Kia EV3 v Skoda Elroq: does Korea or the Czech Republic make the better electric SUV?

The electric SUV market is booming right now, because few body styles have the same blend of practicality, visibility and comfort that these tall cars with small footprints offer. The Kia EV3 shocked us when it was launched thanks to its outrageous, futuristic design.

Skoda’s piece of the action comes in the form of the Elroq, which in essence is a shortened version of the Enyaq – a very capable car. By making the Elroq a bit easier to park and a good chunk cheaper to buy than its bigger sibling, it makes for an even better buy.

They’re both similarly priced, spacious inside and very comfortable, but where the Skoda flies under-the-radar the EV3 is a much bolder, in-your-face proposition. Choosing between them can be tough, so I tested them side by side to give a definitive answer.

Kia EV3 v Skoda Elroq: interior, practicality and technology

While they look similarly-sized from a distance, the Elroq is a touch longer and wider than the EV3, but the Kia’s boxy silhouette means it feels just as spacious inside. Okay so its wide-open cabin feels a bit odd and less car-like than the Skoda, but let’s take a closer look at the interiors.

Up front you feel far more cocooned in Skoda, with its less upright pillars and swoopy dashboard that steps out towards you in the middle, below the infotainment screen. This joins up to the long centre console, which is the polar opposite of the EV3, where you have a stubby armrest and storage combo between the seats, then a cavernous space to the arrow-straight dashboard with its widescreen infotainment/driver display combo on top.

Material quality feels higher in the Elroq, with (mostly) trimmed surfaces in leatherette or fabric on the leading dashboard edge and centre console, where the EV3 has scratchy plastics on the door cards – and there’s a lot of glare from the Kia’s plastic dashboard on a sunny day.

There’s more than enough space in the back of both cars for tall adults to get comfortable, though both cars are a bit of a squeeze for three-abreast seating. The Elroq has soft seatbacks with clever pockets on them while the EV3 has plastic shells, which aren’t as easy on the knee or pleasant to look at.

While there’s only 10 litres in it for boot space (in the Skoda’s favour), versatility is where the Elroq runs away with extra points here. You get clever shelves by the rear wheel arches, a net under the parcel shelf for holding cables, a removable hammock to split the boot in two and even a built-in ice scraper.

Kia EV3 v Skoda Elroq: driving and motors

Both cars offer a range of battery and motor combinations, though the two you see here are the entry-level Kia EV3 Air and top-spec Skoda Elroq Sportline – hence the swanky red seatbelts.

It’s not an unfair comparison though, because we’ve spent a lot of time with various trim levels of both cars – and both of these were equipped with the biggest batteries on offer: 81kWh for the EV3 and 77kWh for the Elroq, meaning a range of 375 miles and 355 miles, respectively.

They’re both very comfortable cars to potter around in, soaking up lumps and bumps with no fuss – especially when equipped with the smallest wheels on offer, as the Kia EV3 proudly wore. In this case the EV3 was a touch better at absorbing blows, but the Elroq fills you with a smidge more confidence when you’re driving quickly on a country lane – though neither are fun to drive.

You’ll have a more peaceful motorway journey in the Skoda, because there’s a bit less wind noise on account of its slipperier shape and the 282hp that the big battery model has, as opposed to the EV3’s 201hp.

Kia EV3 v Skoda Elroq: prices and verdict

The Elroq kicks off at under £32,000 for the entry-level SE 50 trim level, though you get a small battery and only 233 miles of range for that. The small-battery EV3 Air offers 270 miles, but it starts at £33,000. Both models are similarly equipped, though the Kia has a more advanced adaptive cruise control system and front parking sensors.

You’ll pay £37,000 for the Elroq in long-range SE L 85 trim; more than the £36,000 EV3 Air with the big battery fitted, and the standard equipment is very similar at that point, too.

If you’re feeling flush, the Elroq Sportline 85 can be yours for around £41,600, while the equivalent EV3 GT-Line S costs £43,000 but comes as standard with a heat pump – which you’ll need to fork over an extra £1,100 for in the Skoda.

Kia EV3 vs Škoda Elroq – Powertrain Comparison

Model / Variant	Battery Size (kWh)	Horsepower (hp)	0–62 mph	WLTP Range
Kia EV3 Standard	58.3	201	7.5 sec	Up to 255 mi
Kia EV3 Long Range	81.4	201	7.7 sec	Up to 373 mi
Škoda Elroq 50	55	170	9.0 sec	Up to 233 mi
Škoda Elroq 60	63	204	8.0 sec	Up to 266 mi
Škoda Elroq 85	82	286	6.6 sec	Up to 360 mi

The truth is that both models are very similarly priced from the main dealer, but on Carwow you can save over £3,400 on a Skoda Elroq – while Kia EV3 deals aren’t as competitive at around £2,500 off. Combined with Skoda’s better performance in the 2025 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, classier looks in my eyes and smarter cabin, it’s the better buy.

Though if you like the look of a boxier car with more road presence – and a stellar seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty compared to the Skoda’s three-year, 60,000-mile affair, you can’t go wrong with the EV3. My money is still on the Elroq, though.

How we tested these cars

Our expert reviews team doesn’t test in half measures. Rather than a short drive and quick poke around of the cars we review, we live with them for a week or more, using them for commuting, the school run, motorway drives and country lane blasts to really see how they fare with everyday life.

When we test cars side-to-side, we look at details such as how wide the doors open, how big the boot lip is and how adjustable the seats are – in addition to how they handle our test route: a mix of small villages, motorway stretches, car parks and twisty, flowing country lanes.

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*Savings are made up of the maximum dealer discount off RRP – subject to dealership, location and trim. Prices correct at the time of writing.