Skoda Elroq review – Range, charging & running costs

The Skoda Elroq is the brand’s second fully-electric car after the Enyaq. It has a respectable range figure, but if you’re looking for an Elroq that can take you far you’ll need to spring for the model with the largest battery, the 85.

Entry-level Elroq 50 models get the smallest 52kWh battery. Its range figure is about on par with that of the entry-level Hyundai Kona Electric, but that car is more expensive than the Elroq. A base-spec Kia EV3 or Renault Scenic will do around 260 miles, but these are also more expensive.

Charging speeds vary depending on the version. The Elroq 50 can charge at 145kW, meaning a 10-80% top up could take you just 25 minutes. The Elroq 60 may have a larger battery, but quicker 165kW charging speeds mean the same top up could take just 24 minutes. Similarly, the Elroq 85 gets 175kW charging speeds, so topping up its 77kWh battery takes about 28 minutes.

It’s a shame the Skoda Elroq doesn’t come as standard with a heat pump to keep the battery at optimal operating temperatures to conserve range in wintry conditions. It will set you back £1,000 while the Kia EV3 and Renault Scenic get them as standard fit – we think it’s an essential, so bear this extra cost in mind when you weigh it up against the competition.

How efficient is the Skoda Elroq in the real world?

During our time with the Skoda Elroq 85 in Mallorca, Spain we managed 3.7 miles per kWh, which works out at about 285 miles of range on a full charge in the real world. Similarly, efficiency was rated at 3.7 miles per kWh on a mixed route in the UK in very cold weather in the Skoda Elroq 60, equating to about 218 miles of range. That wasn’t bad considering the lack of heat pump, and we have no doubt things will improve greatly on a warmer day.

What will the Skoda Elroq cost to insure?

For now it’s just the Elroq 50 and Elroq 85 that are on sale in the UK. The entry-level 50 starts in insurance group 22, while the higher-spec 85 sits in group 32. To put that into perspective, the entry-level Renault Scenic starts in a higher group: group 28 out of 50. However, both the Renault Scenic and Skoda Elroq’s more potent longer-range models sit in group 32.