It’s taken an awfully long time, but inexpensive EVs from non-Chinese automakers are seriously improving, and the latest promising machine is the Skoda Elroq. Not only is it surprisingly inexpensive and touting more than 200 miles of range, but it doesn’t look like a penalty box or a suppository. As far as inexpensive EVs go, this feels like a big step forward for Europe in the race to catch up with China, and it’s the sort of electric vehicle that could do well in America, if there was ever a chance of it coming here.
Believe it or not, this isn’t just another compact electric crossover entering a saturated market. The Skoda Elroq is actually a subcompact electric crossover, meaning it’s about the size of a Subaru Crosstrek, Chevrolet Trax, or Honda HR-V. Logically, this is the next frontier for electric crossovers as buyers tend to skew younger, so let’s see what we’re working with here.
Under the skin of the base Elroq 50, you’ll find a fairly small battery pack with 52 kWh of net capacity, but Skoda still claims more than 230 miles of range on the optimistic WLTP cycle. That’s still plenty enough for many urban and suburban dwellers, and with peak DC fast charging rates of 175 kW, it should be fairly quick to top off the base Elroq’s battery pack on the go. As for power, a single rear-mounted electric motor kicks out 170 horsepower, which seems like plenty enough to keep up with traffic. So far, good stuff from the base trim.
Of course, should you want more power and range out of an Elroq, who’s Skoda to stop you from spending more money? The Elroq 60 features a battery pack with a 59 kWh net capacity, a claimed 250 miles of range on the WLTP cycle, and 204 horsepower. Want to go really big? Then there’s the Elroq 80, with 77 kWh of net battery capacity, a claimed WLTP range of 360 miles, and 286 rampaging horsepower. That last one ought to genuinely move out, and it’s the only Elroq that can top the ton, being limited to 111 mph instead of 99 mph like all other configurations. All-wheel-drive is expected to come later, adding a little extra traction for wintry climates.
Right, high-voltage bits discussed, let’s talk styling. The first thing you’ll notice about the Elroq is that it’s actually quite handsome. Up front, a single panel of black plastic does a remarkably good job of hiding all the sensors necessary for advanced driver assistance systems, while the silhouette doesn’t look overinflated or anything like that. Add in Skoda’s signature blend of restrained creases, and you end up with a cheap electric crossover you’d actually want to look at. That’s a win.
Oh, and there’s more good news. On the inside, you’ll actually find real buttons and knobs on the steering wheel and dashboard. A standard 13-inch touchscreen ensures that even the interior of the base car looks expensive, the interior door handles are artfully sculpted, and the only piano black plastic you’ll find is on the lower spoke of the steering wheel. Well done, Skoda.
Speaking of surprising goodness, Skoda built a reputation for offering clever stuff, and the Elroq is no different. There’s dedicated space for an umbrella in each front door pocket, an integrated ice scraper and tire tread depth gauge, and you can even get a parcel shelf with integrated storage space for charging cables. See, now that’s just a good idea.
But here’s the best part: The Elroq starts at just €33,900. Remove the baked-in 20 percent Value Added Tax and convert to American dollars, and you end up at a shade under $32,000. Yeah, that’s a rock-solid price for something of this sort.
While the Elroq won’t make it to North America, there is some hope for something similar, seeing as it rides on the same MEB platform Volkswagen is building in America. While Volkswagen’s current ID-dot-number naming system doesn’t allow for a ton of space between the ID.4 compact crossover and the not-for-North America ID.3 hatchback, perhaps an exception can be made. After all, North Americans love a crossover, and having something both electric and Taos-sized in Volkswagen showrooms is simply sensical.
(Photo credits: Skoda)
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This is VW we’re talking about. They won’t release it here. Then whine that “Americans don’t want EV’s”. Despite having a middling crossover and a very expensive van as their only models on sale.
The AWD model would sell well. Pull a Subaru and make it AWD only.
Call me when we Skoda releases an Octavia EV and it’s made available in the US.
Still too big and still too expensive. Auto journos really need to recalibrate to correct for all the bloat over the last decade.
