Skoda Elroq review – Electric motor, drive & performance

We were pleasantly surprised at how the Elroq drove when we tested it on UK roads, because it feels as though it’s well judged all-round. We like the sturdy, stable feel it has on the move. It’s firm enough that it doesn’t wallow round corners, and yet it’s supple enough that imperfections in the road don’t end up jiggling the occupants around uncomfortably. Our test car sat on the 20-inch alloy wheels, and we think comfort would be further improved on the smaller 19-inchers.

Sure, the Skoda Elroq isn’t intended to be a driver’s car, but it’s certainly easy to drive and notably smooth. Because the throttle pedal is long, it’s easy to modulate the power input.

You can drive the Elroq in either ‘D’ or ‘B’ driving modes. ‘D’ means the Elroq drives in a way that’s more similar to a conventional automatic car, or ‘B’ makes the regenerative braking stronger so you’ll have to touch the brakes much less yourself – letting off the accelerator will apply the brakes. We wish this was a bit stronger, though, because there’s not quite enough force there for one-pedal driving. The brake pedal can feel rather soft initially until you press harder and it transitions to mechanical braking, making for an odd sensation. Go for SportLine trim and you get paddles on the steering wheel which allow you to adjust the strength of the regenerative braking, though we wish this was included on all models.

Is the Skoda Elroq good to drive in town?

The Elroq’s steering is rather light, and it’s got an impressively tight turning circle – tighter, in fact, than a MINI Cooper’s. That means it’s nimble enough to drive around town and in car parks.

Is the Skoda Elroq good to drive on long journeys?

The Skoda Elroq is well refined for the most part, though we noticed just a little bit of wind noise from the wing mirrors at speed. There’s plenty of punch supplied by the Elroq 85’s motor for comfortable and effortless overtaking on the motorway.

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Is the Skoda Elroq good to drive on B-roads?

The Skoda Elroq is hardly a car you’d buy as a driving enthusiast, so if that’s what you’re after you’d be better served by a BMW iX1. It’s at least powerful and capable enough, especially in Elroq 85 guise.

0-62mph and top speed

There are three power options available for the Skoda Elroq, badged Elroq 50, Elroq 60 and Elroq 85. Despite the difference in power between the entry-level and top-spec models, we think either version is punchy enough. Most buyers will be happy with the 168bhp on offer in the Elroq 50 because acceleration feels quick enough for most applications.

Carbuyer notes

“Driving the Skoda Elroq won’t set your heart racing, in fact it’ll probably do the opposite thanks to how comfortable and soothing the ride is.” Ellis Hyde, news reporter