SKODA, Elroq (Latest Model)

Prices currently start at around £34,295 for the SE L 60. Its 58kWh usable battery and approximately 187bhp motor provide up to 279 miles of official range; expect roughly 205–240 miles in mixed British driving. The SE L 85, at around £37,060, increases output to approximately 282bhp and gives you a 79kWh usable battery, with up to 370 miles officially and a realistic 285–325 miles in favourable conditions. That is a substantial improvement if your driving includes regular motorway miles.

Edition adds convenience and a smarter finish; SportLine brings sportier seats, wheels and lighting. The four-wheel-drive vRS produces around 335bhp and offers up to 344 miles officially, with noticeably keener acceleration but less range than the 85. It is entertaining in a way few family Škodas attempt, although its £47,000-plus starting price changes the value argument. The 2025 launch introduced the brand’s cleaner ‘Modern Solid’ styling; later model-year equipment adjustments are worth checking against the build date.

The Elroq’s interior has a refreshingly practical streak. There is a large central screen but the atmosphere is warmer and more usable than the bare-faced digital minimalism found in some competitors. Storage trays, generous door pockets and tidy little solutions for phones and charging cables suggest the designers occasionally leave their studios and have children. Some lower dashboard plastics are plainly built to a budget but the important touchpoints feel sturdy.

The infotainment is clearer than early Volkswagen Group EV systems, although touch-sensitive functions still require a little patience. The seats are supportive, visibility is reassuring and the optional head-up display is genuinely useful. More important, there is a sense that everything has been arranged for someone who needs to get somewhere rather than admire a touchscreen demonstration. The Kia EV3 feels more adventurous; the Elroq counters with excellent ergonomics and an especially convincing family layout.

The Elroq has a pleasant ability to make rough roads seem less dramatic than they are. Suspension movement is controlled without feeling rigid and the cabin remains relatively composed on worn motorway surfaces. The 60 is brisk enough for routine overtaking; the 85 provides stronger mid-range acceleration, which you notice when joining a busy dual carriageway with passengers and luggage aboard. It is quiet and settled, particularly on modest wheel sizes.

Steering is accurate but short on meaningful feedback. You can drive the Elroq quickly enough through bends, yet it rarely encourages you to make a hobby of doing so. SportLine and vRS models introduce sharper responses; the latter has enough pace to surprise someone expecting an ordinary family crossover. For most owners the standard suspension makes more sense. What stands out is how naturally it moves between the school run, an hour of city traffic and a long motorway journey.

The 60’s real-world range is best thought of as roughly 205–240 miles, with winter motorway use potentially nearer 180–205. The 85 is the more compelling long-distance car: around 285–325 miles in temperate mixed driving, perhaps 245–275 in cold high-speed conditions. Official maximum figures of 279 and 370 miles respectively are useful comparisons but not promises for a wet January evening.

DC rapid charging can take the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in approximately 26 minutes on the 60 and around 29 minutes on the 85 under suitable conditions. Battery preconditioning helps achieve better results in winter. An 11kW AC capability is fitted but a typical UK 7kW home wallbox is the more relevant figure: allow roughly ten hours to fully recharge the smaller battery and about thirteen for the 85. Cheap overnight electricity makes daily mileage remarkably inexpensive; frequent motorway rapid charging changes the calculation.

At 4,488mm long, 1,884mm wide excluding mirrors and about 1,654mm tall, the Elroq is compact enough for a typical British driveway but makes notably good use of its length. The 2,770mm wheelbase helps create generous rear legroom. Two adults can sit in the back comfortably and child seats are less awkward to install than in many low-roof electric hatchbacks. The rear bench is still a tight place for three broad-shouldered adults.

The 470-litre boot has a useful square shape and expands to 1,580 litres with the seats folded. Shopping, a folded pushchair and weekend luggage are comfortably within its abilities. There is no huge front boot to boast about but charging cables can be kept neatly out of the way. Visibility is good by modern SUV standards and the turning circle makes city parking less troublesome than the body shape suggests.

Škoda has equipped the Elroq with a broad set of collision-avoidance and driver-assistance features, although the exact package varies by trim. Automatic emergency braking, lane assistance and blind-spot technology help in daily traffic; optional higher-level assistance can reduce the workload on long motorway journeys. Check the specific car rather than assuming every advert describes the same equipment.

The electric platform shares important hardware with other Volkswagen Group models, providing a useful engineering background. Nevertheless, the Elroq is still young, so claims about exceptional long-term reliability would be premature. Pay attention to software updates, charging behaviour and any unresolved recall work. Škoda’s warranty is reassuring but owners planning to keep a car for a decade should still examine battery health and servicing records. In general the Elroq feels tightly assembled and engineered with durability ahead of theatre.

The Elroq succeeds by being consistently useful in ways that become obvious after the novelty of a new car has worn off. Its spacious rear seats, comfortable ride and excellent long-range option make a persuasive package. The SE L 85 deserves particular attention: it gives you the miles and performance without charging a premium for visual drama. There are more eye-catching electric SUVs but few combine comfort, practicality and ease of ownership quite as convincingly.