Louth Motors: Solid as an Elroq

The Elroq is the all electric replacement of the Karoq for the compact SUV sector. That, as I’m sure you know, is a very competitive sector containing the likes of the VW ID.4, the Peugeot e-3008, Cupra Tavascan and Kia Niro.

In fact it is practically the same size as the Nissan Qashqai to focus it in your mind. It shares the same platform with the Cupra Born, the Cupra Tavascan, the Ford Capri and the Skoda Enyaq for a total of other 12 distinct models in the VW group.

That sharing goes even further and Skoda who use the slogan “Simply Clever” also use the same doors, wings and interior design on the Elroq from the Enyaq.

I have often referred to Stellantis using the same interior switches across a lot of their brands but maybe the VW group, and Skoda here, are outdoing them.

That expression the more things change the more they stay the same is taken to a whole new level here.

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The Elroq looks like the Enyaq with some changes. The grille is small whilst trying not to be a grille and the front lights are a lot thinner. There is no logo on the front, just the letters Skoda.

I prefer the Elroq’s looks with its aerodynamic profile and, as is always used when describing cars, sleeker look.

That helps a lot with fuel consumption which is an important consideration when deciding on what electric car to buy in terms of range. 571 kms for the 82kWh battery version by the way and it can recharge from 10% to 80% in 28 mins at a maximum charging rate of 175 kW.

You can also get a 55 kWh and 63 kWh battery versions in a five model, two trim model lineup with pricing ranging between €36,545 and €50,360.

The naming convention is a bit confusing that does not align to the battery size being simply confusing.

Recharging anxiety as more EVs hit the road and additional & bigger chargers become available is more of an issue than range anxiety.

The Elroq is a spacious and practical car and forces you to consider the need for the extra space you get in an Enyaq.

A lot of people like to be looking at the extra space but do they actually need it?

ABOVE: The interior of the new Skoda Elroq 85 Sportline

And a lot of people are deciding to buy the Elroq with it being the 11th best selling EV in Ireland boosted by buoyant sales for the 252 reg plate that took sales from other brands with the Enyaq still selling strongly.

The Elroq is a car that lets you forget about it being electric and gives quite a decent drive.

It responds well to right foot demands and like most EVs is very torquey and peppy.

The handling is not something that draws your attention in a negative way which I suppose is a positive. Those low set batteries help enormously with that planted feel when the bends arrive.

All the sounds you previously got from a non-electric car are eliminated or reproduced and replicated by the sound system. Is anything real anymore?

The road and wind noise therefore becomes important with both ideally kept to a minimum, which the Elroq does.

Performance of 0-100km/h takes just 6.6s in the 85 model I drove, helped no end by a power output of 210kW in my 85 Sportline model.

The rear seats are split and fold obviously but the Simply Clever mantra deserted the designers a bit as they don’t fold flat which is usually the default requirement these days.

When folded the low loading boot capacity rises from 470litres to 1,580 litres and there's a further 48litres of welcome storage space around the cabin.

I was also a bit surprised that they didn't find a place to store the charging lead in some sort of a frunk where there appears to be loads of space opting for an alternative solution using a net under the parcel shelf.

I’m not totally sold on that idea with weight and reverberation playing on my mind. Passengers are kept comfortable and relaxed, the way it should be and the Elroq is a very easy car to drive.

The interior builds on the desirable interior from the Enyaq and is very well laid out. I would say the only place you’d notice that the Elroq is smaller is in the middle rear seat.

The sveltest of adults will only appreciate its width which is a common issue with a lot of cars in the sector.

Headroom is good and visibility for all passengers is most welcome making the cabin feel quite airy.

Materials are excellent which is becoming increasingly common on all sorts of cars as it's simply not acceptable in a new car these days to have inferior materials.

It's our most interactive area with the car and has to be rewarding.

There is a tremendous amount of tech and controls onboard that warrants the label laden.

Controls are most probably dictated by the VW Group and are mainly touch with the manual buttons providing more of a shortcut to the screen rather than functional control.

It's the current way but I’m positive this will be rowed back more and more through driver demands/preference and legislation.

This is one area where the argument that car companies deliver what the customers want is holed below the waterline.
I managed 16.8kWh/100km for an effective range of 505kms.

The long term recording for multiple drivers suggested an average of 467kms which is pretty amazing considering this is fellow motoring journalists.

The Elroq scores highly in terms of looks, specification, ride, safety and practicality which is exactly what a car in this sector must do to sell and in doing so Skoda are reaping the sales reward accordingly.

For the sweet spot of the range the 85 model with the 82kWh battery for €42,315 in Timlano Green makes the most sense and would be my choice.