Skoda Elroq Edition 85 review: Scaling down is perfect solution for Elroq
Skoda’s small SUV shuns gimmicks and headline-grabbing gizmos and delivers a comfortable ride, writes Jim McGill
Size, apparently, matters. Well that’s what we’re always told. But it doesn’t always have to be the case that bigger is better; sometimes smaller is the perfect solution. And that might well have been the philosophy of Skoda designers when, in the wake of its successful Enyaq electric SUV, it introduced its smaller sibling the Elroq. And while it may still be one of the smallest e-SUVs on sale in the UK, the question we have to ask is, is it just a smaller Enyaq, or does it have its own character and appeal? The Elroq is also in one of the most fiercely contested EV sectors, which means it’s going head-to head with the likes of the Kia EV3, Hyundai Kona Electric, BYD Atto 3 and Volvo EX30. But building on the technical and design success of the Enyaq, the smaller sibling entered the fray full of competence and with a proven package which interested and appealed to prospective EV buyers. Plus it’s competitively priced, starting at £33,295.
Battery choice Built on the same Volkswagen Group platform as the VW ID.3, the Elroq is available with a choice of batteries, either a 61kWh 140kW or the 84kWh 210kW.
The 61kWh (59kWh usable) battery powers a 201bhp rear e-motor, delivering a range of 260-miles. In the Elroq 85 – which I’m driving – the 82kWh (77kWh) battery, powers a 281bhp motor, again to the rear wheels. Skoda quotes a range of 355-miles. The SportLine trim is also available with the choice of both batteries.
There’s also a range-topping vRS four-wheel drive version and only available with an 82kWh 250kW unit, but at £46,295 it’s a halo car probably left well alone.
What about performance? Expect the Elroq 60 to cover the 0-62mph sprint in 7.7secs, while the 85 will cover it in 6.6secs. The vRS knocks another 1.4secs off the time. The 60 maxes out at 99mph, while both the 85 and vRS reach 111mph.
Right, now what’s it like to drive? Impressive. The Elroq is one of those EVs which shuns gimmicks and headline-grabbing gizmos. Instead it concentrates on simply delivering a comfortable, well-judged ride which the majority of buyers will quickly just settle into. It simply feels right and ticks all of the principal boxes.
From the second you sit behind the wheel you can make yourself feel at home with the huge amount of seat and steering wheel adjustment. It won’t take you long to manoeuvre into your favourite driving position, be that high like a proper SUV or low to give you a more involved position.
Ride comfort, both in town and out on the A-roads and motorway, is impressive. I covered a fair bit of motorway driving and there was next to no wind noise, even accounting for the slightly outsized door mirrors. It’s a relaxed cruiser, sitting solidly on the road with high levels of stability and impressive comfort, easily gobbling up the miles in near silence. Back in town, the standard suspension was well-balanced and coped comfortably with speed humps and the vast majority of potholes, even considering my press car was fitted with 19in alloys. Praise too for the car’s impressively small 9.3-metre turning circle, great for a car of this size and with rear-wheel drive. A boost when it comes to positioning in tight car parks. Intriguingly, while the suspension is forgiving in town, it’s also firm enough to ensure you can enjoy the higher speeds on your favourite twisty B-road as it maintains a decent body control. There’s a nice, light feel to the steering. It’s precise and gives the driver a feeling of confidence with handling remaining very neutral.
And what’s it like inside? Spacious and smart. The Elroq was the first Skoda to be designed according to its ‘Modern Solid’ philosophy, which has since also been adopted by the larger Enyaq. To be honest, the interiors of both cars are as near identical as you can get: I’d be surprised if anyone could spot any difference between the two. Thankfully both get the stubby gear selector on the floating centre console. Both models also have the excellent and helpful bank of large shortcut buttons across the dashboard.
There’s a clean sharpness to everything in the Elroq cabin. The fascia is uncluttered and dominated by the standard 13-inch infotainment screen which includes satnav, and again thankfully has the on-screen temperature controls permanently on display along the bottom of the screen making them easy to use during driving. That said, it would be improved even further if it had the rotary multi-function climate control dials found in both the latest Skoda Kodiaq and Superb. Hopefully in time.
Elsewhere in the screen the main menu allows for customisable shortcuts which make it easier to find the functions you’ll use most. The software also loads quickly and overall the system operates and looks great. There’s also a handy wireless phone charger.
From the driving position the deep windscreen delivers a safe, clear view of the road and there’s a wide range of adjustments for the seat and steering wheel. Option packs include an electric driver’s seat with memory function. The centre armrest hovers over a large storage bin, plus there are deep cupholders and wide door pockets.
As for knee and headroom, it’s pretty much on a par with the larger Enyaq. And as usual with the majority of electric cars, the rear floor in the Elroq sits high due to the battery being stored beneath, but Skoda has countered any potential lack of under-thigh support for rear passengers with long legs by extending the seat bases. Clever.
