Skoda unveils the all-electric Elroq SUV, with specs and price to lure buyers away from combustion engines
Skoda has given us the best look yet at its latest electric model, which hopes to build on the foundations laid by the larger Enyaq thanks to similarly premium build quality at a more affordable price.
The latest compact SUV, called Elroq, is only slightly shorter than the Enyaq, but manages to create similar space for its occupants, as well as plenty of storage space in the boot or trunk for life’s messes.
Prices have so far only been revealed for the European market, where they will start at $33,000 or £31,500, which is approximately $42,000 / AU$60,750. That’s a saving of around £5,000 / $6,600 / AU$9,600 over the existing Enyaq.
With a competitive price, the Elroq enters an increasingly contested space, with the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y and sister brand Volkswagen’s ID3 considered key rivals. Moreover, it also competes with the BYD Atto 3, which was recently introduced in Europe by the Chinese manufacturer.
Skoda hopes to attract customers with a wide variety of battery sizes and engine options, with three battery capacities (55, 63 and 82 kWh) available at launch, each of which can be specified with a range of power and electric motor setups.
The range starts with the Elroq 50, which introduces the smallest battery and a 125 kW electric motor, and progresses to the 63 kWh battery coupled to a more powerful 150 kW motor in the Elroq 60. The most powerful Elroq 85 will have a total delivering power of 210 kW and the most performance-oriented driving experience.
All cars currently available to order will be rear-wheel drive, but Skoda says it plans to introduce an all-wheel drive variant later in 2025, called the Elroq 85x.
Electric range is now a major deciding factor in purchasing and predictably the cheapest Elroq 50 model offers the least mileage, with 170 miles between stops. This is comparable to what most of its small EV rivals offer, although slightly lower than the more expensive entry-level VW ID3.
The larger 63 kWh battery can last a little longer between charges, with an official WLTP range of 420 kilometers. But it’s the most expensive 85, which confusingly has an 82 kWh battery, that offers the longest distance between charging stops, thanks to an official range of 360 miles.
Major brands are pushing the mass market of electric vehicles
With prices starting at closer to £30,000 ($40,000 / $58,000), the Elroq is quickly reaching price parity with some of the comparable petrol models Skoda currently offers in its range.
Still, the new EV brings with it the latest version of Skoda’s ‘modern, solid’ exterior design language, including new LED lighting at the front and a heavily revised front end optimized for aerodynamics.
Inside, there are still plenty of the brand’s now famous ‘simply slim’ touches, such as the built-in ice scraper that now sits in the boot or trunk.
There’s also a robust storage net under the parcel shelf for storing charging cables, a handful of USB-C charging sockets dotted around the cabin, ample storage spaces and Skoda’s signature umbrella stowed in the driver’s door.
Infotainment is handled by a 13-inch touchscreen display with a new user interface, complete with a ChatGPT-enabled voice assistant called Laura.
Owners can pin shortcuts to a dedicated area for the most frequently used functions, and a slew of physical buttons for climate, driving modes and parking assist ensure that not everything is shown on the screen.
With Ford and Hyundai putting the brakes on new EV plans, Skoda looks set to strengthen its all-electric offering, hoping that on-the-fence customers can be enticed by a reasonable price and the brand’s reputation for a quality product.
However, the company is heading for turbulent times recent sales figures have shown that the share of battery electric vehicles in new car registrations in Europe fell by almost a third in August.