SKODA ELROQ

One of the best crossover EVs arrives in a smaller form

- SAM PHILLIPS

The all-new Elroq is Skoda's second bespoke EV after the Enyaq and marks the Czech firm's assault on the bustling electric compact SUV class.

At 4488mm long, 1884mm wide and 1625mm tall, it is marginally bigger than the Ford Explorer and Renault Scenic, so think of it as the electric equivalent of the Karoq.

It's not a reworked version of that ICE car, though: it's based on the Volkswagen Group's EV-specific MEB platform, like the Enyaq.

But while its underpinnings aren't anything new, its design very much is, because the Elroq is the first model to adopt Skoda's new Modern Solid design language.

Up front, there's a distinctive new Tech Deck face, featuring a black bar that spans the width of the front end, and the clamshell bonnet features the 'Skoda' name written across its leading edge instead of a badge.

While the new design language has brought clean surfaces and a sloping roofline, the car's silhouette has also been sculpted to benefit aerodynamics: various elements, including some active parts, give it a drag coefficient of 0.26, slightly better than the closely related Cupra Born.

Skoda UK predicts that the mid-level 60 will account for 60% of Elroq sales. That car costs from £33,350 and uses a 63kWh battery (model names are roughly indicative of battery size) and a single, rear-mounted 201bhp motor for an official range of 260 miles.

For around £2000 less, you can have the entry-level 50, which is powered by a 52kWh battery and 168bhp motor for a 232-mile range.