What’s the bootspace? It’ll take 470-litres of your clobber, slightly less than the Enyaq, but that should be enough for most people. Fold the 60/40 split rear seats and the stowage improves significantly to a whopping 1580-litres; that’s 330-litres more than the rival Kia EV3.
There’s also underfloor storage to stash the charging cables, plus look carefully and you’ll spot a number of shelves and cubby holes to store smaller items. Opt for the Transport Package and you get a range of nets to hold things securely, in addition to a reversible boot floor. If you wondered whether Skoda’s ice scraper/tyre tread-depth gauge is still there? It is. But instead of sitting in the fuel filler flap of internal combustion-powered Skodas, you’ll find it in the boot trim. And yes, the Skoda umbrella is also still included.
Trim levels and prices The Elroq is available in a choice of four trim levels, with even the entry-level SE L, priced from £33,295, delivering a comprehensive range of standard kit. LED headlights, daytime running lights, rear LED lights, back roof rails, electric folding door mirrors, heated steering wheel and seats, 13in touchscreen display, DAB radio with eight speakers, Bluetooth as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are all standard. So too are front and rear parking sensors, a rear view camera, predictive adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, lane assist, traffic sign recognition, plus front assist with assisted automatic braking to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. It also sits on 19in Proteus silver alloy wheels. Step up to the Edition model, which I drove, and you add keyless entry with walk away locking, travel assist plus (emergency assist, lane assist plus with narrow lane assist and urban evasive steering support), electric child safety lock, crossroad assist, dark chrome roof rails and window trim, privacy glass and acoustic side windows, extended interior noise suppression and 19in Regulus anthracite alloys. Prices start at £34,195.
SportLine raises the bar even higher. In addition to kit found in the Edition, this trim adds, amongst other stuff, LED Matrix beam headlights with variable light distribution, dynamic headlight range control with cornering light function and integrated fog light with all-weather function, super-cool rear LED lights with animated indicators, SportLine bumpers, gloss black roof rails, artificial leather upholstery, 3-spoke leather heated sports multifunction steering wheel with paddles for brake recuperation level selecting, front sports seats with integrated sports head restraints, sports suspension, electric tailgate and 20in Vega black alloys. Yours from £37,145.
At the top of the range sits the slightly bonkers vRS, which starts at an eye-watering £46,295. In addition to gaining all-wheel drive, it adds, amongst other goodies, a host of external sports tweaks, vRS-branded interior design, a head-up display, manual blinds for the rear windows and dynamic chassis control. Worth highlighting the vRS covers the 0-62mph sprint in 5.2secs compared to ‘my’ Edition 85 in 6.6s.
Charging times The Elroq 60 has a maximum rate of 165kW, meaning you can charge from 10-80 per cent in 24 minutes. But if you have a 7.4kW home wallbox charger, which most EV owners will use, it’ll take around nine hours for the same recharge. The larger 85 model has a faster rate of 175kW. With its larger capacity battery, charge time takes 28-minutes for 10-80 per cent. Using your 7.4kW wallbox will take close to 12-hours. Should you be one of the few buyers who opt for the vRS, it has an even higher DC charge rate of 185kW which knocks a whole two minutes off the 10-80 per cent recharge time. The wallbox takes a similar time to the 85 model.
Warranty Skoda gives car buyers a three-year warranty: the first two years have an unlimited mileage, with the third year restricted to 60,000 miles, or whichever comes soonest. An optional warranty covering years four and five is also available. Each car also comes with a three-year paint warranty and up to 12 years body protection.
Verdict I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Elroq, but from the moment I set eyes on it, resplendent in its Timiano Green paintwork, I have to admit I was surprisingly rather smitten by it. And after covering near-on a couple of hundred miles in it, including long motorway sections in addition to A-road and city driving, it’s clear the Elroq is perfectly suited to what most owners will throw at it. And when it comes to a head-to-head with the Enyaq, unless you seriously require the additional space of its larger sibling, the Elroq is comfortably an equal match. In fact, often its very size trumps that of the Enyaq.
Long gone are the days when Skoda was seen as the ‘poor man’ of the VW Group. Now, many would say it’s actually building and producing the best cars in the group; and that’s definitely the case when it comes to EVs. The Elroq doesn’t shout from the rooftops. Instead it just quietly goes about its business doing everything well and correctly. It’s practical, comfortable inside, and in many ways a brilliantly sensible package. As the saying goes: what’s not to like?
The facts Skoda Elroq Edition 85 Price: £38,660 (OTR) (As tested: £39,940) Powertrain: 77kWh battery, 1x e-motor Power: 282bhp Torque: 545Nm Transmission: Single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive Top speed / 0-62mph: 111mph / 6.6sec Range: 355-miles (WLTP) Max Charging: 175kW (10-80% in 28mins) Dimensions (L/W/H in mm): 4488 / 1884 / 1654
On sale: Now
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