Skoda has revealed the electrical mannequin it hopes will assist it develop into a significant participant on the European EV scene. The Skoda Elroq is a brand new battery-powered crossover that guarantees to mix the model’s newest design philosophy with a protracted vary, affordability and practicality.
It’s barely longer, taller and wider than a Volkswagen ID.3, with which it shares the MEB platform, nevertheless it prices about the identical with a low beginning worth in some markets of €33,000 ($36,500) earlier than any native authorities incentives and reductions are utilized. The bottom model is known as the Elroq 50, and it contains a 55-kilowatt-hour battery with a internet capability of 52 kWh and a single 168-horsepower motor driving the rear wheels. It accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standstill in 9 seconds.
This base model has a WLTP vary of 230 miles (370 km), and if that’s not sufficient, you possibly can transfer as much as the Elroq 60, whose battery has a bigger internet capability of 59 kWh and 248 miles (400 km) of vary. It additionally contains a extra highly effective 204 hp motor that drops the acceleration determine to eight.5 seconds.
The highest mannequin, the Elroq 85, has a battery with 77 kWh, and it could possibly journey as much as 347 miles (560 km) on one cost. Its single rear motor makes 282 hp, and it sends the car to 62 mph from naught in 6.6 seconds. If you would like all-wheel drive, you’ll have to await the Elroq 85X, which has the identical battery capability however a extra highly effective 300 hp dual-motor configuration. It’s going to ultimately be added to the vary, however Skoda didn’t say when.
Charging energy varies relying on the battery pack. Elroqs geared up with the bottom battery cost at 145 kW; these with the center battery get a lift to 165 kW whereas these with the biggest battery can peak at 175 kW. That’s sufficient for a ten to 80% cost in 25, 24 and 28 minutes, respectively.
The Elroq debuts Skoda’s new household design referred to as the Tech Deck Face, which contains a two-tier format with daytime working lights on high and separate headlights decrease on the fascia. It appears to be like nice, and it must be considered one of our favourite purposes of a two-tier design whereas additionally serving to the car obtain a low drag coefficient of simply 0.26, which is barely higher than the VW ID.3’s 0.263, though this can be a taller car with a bigger frontal space.
Despite the fact that it suits into the compact crossover dimension bracket, there’s truly loads of house contained in the Elroq, with wonderful ranges of rear knee and shoulder room. The trunk’s most load quantity is 16.6 cubic ft (470 liters), and it may be expanded to 55.8 cu-ft (1,580 liters) with the rear seat folded flat.
Some EVs have an underfloor compartment within the trunk or a frunk the place you possibly can retailer your charging cable. Many don’t have a devoted spot for it, so it typically finally ends up sliding across the trunk when you drive. Skoda put elastic netting underneath the parcel shelf, and it’s such an excellent thought we surprise why it took so lengthy for a producer to provide you with this answer.
There’s additionally an umbrella within the driver’s door, and the included ice scraper additionally serves as a tire put on gauge. The 13-inch infotainment display screen is complemented by a row of bodily shortcut buttons beneath, and the onboard voice assistant referred to as Laura is powered by ChatGPT, so it ought to be capable of “reply common information questions.”