All-new £31,500 Skoda Elroq breaks into small e-SUV segment

Built to rival the MG ZS, Kia e-Niro, and Volvo EX30, the Czech brand’s first compact BEV has its work cut out. Explore its pros and cons, below.

First came the Enyaq iV, spearheading Skoda’s EV campaign and showcasing its ability to make a capable, all-electric SUV. Now comes the Elroq. It’s smaller, cheaper, and arguably even more important than the firm’s genesis e-SUV, but how does it plan on standing out in a sector crawling with credible rivals?  

With its handsome looks, for one. Those reductive lines won’t drop jaws in quite like some of Skoda’s recent, Transformer-esque concept cars, but the Elroq’s shape does tick plenty of boxes. Strong proportions, a taut side profile, interesting accents, this baby e-SUV has them all. And it’s more than just a pretty face: an impressive 0.26 drag coefficient contributes to an enhanced driving range of up to 348 miles in the top-rung Elroq 85.

You don’t need to go for the all singing, all dancing model, though. Unless you regularly exceed 200 miles in a single stint, the entry-level, rear-wheel drive Elroq 50 will save you a pretty penny — provided you can live with a leisurely nine second 0-60 mph time. Need more performance and range? the Elroq 60 could be the Goldilocks model of the range. With its bigger 63 kWh battery, this mid-spec offering cuts half a second off the 0-60 sprint and adds 20 miles to the range; it’ll set you back around £35,000.

The 85 is the money-no-object Elroq, but it’s a worthwhile upgrade if your budget can stretch. £41,600 buys four-wheel drive courtesy of an extra motor on the front axle, another 100 miles of range, and a hot hatch-baiting 6.6 second dash to 60 mph. Plus, with standard Hankook S1 EVO 3 EV tyres, the high-performance Elroq should offer sure-footed handling and rock-solid stability when you want to push on.

Inside, practicality and safety prevail. Despite being noticeably smaller than its Enyaq brother, interior space hasn’t suffered. Rear seat passengers can stretch their legs while the boot is crammed with 470 litres of luggage. Alternatively, dropping those rear chairs unlocks a commendable 1580 litre load bay, and there’s a further 48 litres hidden in various cubbies around the cabin. 

These days it's rare for a manufacturer to tout an airbag count when promoting its latest model — most new cars come with a full brace of them as standard — but, with nine airbags in total, Skoda is, understandably bragging. The Elroq’s combination of active and passive safety systems should prove invaluable in both avoiding and mitigating any potential collisions.

According to Martin Jahn, Skoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing, “The Škoda Elroq delivers an attractive price-value proposition at the right time, as it offers many interested car buyers an easier and more affordable way to drive electric. Its appealing overall package, combined with a spacious, comfortable, and highly functional interior, as well as outstanding handling characteristics, makes it the ideal companion for many customer groups - from families to corporate clients.” 

If you agree, why not strike while the iron’s hot? UK order books open on October 18th at a tantalizingly low £31,500, so we expect strong demand.  

Does the Elroq live up to the hype? Tell us which compact e-SUVs are on your radar.

Hero image credit:  Skoda