vRS use the same basic infotainment system, which brings together wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, Bluetooth, voice control, and native sat-nav. On top of that, the Edition and SportLine versions also get wireless phone charging, while the vRS adds an upgraded Canton sound system, and a head-up display.

The system is centred around a large 13.0-inch central touchscreen backed up by a smaller 5.0-inch digital driver display. The touchscreen looks good, with graphics that are crisp and quick, and taps and swipes are met with rapid and reliable responses.

However, like a lot of cars these days, the touchscreen is required to operate too many of the car’s basic functions, including the climate control. This makes the screen look cluttered, despite its generous size, and actually operating those functions is more difficult, more time-consuming, and more distracting than it would be if they were operated with simple buttons and knobs.

Rather than the normal black-on-black interior finishes you get in most cars, the Elroq can be specified with a number of interior themes, known as ‘Design Selections’. The standard treatment for SE L and Edition cars is called 'Loft' and uses anthracite grey fabric on the seats and dashboard, complemented by moss green contrast stitching. It looks sober but very smart. 

As an optional extra, there's the choice of either 'Lodge' or 'Suite' finishes. 'Lodge' uses black and light grey materials, with a dash of colour provided by orange seatbelts and stitching. 'Suite' is the most sophisticated environment of the three, with a mix of leather and artificial leather, along with cognac brown stitching. 

SportLine and vRS version both have their own unique interior styling with racier details, some carbon-effect elements and more heavily bolstered sports seats finished in a combination of microfleece and artificial leather.

A lot of the materials used in the Skoda Elroq are sustainable as well. For instance, the Lodge interior uses a fabric called Technofil: 75% is made from recycled nylon waste, such as fishing nets, fabric scraps and other things that would otherwise go into landfill. Skoda reckons that around 40kg of the interior is produced from sustainable materials.

Skoda initially launched the Elroq with three mainstream battery choices, but the entry-level 55kWh battery (labelled '50') has since been dropped, leaving a 63kWh unit called '60' and a larger 84kWh battery that's badged '85'. 

Both remaining battery configurations drive the rear wheels. Performance-wise, the Elroq 60 has 204PS and an 8.2-second acceleration time from 0-60mph, while the motor in the Elroq 85 gives the car a bit more of a shove, with 286PS on tap, allowing the car to hit 60mph from a standstill in 6.4 seconds. 

From behind the wheel, the Elroq 60 feels just about quick enough for most people's needs, with the keen off-the-mark acceleration that characterises EV, although you will feel the level of acceleration tail off noticeably when you're already going at a decent speed. We think that the majority of buyers would be prepared to pay the extra for the 85, because not only does it feel quite a bit more rapid, but it makes life easier when overtaking or joining motorways, and the on-the-move acceleration doesn’t feel as laboured, either.

The standalone vRS version has a 340PS dual-motor powertrain for four-wheel drive, and it’s capable of 0-60mph in 5.2 seconds, but we describe its performance in more detail in our dedicated Elroq vRS review. That version is powered by an 82kWh battery.

Opt for the Skoda Elroq 60 with its 61kWh battery and you can officially expect to be able to travel up to 279 miles (in SE L and Edition trims, or 274 miles in the SportLine due to its bigger wheels).

The Skoda Elroq 85 has an official range of up to 370 miles (364 miles in the SportLine), which is great if you're likely to need to do regular long journeys or just don't want the stress of range anxiety every time you go further than a trip into town.

These figures aren’t class-leading, perhaps, but they are hugely competitive with equivalent versions of the best rivals including the Kia EV3, MINI Aceman and Volvo EX30.

The slightly smaller battery in the vRS version, plus its all-wheel drive and extra performance, cuts the official range down to 344 miles.

As with any electric car, these figures should act merely as a rough guide. What kind of range you get from driving the Skoda Elroq in real-world conditions will depend on a number of factors, including driving style, the nature of your journey and weather. Speaking of which, it's a shame that no version of the Elroq comes with a heat pump fitted as standard, which helps preserve range in colder conditions. It's available as an optional extra, but many rivals have one as standard.

