Skoda Elroq Review & Prices

Skoda is no stranger to the medium-sized SUV game, having turned out some rather excellent examples of the breed since the Yeti. The new Elroq takes Skoda into mid-size electric SUV territory for the first time though, using the larger Enyaq as a starting point.

And much like comparing an iPod Nano to an original iPod, the Elroq takes the Enyaq recipe and wraps it up in a smaller package. It’s an alternative to the Kia EV3, Renault Scenic E-Tech and Peugeot E-3008 - but it’s nowhere near as funky to look at.

Because while those cars have head-turning designs, the Elroq looks rather plain. A first for Skoda, the Elroq features slim headlights which join up to a small, blanked off ‘grille’ called the Tech Deck.

It hides all of the car’s cameras and sensors leaving the front end looking neat. That plus the sharp lines and creases around the Elroq are nice touches, but there’s just nothing that really stands out about it.

Skoda Elroq: electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 232-360 miles
Efficiency: 4.0mi/kWh
Battery size: 55kWh - 82kWh
Max charge speed: 175kW
Charge time AC: 7hrs 33 - 12hrs (0-100%, 7.2kW)
Charge time DC: 25 - 28mins (10-80%, 128kW)
Charge port location: Rear right
Power outputs: 170hp, 204hp, 286hp

Inside, the Elroq is much the same as the Enyaq, but that’s a good thing. The dashboard is sleek and clutter-free, with a design that swoops low in the middle towards the centre console, below the large infotainment display. You can spec the main dashboard surface in a funky denim-esque fabric or leatherette in the pricier models, though the fabric is more fun.

Comfy seats with a good driving position, lots of adjustability and a clear driver display go a long way to justifying Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ catchphrase, as do the adjustable and removable storage solutions such as cup holders, umbrellas in the front doors and even the standard-fit ice scraper.

And though it’s smaller than the Enyaq, the Elroq is still a very practical proposition. It may not have a front boot such as the Tesla Model Y or as much boot space as the Peugeot E-3008, but the 470-litre boot is plenty big enough for a family’s day-to-day life - and the Elroq is cheaper to buy. There’s space below the boot floor to hold smaller items out of view, too.

You can choose from three battery options for the Elroq, but they’re spec-dependent. Entry level ‘50’ cars have a 55kWh battery capacity and an official range of 230 miles. There’s also a ‘60’ mid-range model, but Edition and Sportline cars can be had with an 82kWh battery and 355 miles of range.

On the road the soft suspension and big tyres combine to give the Elroq a comfortable, pillowy ride. It’s quiet and comfortable over broken roads, but bigger bumps can unsettle the car and leave you wallowing until the suspension regains its composure. Light steering is a breeze when parking and navigating tight roads.

Motorways are much the same, generally very comfortable and only feeling floaty over big dips. Twisty roads aren’t much fun and the Elroq doesn’t feel very grippy in faster corners, with the light steering feeling vague. Fortunately there’s not too much body lean, but country lanes are best taken at a moderate pace.

It’s a solid all-rounder though, and it’s definitely worth considering as a family car. You can find some great Skoda Elroq deals here on Carwow, as well as Elroq lease deals. Browse used Elroq deals, or other used Skoda models if you want to check out the range. Carwow can even help you sell your car when the time comes.

Skoda has given the Elroq an impressively low starting price, undercutting almost every electric car of this size including the Kia Niro EV, Peugeot E-3008, Renault Scenic and even the much smaller Volkswagen ID3.

Trim levels start at SE, which comes with the smallest battery pack. SE L models get more kit and the 60 battery pack, while you’ll have to step up to Edition trim for the biggest 85 battery pack with its 360-mile range. It’s notably more expensive with the large battery, but it’s still tremendous value for a car of this size and with so much standard kit.

SE trim comes with LED lights, 19-inch wheels, artificial leather upholstery and single-zone climate control, while stepping up to SE L nets you a heated steering wheel and front seats, built-in sat-nav, dual-zone climate control and selectable driving modes. Edition trim adds a different alloy wheel design and dark chrome trim on the outside, plus wireless phone charging, keyless entry and the ‘Travel Assist Plus’ suite of assisted driving features.

