Skoda Elroq 2025 review: Australian preview drive

The giant Volkswagen Group might have been late to the electric car party in Australia but it is making up for lost time.

The Skoda Elroq is the latest in a wave of new electric metal from the Group in the past 12 months and it joins the larger Enyaq in Skoda’s EV stable Down Under.

Skoda Australia is quick to point out that while the Elroq might be smaller than the Enyaq on the outside it has the same wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear axles — which means it is just as spacious inside as the larger SUV. This is achieved by pushing all four wheels to the corners and having extremely short front and rear overhangs.

So, think Toyota Corolla Cross or Hyundai Kona size rather than RAV4 or Tesla Model Y dimensions.

It’s sharply priced, too, with the two-tier range kicking off at $54,990, before on-road costs, for the base 85 Select grade and rising to $64,990 for the fully-loaded 130 Edition.

That’s more than similar-sized alternatives such as the BYD Atto 3 and MG ES5, but in the ballpark of the Kia EV5, Tesla Model Y and XPeng G6.

There’s plenty of standard kit for the spend.

Both Elroq variants are fitted with an 82kWh Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery that provides a driving range of up to 529km via the benchmark WLTP test cycle.

This is paired with a single rear-mounted electric motor that sends 210kW and 545Nm to the rear wheels, which is enough to deliver a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.6 seconds.

It has a max DC charging rate of 175kW and 11kW for AC charging.

Those looking at the 85 grade can expect 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless locking and starting and heated power folding side mirrors.

Inside there is a 13-inch multimedia screen that is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless device charger completes the cordless connectivity.

The seats are wrapped in sustainable materials made from recycled plastics and fishnets, and the front seats are heated but lack power adjustment. The leather-bound steering wheel is heated, too.

Stepping up to the 130 Edition variant gains you 21-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights (with cornering lights) and animated LED tail-lights.

Inside customers gain a head-up display that projects vital information such as travelling speed and safety warnings onto the windscreen in front of the driver. This is joined by power-adjustment with a memory and massage function for the front seats, heating in the back seats, a 12-speaker Canton stereo system, a bird’s eye view camera and premium interior finishes. The 130 Edition adds a pop of colour with its orange seatbelts, too.

The boot is 470 litres, which is on par for this size of car. 

Colour options are fairly subdued with the 85 available in white, grey, green and blue, with the 130 Edition adding a red option.

Safety is stacked in both versions with all the bases covered. The Elroq has not yet been independently crash tested.

Sitting inside the Elroq it feels like a premium vehicle, the cabin is well thought out and the quality and attention to detail are noticeable compared to some newer market entrants.

The larger multimedia screen is crisp and easy to reach and there are shortcut buttons beneath it for the climate control and drive modes, which makes it easier to adjust on the move.

The digital driver display is small at just five inches, but has all the necessary information. It works better when paired with the head-up display in the pricier 130 Edition.

Storage options are plentiful with big compartments in the doors and numerous options in the two-tier centre console and on the floor in the centre of the rear pew.

And don't forget the very Skoda-esq touches such as the umbrella in the driver's door and nifty boot accessories like a reversible floor mat, moveable net and easily attachable holders to stop items moving around.

And the Elroq is covered by the brand's very competitive seven-year/unlimited km warranty.

It's too far from launch to talk about capped price servicing, but the larger Enyaq only requires owners to make scheduled visits every 30,000km or two years, so expect something similar for the Elroq.

We took a pre-production version of the Elroq for a short test on private roads, and it’s unlikely much will change from the version we drove.

A quick initial impression shows the Elroq delivers exactly what you’d expect from Skoda. It’s a sharp driving SUV, with good body control through the corners, well weighted steering that delivers confidence in the car’s ability through tight, consistent turns and it's quick without being over the top.

It also gets its hefty outputs onto the ground through just the back two tyres remarkably well, the power delivery is linear and there is no hint of wheel slip despite grand performance figures.

This short taste shows the Elroq’s promise but we’ll have to reserve judgement until we get a more extended drive on public roads later this year.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with meals provided.