Design and interior

Outside, the Elroq is the first model to show off the brand’s new family look, which almost doesn’t seem unusual since the Enyaq’s similar facelift. Gone is the big grille, to be replaced by a sleek black ‘Tech-Deck’ face, containing rafts of sensors and cameras which inform the Elroq’s myriad driver assistance tech, with daytime running lights/indicators at the top. In our opinion, it’s a sleek design, but the new nose is anonymous. 

Below the daytime running lights, there are the main headlight units, like the Audi Q4 E-Tron.  

Also gone is Skoda’s unusual and iconic round badge, to be replaced by the word ‘Skoda’ in the same family typeface. 

Elsewhere, the Elroq’s design is more conventional, with the sides and rear being an attractive mixture of Karoq and Enyaq.  We particularly like the neat, sharp surface detailing on the flanks, and around the arches. We felt it particularly suited our test car’s optional Velvet Red metallic paint (£1,065).

The Elroq’s interior remains attractive and feels well-made, with clever use of the fabric on the dashboard to make it feel more upmarket, which we were told at the launch was goal. Our interior was in the ‘Lounge’ finish, but the ‘Lodge’ with its red details for items such as the seatbelts would be our choice, although it’s an extra £600. 

The Infotainment is via the familiar 13in touchscreen. It works well, but we wish we had physical control or the air-conditioning. The Kanton sound system 

The Elroq is spacious in the back, with plenty of headroom, but because of the battery placement, your knees are higher than you might expect. The boot is practical, and spacious with 470-litres. Plus, the ‘Simply Clever’ net underneath the parcel shelf for cables, makes you wonder why no other manufacturer has thought of this design touch. 

Performance and drive

Our Elroq was the range-topping 85 Edition, which has 282hp and can achieve a maximum range of 360 miles on the WLTP cycle. 

The Elroq is available with two other different battery sizes and powertrains. Outputs start at 168hp for the entry-level Elroq 50 model, with a 230-mile range. The Elroq 60 has 201hp, and a 260 mile range. 

All with the same 2% BIK figure, Skoda still believes the best-seller for fleet in the UK to be the 60 – in Edition spec – with Sportline spec not far behind. 

All Elroq’s charge at up to 175 kW at DC fast-charging stations, and the 82 kWh battery of our Elroq 85 can be charged from 10 to 80% in 28 minutes. Sadly, a heat pump is an £1,100 option, from SE-L spec and above.

On the road, sadly our 85 isn’t offered with the optional DCC adaptive dampers, but instead was fitted with optional 20in ‘Vega’ alloys in silver. This Elroq still generally rode well but had a noticeably more unsettled ride at low speeds. This is a shame, as it’s the supple, composed, and refined ride that is the highlight of an Elroq drive. So, we’d either fit smaller wheels, or choose the SportLine or vRS, where the Driver Package suspension is available. That supple ride equals some body roll, but overall, this Skoda is a tidy handling car, that’s more involving than the Kia EV3, with reasonably precise steering, and having driven the fastest Elroq, the vRS, it doesn’t feel far behind in performance terms. 

An Elroq 60 in the same ‘Edition’ or ‘SportLine’ trims, remains the fleet sweet spot.  Although, at £44,495 with options, we’re not sure our test car is a better value solution than the vRS, which starts at £46,560 - if performance is a priority. Overall, the Skoda Elroq is a deserved award-winner and remains our favourite Medium SUV.

Positive: Spacious and practical interior, clean exterior design, drives well, well-equipped

Negative: No optional adaptive DCC dampers, heat pump an option, needs more physical controls.

• Standard Equipment
  Heated front seats and steering wheel, wireless charging with active cooling, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, LED rear lights, 19in alloy wheels, 

• Engines: Electric: 282hp

• Equipment grades: SE, SE L, Edition, Sportline

• Transmission: Single-speed automatic