The Skoda Elroq Is A Dirt-Cheap Electric Crossover That Would Be Perfect For America

It’s taken an awfully long time, but inexpensive EVs from non-Chinese automakers are seriously improving, and the latest promising machine is the Skoda Elroq. Not only is it surprisingly inexpensive and touting more than 200 miles of range, but it doesn’t look like a penalty box or a suppository. As far as inexpensive EVs go, this feels like a big step forward for Europe in the race to catch up with China, and it’s the sort of electric vehicle that could do well in America, if there was ever a chance of it coming here.

Believe it or not, this isn’t just another compact electric crossover entering a saturated market. The Skoda Elroq is actually a subcompact electric crossover, meaning it’s about the size of a Subaru Crosstrek, Chevrolet Trax, or Honda HR-V. Logically, this is the next frontier for electric crossovers as buyers tend to skew younger, so let’s see what we’re working with here.

Under the skin of the base Elroq 50, you’ll find a fairly small battery pack with 52 kWh of net capacity, but Skoda still claims more than 230 miles of range on the optimistic WLTP cycle. That’s still plenty enough for many urban and suburban dwellers, and with peak DC fast charging rates of 175 kW, it should be fairly quick to top off the base Elroq’s battery pack on the go. As for power, a single rear-mounted electric motor kicks out 170 horsepower, which seems like plenty enough to keep up with traffic. So far, good stuff from the base trim.

Of course, should you want more power and range out of an Elroq, who’s Skoda to stop you from spending more money? The Elroq 60 features a battery pack with a 59 kWh net capacity, a claimed 250 miles of range on the WLTP cycle, and 204 horsepower. Want to go really big? Then there’s the Elroq 80, with 77 kWh of net battery capacity, a claimed WLTP range of 360 miles, and 286 rampaging horsepower. That last one ought to genuinely move out, and it’s the only Elroq that can top the ton, being limited to 111 mph instead of 99 mph like all other configurations. All-wheel-drive is expected to come later, adding a little extra traction for wintry climates.

Right, high-voltage bits discussed, let’s talk styling. The first thing you’ll notice about the Elroq is that it’s actually quite handsome. Up front, a single panel of black plastic does a remarkably good job of hiding all the sensors necessary for advanced driver assistance systems, while the silhouette doesn’t look overinflated or anything like that. Add in Skoda’s signature blend of restrained creases, and you end up with a cheap electric crossover you’d actually want to look at. That’s a win.

Oh, and there’s more good news. On the inside, you’ll actually find real buttons and knobs on the steering wheel and dashboard. A standard 13-inch touchscreen ensures that even the interior of the base car looks expensive, the interior door handles are artfully sculpted, and the only piano black plastic you’ll find is on the lower spoke of the steering wheel. Well done, Skoda.

Speaking of surprising goodness, Skoda built a reputation for offering clever stuff, and the Elroq is no different. There’s dedicated space for an umbrella in each front door pocket, an integrated ice scraper and tire tread depth gauge, and you can even get a parcel shelf with integrated storage space for charging cables. See, now that’s just a good idea.

But here’s the best part: The Elroq starts at just €33,900. Remove the baked-in 20 percent Value Added Tax and convert to American dollars, and you end up at a shade under $32,000. Yeah, that’s a rock-solid price for something of this sort.

While the Elroq won’t make it to North America, there is some hope for something similar, seeing as it rides on the same MEB platform Volkswagen is building in America. While Volkswagen’s current ID-dot-number naming system doesn’t allow for a ton of space between the ID.4 compact crossover and the not-for-North America ID.3 hatchback, perhaps an exception can be made. After all, North Americans love a crossover, and having something both electric and Taos-sized in Volkswagen showrooms is simply sensical.

(Photo credits: Skoda)

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