Electromobility remains a hot topic. Car manufacturers need such vehicles, as fleet emissions standards will become stricter starting next year. If automakers fail to meet them, they face hefty fines. As a result, Škoda is expanding its electric vehicle lineup with the Elroq, which is comparable in size and price to the Karoq. We had the opportunity to briefly test drive it, trying both the version with the smaller battery and lower power, as well as the larger, more powerful one.
Smaller than the Enyaq, Comparable to the Karoq
Škoda’s latest model is positioned below the Enyaq in the brand’s hierarchy, which has been on the market for over three years. The name of the new model, ELROQ, is a clear reference to its electric nature and similarity to the Karoq. This is reflected not only in the exterior dimensions and interior space but also in the price. In some areas, the electric and combustion versions come close in price, although in terms of wheelbase, the electric model performs better.
Dimensions Comparison:
| Parameter | Škoda Elroq | Škoda Karoq |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4488 mm | 4382 mm |
| Width | 1879 mm | 1841 mm |
| Height | 1625 mm | 1603 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2766 mm | 2638 mm |
| Boot Volume | 470 / 1580 liters | 521 / 1630 liters |
Design and Modern Solid Language
The Elroq is the first model to feature Škoda’s new design language, Modern Solid. This is most evident at the front, where it introduces a new Tech-Deck Face grille and horizontally split headlights, a design similar to the Kamiq. The upper row serves as daytime running lights and dynamic turn signals, while the lower row functions as low and high beam headlights and fog lights. The rear of the car resembles the Enyaq, though the bumper is different, with vertically placed reflectors.
With this new design, Škoda has minimized its logo presence, using only the word “ŠKODA” on the front hood, boot, and steering wheel. The winged arrow symbol appears only on the wheel centers, following a broader trend in the automotive industry where logos are becoming less prominent.
“Eco-friendly” Interior
Inside, if you’ve been in an Enyaq, you’ll feel right at home. The interior is quite similar, with a focus on eco-friendly materials, such as recycled plastics on the dashboard and upholstery.
Interior finishes vary by trim level. The base Studio trim features a black theme with fabric upholstery, while the Loft version has anthracite grey upholstery with green Moss stitching and seats made of artificial leather and dark blue RecyTitan fabric, containing 78% recycled PET and 6% fibers from recycled clothing. The top-tier Lodge trim introduces TechnoFil material, combining 75% recycled ECONYL fibers and 25% polyester. For the first time in Škoda’s history, the seatbelts are available in orange, rather than the traditional black.
Elroq will also be available in the Sportline trim, adding black exterior accents and a sportier interior with carbon-look details. It features sport seats with integrated headrests, Suedia upholstery with grey stitching, and a sportier suspension lowered by 15 mm at the front and 10 mm at the rear.
Spacious Interior
The Elroq offers a spacious interior, comfortably accommodating four passengers, with room for five if necessary. At 180 cm tall, I didn’t feel cramped either in the front or rear seats. This is not surprising, as the Elroq is larger than the Karoq and its electric drivetrain doesn’t take up interior space like a traditional powertrain would.
There’s no shortage of luggage space either. While it offers slightly less capacity than the Karoq, the 470-litre boot is still quite spacious. With the rear seats folded down, it expands to 1580 litres. Despite the absence of a front trunk (frunk), Škoda has included a practical holder for the charging cable in the boot, cleverly securing it under the boot lid with a net.
Battery Options: “Small”, “Medium”, and “Large”
The Škoda Elroq uses the MEB platform, shared with the Enyaq and other Volkswagen Group electric models like the ID. family, CUPRA Born, and Audi Q4 e-tron. This platform allows for three battery capacities: 55 kWh, 63 kWh, and 82 kWh. Consequently, there are four versions of the model: Elroq 50 with the smallest battery and a 125 kW motor, Elroq 60 with a 150 kW motor, and two versions with the largest battery. The Elroq 85 features rear-wheel drive and a 210 kW motor, while a four-wheel drive version (Elroq 85x) will arrive in 2025.
The range for the rear-wheel-drive Elroq 85 with the largest battery is up to 560 km on a single charge, with a top speed of 180 km/h. Other versions will have a top speed limited to 160 km/h, offering ranges of over 400 km (Elroq 60) or over 370 km (Elroq 50).
Charging speeds vary depending on battery size, with the 85 version supporting a maximum charging power of 175 kW, enabling an 80% charge in under half an hour. The Elroq 60 and Elroq 50 support a maximum of 165 kW and 145 kW, respectively, with a 10-80% charge taking under 25 minutes.
Behind the steering wheel
During our first driving experience, we tested the Elroq 50 and Elroq 85 on the winding roads of Mallorca.
The first variant we drove was the more powerful Elroq 85, featuring a 210 kW/286 hp rear-wheel drive motor with 545 Nm of torque. The performance was impressively dynamic, with a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6.6 seconds. Acceleration is immediate as soon as you press the pedal, and the Elroq 85 handles well at both city and highway speeds. While being the fastest at traffic lights is easy, the car also holds its own on highways, although you’ll see your range drop as you push the speed. Maintaining 180 km/h is no issue.
The suspension impressed us as well, handling the winding mountain roads with ease. Even without the adaptive DCC suspension, the balance between comfort and stability in corners was perfect. The rear-wheel drive adds a fun dynamic, making the car feel responsive in turns, though the stability control limits any oversteer.
For those looking for a more relaxed experience, it’s also possible to achieve an energy consumption of around 13 kWh/100 km, with the technical specifications indicating 11 kWh/100 km is feasible, similar to our experience with the VW ID.7, which even dipped below 10 kWh/100 km.
The Elroq 50, with its smaller motor (125 kW/170 hp and 310 Nm), feels slower, with a 0-100 km/h time of 9 seconds. However, it’s still not a slow car by any means. Both versions offer impressively quiet cabins with minimal aerodynamic and tire noise, thanks to the car’s low drag coefficient of 0.26.
Conclusion and Pricing
The Škoda Elroq is a promising electric vehicle with a reasonable price. Its design successfully builds on the Enyaq and, with its compact dimensions, is more suitable for urban environments while still performing well outside the city, especially in the Elroq 85 version, which delivers strong performance. While it’s too early to assess real-world range, it should easily achieve between 400 and 500 km.
Comparing prices with the Karoq, the difference isn’t vast. The base Karoq with the 1.0 TSI 85 kW starts at CZK 649,900, while the comparable 1.5 TSI DSG 110 kW starts at CZK 749,900. The base Elroq 50 is priced at CZK 799,000, just CZK 49,100 more. The Elroq 85 starts at CZK 1,032,000.