► Electric SUV is EV equivalent of the Karoq
► Bold new front-end design inspired by Vision 7S Concept
► Priced from £31,500 and available with range of batteries
Skoda is expanding its EV line-up with the new Elroq, the Volkswagen Group’s smallest electric SUV yet. It’s just made a public debut at the 2024 Paris motor show.
Slotting underneath the Enyaq in its range, and being an electric equivalent to the popular (and ageing) Karoq, which it will be sold alongside, it is the first Skoda to be styled around the firm’s new ‘Modern Solid’ design language.
Championing the Czech brand’s long-standing values of spaciousness and keen pricing, the Skoda Elroq has the Kia Niro EV firmly in its sights with an attractive starting price of £31,500.
New design language
Skoda first showed off its new ‘Modern Solid’ design language’ with its Vision 7S concept back in 2022, and the Elroq is its first car to carry that through to production. The front is particularly striking and different to everything else Skoda currently sells with no ‘grille’ as such but a closed frontal area with a new ‘four eyes’ light signature.
The firm calls this its ‘Tech-Deck Face’ but acknowledges ‘familiar Skoda lines’, with the radar and cameras for the driver assistance hidden behind it, making the front end seem much tidier. The Elroq is also the first car with ‘SKODA’ lettering on both the bonnet and steering wheel. But for all the fancy new design at the front, the rear is surprisingly plain, looking just like a shrunken Enyaq.
The Skoda Elroq is larger in all dimensions than the petrol and diesel-powered Karoq, which Skoda says it’s aiming to achieve ‘price parity’ with in many markets. In the UK, a 1.5-litre petrol Karoq is said to be within £200 of an entry-level Elroq when the two cars are on sale at the same time. It was initially thought the Elroq would replace the Karoq, which is now seven years into its lifecycle, but Skoda says changing market conditions mean the petrol car isn’t going anywhere for the time being.
Spacious interior
Plenty of interior space is a hallmark of just about every Skoda and the Elroq aims to be no different. The boot has a capacity of 470 litres, extending to 1580 litres with the rear seats folded.
Skoda has introduced additional ‘Simply Clever’ features, including a storage net for a charging cable under the parcel shelf, which can also be used to divide the boot’s load area, and additional storage boxes for rear passengers where the transmission tunnel would usually be. Elsewhere in the interior, a large 13-inch touchscreen running Skoda’s latest software is included, with new shortcut buttons aiming to address previous shortcomings with the Enyaq.
What powertrains are available?
Choice is set to be key to the Elroq’s appeal, with a range of different battery sizes and electric motors available. Like the Enyaq, and other cars built around the MEB platform, the Elroq is rear-wheel-drive, with an all-wheel-drive model yet to be confirmed in the UK.
The ‘50’ model kicks off proceedings, using a 52kWh battery and 171bhp motor allowing for a 230-mile range. The mid-level Elroq is the 60, which is equipped with a 59kWh battery and more powerful 201bhp electric motor. The range from the 60 is ‘more than 250 miles’, according to Skoda, and is predicted to be the best-seller.
At the top of the line-up is the 85 model, which features a 79kWh battery (the same as most Enyaqs), which enables a claimed electric range of 360 miles – a particularly impressive figure for an SUV of this size, though is slightly behind the 379-mile EV range of the Renault Scenic. The 85 also uses a much more powerful 282bhp motor.
The maximum charging speed of the Elroq depends on which version you go for, but regardless of battery size, it equates to the same 10 to 80 per cent charge in 25 minutes.
UK pricing and trim levels
Skoda is offering the Elroq in four trim levels – SE, SE L, Edition and SportLine – the latter being unusual for Skoda as it’s available straight after the launch.
Prices start from an attractive £31,500 for the SE, which comes with part artificial leather upholstery, climate control, a reversing camera, blind spot monitoring and a 13-inch touchscreen. Upgrade to the SE L and this gains a heated seats and a heated steering wheel, paddles on the steering wheel to control the regenerative braking and satellite navigation, which is available from £33,250.
The Edition is available from £34,450 and comes with large 19-inch alloy wheels and a dark chrome styling pack. Further features include adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and wirelsss phone charging.
The flagship SportLine will predominantly be bought for its styling, with extras including 20-inch black wheels, a black styling pack and microsuede sports seats, though you also get an electric boot and sports suspension in the case of the 85 model.
UK orders for the Elroq open on October 18, with first deliveries expected in March 2025.
What comes next after the Elroq?
The Elroq forms part of a bold electric car offensive for Skoda. While it introduced the Enyaq back in 2024, there’s been somewhat of a lull ever since. That changes with the Elroq, which will be followed up with the Skoda Epiq – a city-aimed electric crossover that will serve as the twin to the Volkswagen ID.2.
Next up in 2025 is a heavy update for the Enyaq and its Coupe sibling, followed in 2026 by an as-yet-unnamed electric Skoda estate car and a large electric SUV of a similar size to the Kodiaq, which will be the production version of the Vision 7S concept car.