Skoda Elroq long-term test

The car Skoda Elroq Edition 85 Run by George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Why it’s here To find out whether Skoda’s smallest electric SUV can deliver the all-round greatness it promises

Needs to Be comfortable, practical and easy to live with in a city. A good real-world range will be important, too 

Miles covered 5252 List price £38,650 Best Price £31,995 Price as tested £44,485 Official range 360 miles Test range 285 miles Private price now £29,780 Dealer price now £26,550 Running costs (excluding depreciation) £693 (charging)

9 December 2025 – Crossing the finish line

Electric cars are a lot like Olympic athletes. Some explode off the line with incredible speed but tire quickly, while others maintain a steady pace and go the distance. After living with my Skoda Elroq for the last six months, I can confirm it’s the latter.

This has been a real relief for me because, as I mentioned in my first report, this is my first electric car and, like plenty of new EV owners, I was genuinely concerned about range. Thankfully, the Elroq has shown that I needn’t have worried. As the range-topping 85 model with its large 77kWh battery, it has delivered a real-world range of 293 miles in warm summer weather. While that falls short of its official 360-mile figure, it’s still impressive and broadly on par with the official ranges of rivals, including the BYD Sealion 7 Comfort and Smart #3 Premium. Its winter range of around 260 miles isn’t far off those competitors, either.

With such a good range, I’ve managed to do some very long journeys in the Elroq. The first was a trip from London to Wales and back, where I only had to charge overnight at my destination in Cardiff. The second test, arguably, was more challenging, doing a round trip from London to Cornwall, but the car took the journey in its stride, with one charge stop on each leg and a destination charge at both ends. Helpfully, the 175kW maximum charge rate meant that on both charge stops, I didn’t have to wait for more than 30 minutes to top up with a 150kW public charger.

There’s more to the Elroq than just range and charging, though, because I’ve really enjoyed driving it. For starters, the ride is superb (even with the optional 20in alloys fitted to my car) and the suspension does an excellent job of soaking up harsh bumps and cracks in the road. It handles corners pretty well, too, providing a fantastic balance between comfort and handling. In fact, I’d go as far to say it’s one of the most comfortable electric SUVs I’ve driven, and in my opinion is far superior to the Tesla Model Y.

Space has never been an issue during my time with the Elroq. I’m reasonably tall at 6ft2in, but I’ve had no leg room complaints from passengers who sat behind me on long journeys. Head room in the back is very good, too, as is boot space. I’ve filled my car with golf clubs, suitcases, supermarket shopping, and many other things, and had no issues.

Like most other Skodas, the Elroq comes with a lot of kit as standard. My Edition-spec car has a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control and a wireless phone-charging pad. Still, if your budget can stretch to it, I’d recommend going for the Advance Pack. It gives you a charge cable storage net (under the parcel shelf), a 360-degree reversing camera, a head-up display and an electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function. I will admit, it’s an expensive option at £4150, but I’ve used each of these features on almost a daily basis, helping to justify the cost.

Admittedly, this report reads like my time with the Elroq has been an endless honeymoon, but there have been a couple issues. Early on, an electrical glitch caused the front window switches to play up, sending the window down when I pulled the switch to raise it, though this hasn’t happened in a while. I’ve also found the climate controls to be frustratingly fiddly, especially when adjusting the fan speed, which requires tapping a physical button to open the climate menu and then using an on-screen adjuster. The set-up in the Renault Scenic is a lot more intuitive. 

These are minor issues, though. And after six months, my Elroq has proved itself not as the electric equivalent of a flashy 100m sprinter, but as a true marathon specialist – the sort of athlete that quietly covers each mile with purpose. Its long-legged range, comfort, practicality and everyday usability have all reinforced our decision of giving it our 2025 Family Electric SUV of the Year Award. Yes, there have been a couple of stumbles along the route, but nothing has thrown it off its rhythm. And as any seasoned endurance runner will tell you, that’s what really counts: maintaining a steady, confident pace all the way to the finish. In that respect, the Elroq has felt right at home from the starter pistol to where we find ourselves now. It’s a car that I’d happily recommend.

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