But CUVs are what people are actually buying…
If people actually wanted tiny EVs, Fiat wouldn’t have to explain to the Italian Parliament why they idled the 500e factory…
I’m going to support Fjord here and say Golf size is what we need more of. 500e is a novelty. Also, this move to giant wheel sizes is just bad packaging. You build a big vehicle and then take a hit to the space efficiency by carving out huge wheel wells and suspension geometry. Not to mention the increased un-sprung weight. 16″ max on a non sports decent commuter.
Also, people are buying CUVs because, well, what other choices are out there if you want a smaller hatch? Self fulfilling prophecy stuff…
500e is also expensive. If they were under $20k there would be more buyers. I mean, people are buying Mirages and they can’t be buying them for any reason other than they are the cheapest new car they can buy.
Looks like a decent car. It is not “dirt cheap.” The Autopian is great and the name of the site implies that positivity is a goal — but that doesn’t mean we have to have a headline that implies that the price is one of the most important pieces of information in the article, only to then discover that the actual price is buried near the end of the article because it isn’t really headline-worthy.
Sure, it’s cheaper than the cheapest Tesla and current Chevrolet EVs (ignoring any potential subsidies), but it’s also more expensive than the Nissan Leaf and the price the Chevy Bolt used to be available at. And it’s certainly not “dirt cheap” relative to the cost of some of the Chinese EVs or even the Mitsubishi Mirage (not an EV, but as close as we get to “dirt cheap” in the US).
I like the styling quite a bit more than the VW ID family.
I’d have to see it in person, but the interior looks fairly livable.
‘ID-dot naming system’
Swap that 2nd d for an i and you have a pretty decent adjective describing how I at least feel about said naming system
Just bring it to America and call it the ID.3.
Taken. That’s what they call the ID golf replacement in Europe. ID.3.5?
It’s my impression that VW is not above having a confusing global lineup. Call it the ID.3X or whatever if necessary.
Elroq? Enyaq? Epiq? Where does Skoda get these names? OK, I sorta get Epiq, but Elroq, what is that, Elroy’s Muslim cousin? And Enyaq, what, the ride’s so bad it makes you hurl? Tried looking these terms up on the off chance that these are real words in some language, but no joy, and, apparently, gibberish doesn’t translate.
Don’t take Elroq if pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Also don’t park in garage with Lyriq as undesireable side effects may occur.
Elroq (El Rok) is Czech for “Electric Year”
Be grateful they didn’t choose Czech model names and spellings. Almost nobody would know what they are talking about.
ooh, I just had an idea!
ChatGPT, please create a car commercial for Skoda, with all the model names in Czech. Use Morgan Freeman’s voice for the voice over.
Sure, here we go. New from the land of great Pilsner and crystal, comes the affordable Toyota bZ4X…
American EV manufacturers may benefit from making small cheap EVs that are not halo, technology-filled luxury status symbols.
This is VW trying to keep up with Chevy selling the best version of the Blazer EV as a Honda.
The best VW MEB car is a Skoda?
Personally I’d rather have a range extended BEV. Where I’m at now 120v AC charging at home is all I can manage, being able to go 50 miles (under optimal conditions) would be more than plenty, and even with an ICE range extender the weight should be a lot less than an equivalent range BEV.
Hmmm, a wrecked Elroq 80 seems like a great donor for some older JDM tin I have laying around….
Right? 286hp in a CRX would be a blast. You’d be adding some real weight, but still sounds fun
I really don’t like this trend of spelling out company names instead of using logos. The badge on the front looks ridiculous.
I’m not a crossover person (no kids and I live on a paved road), but it is refreshing to see that this has normal door handles, no wraparound glass roof, no wacky LED trim strips, and real knobs and buttons instead of screens for everything
“It’s not just a boulder, it’s Elroq”
Some say the pioneers used to ride those babies for miles.
And carry them on their shoulders through neck deep snow, to school and back every day.
It’s important that they don’t get too wet
Elroq (El Rok) is Czech for “Electric Year”