2025 Skoda Elroq revealed and driven: new electric SUV gets 360-mile range

On sale March 2025 | Price from £31,500 

Noah Cyrus, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Austin Swift probably know a thing or two about being overshadowed by their siblings, but despite having a famous big brother, the new Skoda Elroq is making a break for stardom itself.

It’s leaning on the larger Skoda Enyaq for support, though, using the same underpinnings as that car, but packaging itself into a smaller frame. Indeed, being around the same size as the brand’s Karoq small SUV, the Elroq will take on electric rivals that include the Smart #1, Volvo EX30 and upcoming Kia EV3.

The Elroq is the first model to feature Skoda’s new design language, which includes a new gloss finish to its closed-off front end in place of a traditional grille, razor-thin LED headlights and the Czech brand’s name spelt out across the bonnet in place of a badge.

Entry-level 50 versions of the Elroq get a 52kWh (usable capacity) battery with an official range of up to 232 miles – more than the equivalent Volvo EX30 can manage – while mid-range 60 models grow that figure to 279 miles, thanks to a slightly larger, 59kWh battery. 

Range-topping 85 versions get the largest battery, at 77kWh, allowing for an official range of up to 360 miles. The 85 can accept charging rates of up to 175kW, meaning a 10-80% top-up can take as little as 28 minutes if you use a suitably powerful charger. The same charge in the 50 and 60 versions won’t take much longer, despite a drop in charging speed to 145kW.

All three versions are powered by a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, with the 50's motor producing 168bhp, the 60 upping that figure to 201bhp, and the 85 getting 282bhp. In time, versions of the 85 with a second electric motor, giving the Elroq four-wheel drive, are expected to join the range.

We’ve already sat inside the Elroq and found that it looks and feels smart, with mostly good-quality materials and only a limited amount of cheaper plastics on display. It’s spacious, too, with plenty of head and leg room in the back seats for a 6ft-tall passenger to sit comfortably behind a driver of similar height. 

The dashboard layout is similar to that of the Enyaq, with a 13.0in touchscreen infotainment system and a smaller digital driver’s display. You can opt for an augmented reality head-up display (with graphics and key information projected onto the windscreen in your line of sight) via the options list.

The Elroq’s infotainment runs an updated version of the Enyaq’s software, including a simplified menu layout. Although we’d prefer physical controls for things like the air-con, the system in the Elroq seems quick to respond to inputs. If you’d rather use apps from your phone, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration is standard.

The Elroq does a better job than most rivals of providing enough storage space for all of the clutter that typically accompanies family outings. The ‘floating’ console between the front seats, for example, includes two separate pull-out trays before you get to the cavernous bin below them, while there’s a separate storage bin beside the gear selector, another tray in front of the cupholders and a long tray beneath the whole assembly.

With 470 litres of space available in the Elroq’s boot, you’ll fit less into it than you would in the Enyaq, but it’s a bit bigger than the EV3’s and considerably more accommodating than those of the #1 and EX30. There are handy storage shelves at the sides of the Elroq’s boot for smaller items, plus underfloor storage and a parcel shelf with a net below it for storing charging cables. 

Trim levels range from entry-level SE to mid-range SE-L and Edition, through to range-topping Sportline. With prices starting at £31,500, the Elroq undercuts entry-level versions of the EV3, #1 and EX30.

What’s the Skoda Elroq like to drive?

The late-stage prototype of the Elroq we drove, in range-topping 85 form, feels suitably nippy for an electric SUV of this size, providing smooth and progressive acceleration. Refinement is also a strong suit: the Elroq was whisper-quiet on the motorway.

Around town, the suspension wasn’t very settled, because it picked up various undulations and imperfections, causing a fair amount of jostling for occupants. It was much calmer on the motorway, though.

While body lean is mostly kept in check, the Elroq's light steering feels quite vague at most speeds and doesn't have much of a direct response, making it difficult to place the car accurately when cornering at speed. Meanwhile, the long-travel brake pedal has an inconsistent, grabby response, making it tricky to slow down smoothly to a stop.

If the final production version of the Elroq can offer similar levels of comfort and practicality to an Enyaq but in a smaller, more affordable package, Skoda might well be on to a winner here. For now, it’s clear some tweaks are needed if it’s to have a good crack at knocking the #1 off our electric SUV throne, particularly with the steering and brake pedal feel.

Skoda Elroq prototype price and specs

Price £31,500 Engine Single electric motor Power 282bhp Torque n/a Gearbox 1-spd automatic, RWD Battery size 77kWh (usable) 0-62mph n/a Top speed 112mph Range 360 miles CO2/tax 0g/km, 2%

Key rivals
Smart #1
Volvo EX30

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