Sportline, meanwhile, is the Elroq’s flagship trim level with a microsuede interior trim, carbon inserts, sports seats and a three-spoke wheel. It also gets 20-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights and gloss black exterior trims.

It’s very comfortable and smooths out most bumpy roads, but the Elroq is a tad unsettled by bigger dips in the road

In town

Electric cars and city driving go hand in hand, what with their silent motors and lack of gearshift making for hassle-free commuting - and the Elroq is no exception. Quick acceleration means you can comfortably bolt out of side roads and into gaps in traffic with peace of mind.

While the Elroq’s soft suspension dispatches most lumps and bumps comfortably, bigger speedbumps and potholes leave you rocking and jiggling about a bit. That being said, cracks and road markers are all but ironed out, so… swings and roundabouts.

Standard-fit parking sensors and rear camera as well as light steering and good visibility mean the Elroq is a doddle to park, as does the excellent turning circle.

On the motorway

Motorways are the Elroq’s forte, and its ride quality is better at high speed than it is around town. Only the biggest dips make it feel unnerving at speed - as if it’s floating above the ground rather than planted on it - otherwise it’s a serene driving experience and perfect for cruising long road trips in.

The seats are hugely supportive, both in the front and the back, and there’s a distinct lack of wind and road noise which keeps fatigue at bay on the move. Skoda’s green interior lighting is easy on the eye, a pleasant bonus when driving at night.

Even the entry-level Elroq has strong acceleration, making it a doddle to get up to cruising speed or when overtaking - though its shorter range means you’d be better off with a 60 or 85 model for frequent road trips.

On a twisty road

For a car with such soft suspension, the Elroq has remarkably little in the way of body lean on winding roads. It’s far from a sports car though, with very light steering devoid of feedback and a noticeable jiggle when you hit a bump on a bend.

That makes the Elroq feel as though it has very little front grip; safe to say it’s not a car for hustling through corners, but on a steady cruise it’s more than capable of getting you and your family through the lanes with no drama.

Lots of clever features and good storage up front, but a smaller boot than some alternatives

The similarly-sized Skoda Karoq is one of the most practical mid-sized SUVs you can buy, so if you were considering one but would prefer an EV you’ll be pleased to know the Elroq is just as practical.

Up front, you get comfortable seats and a steering wheel with plenty of adjustment, and with all the driver information condensed onto a small digital display there’s very little chance of you blocking it with the wheel.

Storage cubbies are plentiful, with a big glovebox and nice underarm storage bin, plus a big area under the centre console ideal for a tissue box or similar. The driver also gets their own little felt-lined compartment down by their knee, perfect for storing keys or coins that you don’t want to rattle around.

The door bins are large, with dividers in to keep bottles upright. It’s a shame the cupholders are very small, though they do have useful nubbins on the bottom intended to grip a bottle of water or Coke and allowing you to open the top one-handed.

Space in the back seats

Elroq is good for back seat room - if not quite class-leading. Two six-foot adults will have plenty of space to stretch out, though it’s a shame you can’t put your feet under the seat in front.

There’s definitely more legroom than there is in a Peugeot E-3008, but a Renault Scenic has more space still - though the Elroq does counter this with a very comfortable rear bench.

The cabin isn’t really wide enough to take three burly adults, but they’d be fine for short journeys. And if there’s only two, you get a nice comfortable central armrest. Rear passengers also get their own heating controls, USB-C charging ports to keep devices topped up, and smart little pockets in the rear seatbacks designed specially for smartphones. The rear windows go all the way down, too.

Boot space

With 470 litres of room, the Elroq does lag behind the 520-litre Peugeot E-3008 or 545-litre Renault Scenic here. But it’s a good, useful space, and larger than you’ll find in most equivalently-priced electric hatchbacks.

There are plenty of hooks and loops to hang shopping bags from, and though there’s only a small slice of storage underneath the boot floor Skoda’s come up with an even smarter solution for storing the charging cable – there’s a net hanging underneath the parcel shelf. This is, if anything, even better than having an underfloor compartment as it means you can easily access the cable even when the boot is full.

