How do you spend a day off when abroad? With more driving, of course. So, with a Sunday in between the Munich motor show and another drive event in Austria, I spent the day driving the Skoda Elroq. Having attended its global debut last year, I knew the electric SUV looked promising, and while Skoda did say the model wasn’t under active consideration for our market, they were open to the idea of getting it here. So, could a car like the Elroq cut into a market like India?
Skoda Elroq performance and refinement – 9/10
Power delivery isn’t instantaneous but measured out in a strong and purposeful manner.
What’s nice is that, unlike many other EVs, power is not all served up at the start, followed by a linear run up the speedo. So, even when you put your foot down, you don’t scamper off, but power delivery is still purposeful and strong enough to maintain a good pace. On the unrestricted stretch of the Autobahn, we were very quickly able to hit the 180kph top speed.
High-speed motoring is generally a quiet affair, and powertrain refinement is good; even tyre noise is well-contained. It’s only at higher triple-digit speeds that you will notice some wind noise around the A-pillars and tyre noise on certain road surfaces.
Skoda Elroq range and efficiency – 8/10
Skoda Elroq 85 WLTP range is a claimed 560km.
Skoda says the range of the 85 version stands at just over 560km on a single charge, which is good. The real-world range will be lower, but something in excess of 400km will be quite achievable for most motorists.
Skoda Elroq ride comfort and handling – 8/10
Good high-speed stability and a confident feel from both steering and suspension systems.
The steering, too, is typically European – not light and one-finger-twirl effort levels; rather, the weight goes from medium to firm as you move to sportier drive modes. So, it feels nice and controlled and gives you a sense of confidence through corners; mind you, like the suspension setup, it’s not sporty and agile, just controlled and reassuring.
Skoda Elroq exterior design and engineering – 7/10
The front looks refreshing; the sides and rear are too familiar for an all-new car.
The Elroq debuts the brand’s ‘Modern Solid’ design language, and that’s evident really all up at the front. The nose now carries what Skoda calls the ‘tech deck’, a black panel that hides all the new tech bits modern cars need, such as the cameras, radar and lidar. It’s a nice idea and really well-executed, with none of the ungainly black blobs or domes sticking out like so many new vehicles. The panel extends into segmented daylight running lamps (DRLs) on either end and has the typical indented centre, where the bonnet dips into it. The area now carries the new Skoda lettermark instead of the round logo. The headlights are set lower down within sharp and angular insets, and the bumper’s lower edge contains automatic active cooling vents.
The newness of the front end, however, is lost at the sides and rear, which stick with very typical Skoda design elements. The door and roofline are straightforward and crisp, as are the lines at the rear. The positioning of the number plate and the sharp crease lines across the tailgate are all very familiar, and the tail-lights look nearly identical to those on the Kodiaq.
Skoda Elroq interior space and comfort – 9/10
Plenty of legroom and headroom at the rear; seats are nicely bolstered.
At 4.4 metres long and with a wheelbase of over 2.7 metres, the Elroq is just slightly larger than the midsize SUVs, so the space inside is good. At the rear, there’s ample legroom and headroom. With my 5-foot-8-inch frame, I had no shortage of space at the front or rear. The seats are comfy, too, with deep bolstering at the front and the outer rear seats. The centre seat is broad but rather flat, as it houses a flip-down armrest; should it be unoccupied, you can even place a handy little storage tray on the ground, taking advantage of the Elroq’s flat floor.
There’s more storage space around the cabin, another clever one being a net fixed to the underside of the parcel tray that neatly holds the charging cable – it is space that is typically wasted, plus it also frees up boot space where the cable would be stored. The boot space stands at 470 litres, and there are a myriad of shelves, nets, compartments and trays about it, making storage of odd items very easy and handy. The parcel tray’s height can also be set at a lower level.
Skoda Elroq features and safety – 8/10
Well kitted with lots of safety features too, such as up to 9 airbags and predictive cruise control.
Below the touchscreen sits a bank of buttons for functions like drive-mode selection and hazard warning; the HVAC controls, though, are sadly via the touchscreen only. Steering-mounted controls are the signature Skoda scroll wheels that operate with a nice tactile feel.
In terms of safety kit, there are up to 9 airbags and a full ADAS suite with predictive cruise control that uses traffic sign recognition and GPS data to adjust cruise speed in advance; for instance, it reduces speed when coming up to a roundabout. As yet, the Elroq does not have a Euro NCAP rating.
Skoda Elroq value for money and verdict – 9/10
Superbly well-packaged and competitively priced EV, one that has good potential in India.
A day with the Elroq has left me in no doubt about its potential in India. It could do very well indeed. It’s not lively to drive, but that isn’t its brief, and there’s really very little that’s wrong with it, the tiny non-customisable IP screen being the only bit that really disappointed me. Besides that, its midsize SUV footprint is just perfect for our conditions, and it’s a phenomenally well-packaged product. Performance is strong, and the powertrain is perfectly calibrated for an easy drive; the ride and handling inspire confidence. The interior is comfy and well-equipped and, in typical Skoda fashion, packed with clever and useful features.
The Elroq is keenly priced, too. In the UK, the range starts at 33,000 pounds (approximately Rs 40 lakh), below rivals in that market, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Volvo EX30, Mercedes-Benz EQA and BMW iX1 LWB, all of which are also sold in India.
For a while now, Skoda India has been talking about the possibility of launching its larger EV, the Enyaq. It’s been spied on our roads and was even showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo last year. However, after having driven the Elroq – and the Enyaq briefly the previous day – I am convinced it’s the Elroq that would be a far better fit. It has similar levels of performance, space and equipment as the larger sibling but at a more affordable price that aligns with Skoda’s mass-premium positioning in India. Bring it here, Skoda.
Also see:
Porsche Cayenne Electric first look: What can we expect?
Citroen Basalt X Plus review: More affordable than a Dzire
