2025 Skoda Elroq electric car revealed, due in Australia next year
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Skoda’s BYD Atto 3 competitor is due in Australian showrooms mid-next year, boasting driving range of up to 581km.
The 2025 Skoda Elroq small electric SUV has been unveiled as the VW-owned Czech car maker’s smallest dedicated EV yet, rated for up to 581km of driving range.
Unlike the larger Enyaq – which took four years to reach Australia – the Elroq is due in local Skoda dealers in July 2025, nine months after its global debut.
The Elroq is similar in size to the petrol Skoda Karoq – as well as electric rivals such as the BYD Atto 3, Kia EV3 and Hyundai Kona Electric.
Prices are likely to undercut the Enyaq in Australia – which starts from $69,990 plus on-road costs – and sit closer to the circa-$50,000 price bracket of its main competitors.
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In some European countries, the new electric Skoda will start from €33,000 ($AU53,000) – similar to a base-model Karoq, which in Australia starts from $40,990 drive-away.
Underpinning the Elroq is the MEB electric-car platform used under most of the Volkswagen Group’s electric vehicles, including the Enyaq.
It is available with three battery capacities – 52kWh, 59kWh and 77kWh usable – and rear- or all-wheel drive, offering up to 220kW.
The Elroq debuts Skoda’s new ‘Modern Solid’ design language, with a new front-end design known as the ‘Tech-Deck Face’ – replacing the traditional Skoda grille with a thin black panel between the lights.
The headlights are split – with the daytime-running light strips separate from the main beams – while the bonnet eschews the Skoda badge in favour of dark chrome ‘SKODA’ lettering, a first for the Czech car maker.
Matrix LED headlights with 36 light segments are available, as well as LED tail-lights, alloy wheels up to 21 inches in diameter are available, and a new Timiano Green exterior colour.
Measuring 4488mm long, 1884mm wide and 1625mm tall, on a 2765mm wheelbase, the Elroq is 33mm longer overall, 9mm wider, 10mm taller and 45mm longer in wheelbase than a BYD Atto 3.
A Sportline variant is available for the near-two-tonne electric SUV, which adds blacked-out exterior trim, suede and synthetic leather-look trim, sports seats, and its most powerful guise, lowered suspension and progressive sports steering.
Inside, a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen sits in the centre of the dashboard – incorporating ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) technology – while a small 5.3-inch instrument display is placed ahead of the driver.
The Elroq is the first Skoda to be fitted with a steering wheel wearing the new ‘SKODA’ nameplate across the line-up, rather than the brand’s signature logo.
As with other new Skoda models, there are touch-sensitive slider controls under the touchscreen, but the Elroq also gains a row of physical shortcut buttons for drive modes, park assist, and to open the climate-control menu on the touchscreen.
Available features include an augmented-reality head-up display, wireless phone charging, heated front and rear seats, and tri-zone climate control.
Sustainable materials are used throughout the Elroq’s cabin, with Recytitan fibre upholstery in models with the Design Selection ‘Loft’ interior that consists of 78 per cent recycled PET plastic from water bottles.
Cars with the ‘Lodge’ interior use a material known as TechnoFil, which is produced from 75 per cent recycled Econyl fibres – sourced from nylon waste, such as fishing nets, fabric scraps and landfill-bound carpets – and 25 per cent polyester, with orange highlights.
New versions of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ interior features debut in the Elroq, including a storage net on the underside of the parcel shelf for storing the charging cable, as well as a QR code in the boot offering easy access to tutorials on how to use features in the car.
There’s also an ice scraper in the tailgate that doubles as a tyre tread depth indicator.
Skoda claims a boot capacity of 470 litres – compared to 588L in a Karoq with the removable VarioFlex rear seats – expanding to 1580L with the rear seats folded.
Powering the base Elroq 50 is a lithium-ion battery with a 52kWh usable capacity (or 55kWh gross), matched with a 125kW/310Nm rear-mounted electric motor for a WLTP driving range rating of 375km, and 0-100km/h in nine seconds.
The Elroq 60 upgrades to a 59kWh (usable, or 63kWh gross) battery and 150kW/310Nm electric motor, said to be capable of a WLTP range of more than 400km, 0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds, and a 160km/h top speed matching the 50.
Stepping up to the Elroq 85 adds a 77kWh (usable, or 82kWh gross) battery and 210kW rear motor, good for a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.6 seconds, 581km of WLTP range, and 180km/h top speed.
Due in 2025 is the Elroq 85x, which adds a front electric motor for a combined output of 220kW, and “more than” 560km of WLTP range.
Skoda claims DC fast charging is offered at up to 145kW in the 50, 165kW in the 60 and 175kW in the 85 and 85x, for claimed 10 to 80 per cent recharge times of 25, 24 and 28 minutes respectively.
AC home charging at up to 11kW is available – for full charges in 5.5 to eight hours, depending on model – with a battery pre-conditioning feature on offer to pre-heat or cool the battery pack when en route to a fast charger for optimal top-up times.
Available safety features include nine airbags, adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, and remote parking features allowing the Elroq to be manoeuvred from the owner’s phone when standing up to four metres away.
The 2025 Skoda Elroq is due in Australia in July next year, pending any further delays.
A First Edition variant will be available at launch in Europe, with red-accented 21-inch wheels, two-tone paint, an illuminated ‘Tech-Deck’ faux grille insert, unique bumpers, and upholstery comprised of TechnoFil fabric and synthetic leather-look material.
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