Styling
A bit like Hyundai's Ioniq 5, the Skoda Elroq is deceptively big. When you see it from a distance, the styling - using Skoda's new 'Modern Solid' look - tricks you into thinking that it might be about the size of the compact
Kamiq. Not so - it's actually quite a chunky thing, the Elroq, and is comparable in size to the midsize, combustion-powered
Karoq.
While Skoda reckons that the whole 'Modern Solid' look is a departure from previous models, to us it generally looks pretty similar to what Skoda's been doing for a while now in terms of being quietly handsome and chiselled. The lack of a big radiator grille is probably the biggest change, but even so the shapes between and under the high-set LED daytime running lights, and the bigger main beam units to the sides, ends up looking very grille-like. It's a good-looking car, the Elroq, but you'd never mistake it for anything other than a Skoda.
That's doubly true because Skoda has actually taken off the classic Skoda badge (which represented an arrowhead, if you ever wondered) and replaced it, front and rear, with the word 'Skoda' spelled out in neat letters. It's a move designed to placate the Chinese market, which prefers words to badges, but we'll miss the old classic emblem.
Incidentally, yes those are 20-inch alloy wheels in the photos, which are optional on the Elroq, and that possibly gives you some indication of just how chunky a car this actually is. It's certainly no compact model.
Interior
The Elroq's interior is brilliant. Little more needs be said. OK, maybe a little more does need be said...
Excellent seats help, as does plenty of soft-touch fabric material on the seats, dash and doors. Some of this is made from recycled plastics, including discarded fishing nets, and it lends the Elroq's cabin a really warm, welcoming aspect which many others miss out on. Overall quality is also truly impressive, to the point where the Elroq feels broadly as well-made inside as any Audi.
The 13-inch touchscreen is, if anything, oversized for the job and possibly dominates the Elroq's dashboard a little too much. At least the software is much improved now and the screen is easier to use than some previous VW Group efforts, although it's still too fiddly and confusing at times. A bank of physical shortcut buttons beneath the screen does help, as does the fact that you can set up the home screen with two bars of your own chosen shortcuts.
Other software improvements relate to the Elroq's MySkoda phone app, which now includes built-in charging payments, and a remote parking system that means you can reverse your Elroq into a space while standing outside.
There's a small - but effective - driver's digital instrument screen behind the wheel, but the Elroq's optional head-up display is well worth the extra outlay and is tremendously useful, especially when you're using the sat-nav.
Practicality
That lack of exterior compactness pays off on the inside, because the Elroq is very roomy indeed. There's copious space up front, and plenty of storage space too in the centre console, under the armrest, and in the door pockets. There's also seriously good room in the back, with legroom and headroom easily enough for a quartet of six-footers to comfortably occupy the Elroq and, again, there's useful storage areas for those in the back.
At 470 litres the boot is a decent size, although it's smaller than that of a comparably priced Karoq petrol-powered crossover. The boot floor is flat, though, and there's no load lip, and you get some useful extra shelves and bag hooks at the sides. Optionally, you can spec the boot up with a Transport Pack that includes a hammock-like device strung from the sides, which is good for holding delicate items, while Skoda has boxed really clever with the Elroq's parcel shelf. Not only does that parcel shelf have two heights at which it can sit, dividing up the boot into two distinct sections, it also comes - once you've ticked the Transport Pack option - with a handy net strung underneath that holds the Elroq's charging cable. That's a neat way of sidestepping the fact that the Elroq doesn't have a frunk in the nose.
Fold down the back seats and there's an impressive 1,580 litres to play with, although the seat backs don't fold fully flat and there's nowhere then to stash the parcel shelf.
Performance
With the basic 170hp electric motor driving the Elroq's rear wheels, performance is fairly leisurely. The Elroq accelerates smoothly from low speeds and with 310Nm of torque it's not exactly slow, but if it's performance you're after, pick the more powerful Elroq 60 or 85. Once you're much above 70mph, the Elroq 50's acceleration seems to cease altogether and it's then more gathering momentum than actually speeding up. The benchmark 0-62mph run takes a gentle nine seconds and the top speed is only 99mph.
That said, it's fine for most purposes, and there's enough low-down thump that the Elroq doesn't feel slow in more give-and-take driving.
Ride & Handling
The Elroq is no
GTI, but actually its steering is quite positive, nicely weighted, and makes the car feels responsive enough for most purposes. On a twisty section of mountain road on our test route, the Elroq responded gamely enough, swishing nicely between apexes, but not in a manner that you'd call truly entertaining. However, as a family machine it always felt well-planted and well-sorted, and only defaulted to scrabbling understeer when we tried to push a bit too hard on a slippery damp section.
It's the ride quality where the Elroq falls down. On those optional 20-inch alloys, there's a sense of constant fidgeting and adjustment unless the surface underneath the tyres is glass-smooth, which is odd when you consider that the bigger Enyaq rides much better, and the two cars share the same wheelbase. Perhaps consider sticking with the 19-inch alloys which comes as standard.
Such a move might also improve the Elroq's range, which in this 50 version, with the 52kWh battery, is quite poor - just 232 miles, when a comparably priced Kia EV3 offers 272 miles of range. Yes, you can get an Elroq 60 or 85 with much more range, but this 50 version is a bit disappointing, especially when you consider that the actual usable real-world range is going to be between 180 and 200 miles.
At least the Elroq charges up fairly quickly - this 50 version will charge at up to 145kW on a fast charger, while the 85 will stretch that to 175kW.
Value
Given that slight lack of range for this basic Elroq 50, it represents decent rather than exceptional value, but certainly the relatively low price point should prove a temptation to value-focused family buyers looking to make the switch to electric power. Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, the 13-inch touchscreen, seven airbags, a rear-view camera, the 'Loft' interior trim, ambient cabin lighting, three ISOFIX points, dual-zone climate control, and blind-spot monitoring.
Verdict
If only the range of this entry-level Elroq were a little better, it might be considered quite an EV bargain, considering the high-quality cabin and the sheer practicality of it all. As it is, it's still an impressive addition to the electric car ranks, but definitely stick with the smaller wheels, and go for a 60 or 85 model to get a more useful range.
