5 ways the Skoda Elroq stands out for value

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6 mins read

5 May 2010

The electric SUV market has never been more crowded – or more competitive. From budget newcomers to established European names, family buyers have more choice than ever before. But with more options comes more noise, and cutting through it to find the car that genuinely delivers on its promises is no easy task. That’s where our sister title What Car? comes in.

The Škoda Elroq earned itself a coveted five-star What Car? review, with the team declaring it “a five-star buy because it’s well-priced, practical, comfortable and good to drive.” What Car? also praised its real-world versatility, pointing out that the Elroq offers “a lot of interior space, but isn’t especially big on the outside” – a combination that sits at the heart of its family appeal. The Elroq also earned a maximum five-star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2025, making it one of the most well-rounded family EVs on sale.

On top of its five-star review, the Elroq was named Best Value Family Electric SUV at the 2026 What Car? Awards – the second consecutive year it has claimed the title. It’s a result that reflects just how consistently the Elroq outperforms rivals on the things that matter most to families: space, range, equipment and everyday usability. So, to find out exactly why the award-winning Škoda Elroq should be at the very top of your electric SUV shortlist, here are the five big reasons What Car? rates it so highly.

Test drive the award-winning Škoda Elroq

#1 Generous standard equipment

When What Car?’s judges handed the Elroq its trophy, one of the first things they highlighted was the sheer depth of standard kit. Even on the entry-level SE L 60, buyers get heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors and built-in sat-nav as standard. That’s a level of generosity that many rivals reserve for mid-spec or range-topping trim levels.

The rest of the standard equipment list is similarly impressive. Every Elroq comes with attractive alloy wheels, LED headlights, a 13.0in infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a rear-view camera, dual-zone climate control and cruise control. There’s even a neat ice scraper and an umbrella tucked into the door – the kind of ‘Smart, Spacious and Stylish’ thinking that Škoda has built its reputation on.

As What Car? observed, the Elroq’s standard kit alone helps to justify what you’d spend over a rival such as the MG S5 – and the judges noted that Škoda “hasn’t had to compromise in other areas to support such generosity.” You still get a 265-mile official range on the 60, competitive pricing and a refined, composed driving experience. For buyers looking to stretch the budget a little further, the optional Lodge interior adds two-tone faux leather upholstery and contrasting orange seat belts – a premium touch that doesn’t require a premium outlay.

#2 Competitive all-electric range

Range anxiety is still one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption, and Škoda has taken the issue seriously. The Elroq is available in three battery configurations to suit different driving habits. The entry-level Elroq 50 has an official range of 232 miles – comfortably enough for everyday errands and the school run. Step up to the Elroq 60 and you’re looking at an official 265 miles, which What Car?’s judges noted already beats the 211-mile range of the entry-level MG S5.

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For families with longer commutes or regular motorway miles, the Elroq 85’s 77kWh battery delivers an official 355 miles on a full charge. As What Car? pointed out, that’s enough to cover a trip from Birmingham to Edinburgh without stopping to charge. And when you do need to top up, rapid charging support means a 10–80% charge takes around 28 minutes – about the time it takes to grab a coffee and stretch your legs. Crucially, the Elroq supports battery preconditioning en route to a charging station, ensuring the pack is primed for rapid charging on arrival.

#3 Excellent ride and handling balance

One of the most underappreciated aspects of the Elroq’s appeal is how well it drives – especially for a car that prioritises comfort and practicality over outright sportiness. In its awards write-up, What Car? praised the Elroq’s ride for “striking a fine balance between suppleness and control,” and that verdict is backed up by the full five-star review.

According to What Car?, “the Elroq’s standard suspension absorbs imperfections in the road surface extremely well and delivers a controlled ride at all speeds.” Combine that with impressive body control on undulating country roads and a cabin that proved “fractionally quieter at 70mph than the Kia EV3, MG S5 and Renault Scenic” in a What Car? comparison test, and you have a car that makes long journeys genuinely relaxing.

It’s clear the Elroq is far from just a sensible pick, with What Car? road testers saying “the Elroq handles well for an electric SUV. It doesn’t feel as tall as many SUVs and feels more nimble because of it, with plenty of grip and neat body control helping it deal with quick changes of direction”.

#4 Impressive interior space

Space has always been a Škoda strength, and the Elroq is no exception. Despite sitting below the larger Enyaq in the range, it punches well above its weight for interior room. Up front, the driving position is well-judged and there’s plenty of adjustment. In the back, What Car? confirmed that “even a six-footer will have plenty of head and leg room to spare when sitting behind a similarly tall driver” – a genuine five-seat family car in a compact-SUV footprint.

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Storage throughout the cabin is equally thoughtful. What Car? noted “there are lots of handy storage cubbies between the Škoda Elroq’s front seats, plus its door bins are large and lined with felt so your possessions don’t rattle around.” A 470-litre boot with 60/40 split-folding rear seats and a ski hatch completes a practical package that will handle everything from the weekly shop to a weekend away.

Add the optional Transport Package and practicality goes up another notch, bringing a height-adjustable boot floor that smooths loading and a parcel shelf net designed to stow the charging cable neatly out of sight. As What Car?’s reviewer Oliver Young noted, “Škoda’s ‘Smart, Spacious and Stylish’ features are genuinely useful” – and in the Elroq, they crop up in all the right places.

#5 Temptingly priced

Ultimately, the reason the Elroq keeps winning awards – and the reason buyers keep choosing it over the opposition – comes down to value. Prices start from just over £30,000 after the UK Government’s £1500 Electric Car Grant is applied, and that extraordinary starting point already undercuts entry-level versions of smaller rivals including the Kia EV3 and the Volvo EX30.

What Car?’s judges put it best when they described the Elroq as being like Easyjet: “you can pay less for some of its competitors, but the slightly higher outlay is worth it for the much better experience it provides.” That value equation extends to running costs too – as a pure EV, the Elroq sits in the lowest Benefit-in-Kind tax band, making it an attractive proposition for company car drivers as well as private buyers.

So, those are the five big reasons why the Škoda Elroq has been named Best Value Family Electric SUV at the What Car? Awards for the second year running. Generous standard equipment, competitive range, a supple and composed ride, impressive interior space and tempting pricing add up to a package that's hard to beat in the family electric SUV class. If you’re in the market for a new car, perhaps it's time to try it for yourself.

Test drive the award-winning Škoda Elroq