The Elroq is a comfortable and easy car to drive, which is precisely what it should be. The regular suspension provides a really good balance of abilities, with enough compliance to effectively isolate its occupants from the effects of a scruffy road surface, while also providing enough control that the body doesn’t lean over too much in corners or bounce around on undulating roads. Whether you’re pottering through town, cruising along a motorway or tackling a cross-country A-road, the Elroq feels comfortable, settled and stable at all times.

Okay, granted, you'd probably have more fun in a MINI Aceman: the Elroq’s handling is capable rather than playful, and the steering lacks feel (although to be fair, it is responsive and nicely weighted, while the tight turning circle really helps with manoeuvring). We really don’t see that as a criticism, though, as most family car buyers will favour comfort over dynamism any day.

Skoda's Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) adaptive suspension is offered as an optional extra on SportLine trim (and is standard on the vRS), and allows you to firm up or soften off the suspension according to the settings you select. It offers no fewer than 15 levels of variation, and you can really feel them, but the standard suspension is so good that we really can’t see the point in spending the extra.

Being an EV, the Elroq is already off to a good start when it comes to refinement, and the powertrain is predictably quiet. There’s not much wind noise at motorway speeds, either, and while there’s a bit more in the way of road noise, it's still an impressively quiet way to travel.

Even the entry-level SE L car is comprehensively specced when it comes to standard safety kit. You naturally get front and side airbags, as well as curtain airbags, while there's lane assist and blind spot detection. You've also got a forward collision warning that comes with an automatic braking reaction to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. All Elroqs get an advanced driver attention and drowsiness monitor, while adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist is also standard. You also get front- and rear parking sensors and a rear parking camera across the range as well. 

For families with young children, the Skoda Elroq comes with two Isofix fastenings on the outboard rear seats, while there's also another fastening on the front passenger seat.

The Edition trim also benefits from an uprated lane keeping system that has semi-automatic vehicle control that steps in in an emergency. SportLine and vRS cars add side airbags for the rear seats to the roster.

More good news: the Skoda Elroq has been crash tested by Euro NCAP and achieved a full five-star rating.

As with all EVs, charging at home is going to be the most cost-effective way of putting electricity into your Elroq. You’ll want to get a home wallbox charger fitted (if you rely on a regular domestic three-pin socket, it'll days for a charge, rather than hours), most of which have an output of around 7kW. Hooked up to one of those, the 60 will take around 10 hours to take on a full charge, while the 85 or vRS will take more like 13 hours.

The cost of that charge will vary depending on your tariff. If you pay the UK’s national average price for your domestic electricity, then a full charge of the 60 will cost around £16, while 'brimming' the 85 or vRS will be more like £22. However, most EV owners get themselves on a variable tariff that allows them to charge overnight on drastically discounted off-peak power, and that way, you’ll likely cut your costs by more than half.

Bear in mind that this will be flipped on its head whenever you need to use a DC public rapid charger: the power that comes out of these is very expensive indeed, and you’ll easily be paying double the figures quoted earlier, and probably more. That’s the price of convenience.

All versions of the Skoda Elroq will support DC fast charging, although the maximum rate differs. The Elroq 85 can charge at up to 175kW, while the 60 can charge at up to 145kW. Despite the variation, all versions can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes.

The Skoda Elroq comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty as standard, which is the bare minimum you should expect on any new car these days, especially in a marketplace where it’s becoming increasingly common for five-, seven-, and even ten years of cover to be provided.

However, you do have the option to extend your coverage up to five years or 100,000 miles if you wish for an additional cost. The Elroq's battery is warranted for up to eight years or 100,000 miles. The Skoda Elroq requires routine servicing every two years.

If you buy an Elroq 60, then you’ll be paying either a group 23 or 24 insurance premium, depending on the trim level of your car. Plump for the 85, and it’ll be either group 30 or 31. Predictably, the vRS will be the priciest version to insure at group 36. These aren’t low classifications, but they are eminently sensible compared with the competition.

All electric cars are now liable for Vehicle Excise Duty, so all versions of the Elroq, in their standard form, will currently cost you £200 per year to tax.

With most versions, it’s impossible to spec an Elroq up to cost more than £50,000, the point at which EVs become liable for higher-rate tax, which adds another £440 per year to your tax bill between years two and six of the car’s life. With cars at the very top of the Elroq range, it’s still very unlikely that you’ll add enough optional extras - of which there are loads, by the way - to tip it over that all-important price threshold, but it is technically possible.