The parcel shelf has a couple of other tricks, too. You can position it at a half-height – great if you want to separate muddy or wet items underneath and lighter, dry ones above. You can also store it flat against the rear seatbacks, so you don’t have to leave it at home if you want to transport taller items.

Above the wheel arches – usually wasted space – Skoda’s fit a couple of useful shelves, ideal for keeping screenwash, a torch, or other paraphernalia. Not that you need to keep your own ice-scraper for the winter months, as there’s one neatly stored in the side of the tailgate.

The rear seats fold 60:40 and go down pretty flat, and there’s a ski hatch for long, thin items.

A simple, smart design and classy feel are spoiled by some cheap feeling plastics

The Elroq’s dashboard is very similar to the Enyaq’s. It’s dominated by a massive 13.0-inch touchscreen, which controls all of the car’s functions – sadly, Skoda hasn’t implemented the neat physical dials you get in the Kodiaq and Superb.

Still, it’s an improvement over the Enyaq’s because it comes with updated software, which makes the screen more responsive and brings key functions much closer to hand. You get two permanent shortcut bars at the top and bottom – the latter is for the climate controls, while at the top you can choose which functions you’d like easy access to.

The driver display is much more minimalist – at just 5.0 inches across, it’s positively dinky compared to the huge screens you get on some alternatives. But truly, you don’t need digital manifestations of physical dials in an electric car – all you really need on the move is a digital speed readout, your remaining range, and some indicator lights, and that’s just what Skoda gives you. There’s also a high-def head-up display available on upper models.

Quality up front is very nice indeed, especially considering the Elroq’s price point. The dash comes trimmed in a funky fabric on lower-rung models, where high spec cars have a leatherette finish. The fabric is the more interesting choice though.

Materials elsewhere are generally good, though you do feel cheap ones moving lower on the dashboard and in the rear seats. While alternatives also smatterings of cheap plastic in places, it's a bit of a shame that they’re so prominent in the Elroq.

Official range figures for the Elroq are pretty competitive. There are three battery sizes available, named 50, 60, and 85. The entry-level 50 gets a 52kWh battery, good for an official range on a full charge of 230 miles. That’s competitive with what you get from many smaller electric cars, and makes this entry-level Elroq really useful if you need a large vehicle but don’t need to travel too far.

The 60 battery is 63kWh in capacity and has a 250-mile range – it comes with a bump in trim specification too. The long-range option is the 85, which has an 82kWh battery for a 360-mile official range. The Renault Scenic E-Tech and standard-range Peugeot E-3008 can do 379 and 326 miles respectively, so the Elroq’s figure is competitive – though the E-3008 is available with an extra-large battery pack for more than 400 miles of range.

The Elroq can charge at up to 175kW, which gives the 85 battery the ability to top up from 10-80% in 28 minutes at a suitably powerful fast charger. The 50 and 60 batteries charge slower, but they’re smaller, and manage the same charge in 25 minutes.

Power outputs are linked to the battery sizes. The basic Elroq 50 gets 170hp, while the 60 model boosts this to 204hp – and both have a limited top speed of 99mph. Go up to the top 85 model and you get 286hp and a top speed of 111mph. All Elroq models are rear-wheel drive, but we expect a 85x model to introduce a front motor for four-wheel drive down the line.

As an EV, vehicle excise duty and company car tax on the Elroq will be very competitive.

The Elroq hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP just yet, but it’s very closely related to the Enyaq which scored a very high five-star rating when it was tested back in 2021, with excellent protection in all four categories.

With up to nine airbags and the usual array of safety equipment, we’d be surprised if the Elroq didn’t repeat its bigger brother’s performance - but the NCAP test has become stricter since then, so that’s worth keeping in mind.

The Elroq is simply too new to get a feel for its reliability and any potential issues, but we’ll report back as and when there’s a change. Skoda’s infotainment system has been known to be a bit glitchy, and Apple CarPlay did disconnect a couple of times on our test car, but regular updates should amend any small software issues.

The 2024 Driver Power survey for owner satisfaction saw Skoda come 23rd out of 32 manufacturers - not a hugely promising result, but Skoda build quality is generally solid.

Electric cars in general are simpler than petrol and diesel cars, with fewer moving parts to go wrong. If you do have a problem, the car comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. The battery is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles.