Skoda Elroq electric SUV gets up to 360 miles per charge
Up to three different battery options
Skoda has revealed its latest entrant into the compact SUV space in the form of the electric Elroq. Billed as a little sibling to the already amiable Enyaq, the five-door, five-seat SUV promises plenty of choice, practicality and, perhaps most importantly, price parity with combustion-engined alternatives.
It starts with a new look, which Skoda calls its “Tech Deck Face”. Comprising a black band spanning the car’s front, this piece of design houses the car’s front-facing camera and in time could serve as a way of discreetly hiding components necessary for future driver assistance technology, such as radar scanners. Such autonomous tech is still a while away for Skoda, but this approach shows how its future cars will look.
Next year Skoda will also introduce the option of an illuminated strip running through this black section, similar to the Crystal Face “grille” on the Enyaq. For now, on the Elroq, though, it houses the LED daytime running lights, while the main headlight units are found lower down within the bumper.
The Elroq is the first modern Skoda to not carry the brand’s logo on its nose, instead it simply has the Skoda wordmark on the leading edge of the bonnet.
Roomy inside
In terms of overall size, the Elroq measures 4,488 millimetres long, making it shorter than an Enyaq by around half a foot, most of which comes at the rear of the car where the Elroq has a shorter overhang.
Thanks to its electric underpinnings, which are the same as in other Volkswagen Group cars such as the Audi Q4, Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born, the Elroq has a long wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) resulting in generous levels of passenger space inside.
Skoda quotes a decent 480 litres of boot capacity. That can increase to 1,580 litres by folding the 60:40 split rear seats down.
There are also numerous nifty features in the boot, such as a net under the parcel shelf to store the car’s charging cable — rather than having it loose. The inner sides of the boot, which normally aren’t utilised due to the shape of the rear wheel arches, now have a shelf on either side to make better use of the space.
Both of the outer rear seats are equipped with Isofix mounting points for child seats. There’s lots of legroom and headroom, according to Skoda, the latter thanks partly to the lack of a panoramic glass roof, which also helps to keep costs down.
Up front the cabin layout follows the lead of the larger Skoda Enyaq, with a sensible mix of digital and physical controls. Facing the driver is a two- or three-spoke multifunction steering wheel (depending on specification) and a small digital instrument display. All the critical info is available there and is supplemented by a head-up display that includes augmented reality tech that can project dynamic animations on the windscreen to aid with navigation. This isn’t anything new, though — other high spec VW Group cars already have the tech.
All versions of the Elroq feature a 13in touchscreen running the same infotainment software as Skoda’s larger models. Users can pair smartphones via Bluetooth and mirror Android and Apple devices.
Skoda is also upping its commitment to more sustainability, something that is reflected in the materials used throughout the interior. The seat covers are made from a fabric called Recytitan, which contains 78 per cent recycled PET that largely comes from plastic drinks bottles. This material also features in the door panels, centre armrest and instrument panel.
The optional “Lodge Design Selection” upholstery uses a material called Technofil that is 75 per cent recycled Econyl fibres and 25 per cent polyester. The Econyl yarns come from nylon waste, including fishing nets, fabric scraps and carpets that would normally go to landfill. Unlike some eco-materials, it is 100 per cent “regenerable”, meaning it can be recycled over and over again without losing quality.
Three battery options available
Keen to provide something to suit most buyers, the Skoda Elroq will be available with three battery options, named the 50, 60 and 85.
It starts with the Elroq 50, which uses a battery with a 52kWh energy capacity for an official range of more than 230 miles (itll be less in the real world, depending on ambient temperature and use). Its electric motor drives the rear wheels and produces up to 167bhp.
The mid-level version is the Elroq 60, featuring a 59kWh battery and a 201bhp electric motor. Top speed is the same as the Elroq 50’s, at 99 miles per hour, while the range extends beyond 250 miles.
Topping the lineup, for now, is the Elroq 85, which gets a 77kWh battery to give it an official range of up to 360 miles (again, take that with a pinch of salt but it’s a very competitive figure). Its rear-wheel-drive setup produces up to 281bhp and the top speed increases to 111mph.
All versions of the Elroq will be capable of charging quickly, with the two smaller batteries getting 145kW peak DC-charge rates, while the Elroq 85 can charge at up to 175kW on DC connections, meaning a 10 to 80 per cent charge can be achieved in 28 minutes or less in most cases. All three models are capable of up to 11kW on a suitable AC outlet.
Four trim levels available
The Skoda Elroq line-up will be made up of four equipment levels, called SE, SE L, Edition and Sportline. Pricing will start at £31,500 when the order books open on October 18. The rage-topping Sportline version, with the largest battery, will cost £41,600.
Related articles
- If you found this article about the new Skoda Elroq interesting, you should read our review of the Skoda Enyaq Coupé iV vRS
- We’ve already tried out the Skoda Elroq EV for size, too
- Check out our review of the big 2024 Skoda Kodiaq, as well
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