2026 Skoda Elroq RS overview: Fast drive

Skoda’s RS fashions have been offering stunning delight for 50 years now.

Few, if any, of the motor racing fraternity noticed the oh-so-cute rear-engined 110, 130 and 200 RS fashions coming again within the mid-Seventies, however with class wins within the European Touring Automobile Championship and the 1977 Monte Carlo rally, the little Iron Curtain racers greater than proved their value.

Zip ahead twenty years, and the 1998 launch of the unique Octavia RS proved that Skoda (on the time) may make a greater GTI than mum or dad firm Volkswagen – and it got here with a much bigger boot…

Immediately, the RS lineup is firmly ingrained within the Skoda vary, with sporty variations of the Octavia, the Kodiaq and the all-electric Enyaq on sale.

This new 2026 Skoda Elroq RS is, like the usual Elroq, carefully associated to the Enyaq and makes use of the identical MEB electrical automotive underpinnings. Giving the RS remedy to the Enyaq resulted in a quick, however not really thrilling SUV, so can the extra compact Elroq make a greater fist of incomes its RS badge?

How a lot does the Skoda Elroq value?

Australian costs for the Elroq RS haven’t been set but, however going by European pricing it’s prone to command no less than a $10,000 or so premium over the usual 85 Choose variant, suggesting a value within the area of $70,000.

If that’s the case, will probably be significantly dearer than the dual-motor BYD Sealion 7 Efficiency , which is far more highly effective and quicker in a straight line, however as you’ll learn additional down, the Elroq RS is significantly higher to drive than the relatively obscure BYD.

To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software

What’s the Skoda Elroq like on the within?

We reckon that the usual Elroq has top-of-the-line interiors within the enterprise, and it’s actually nicer, roomier and has higher tactile qualities than its closest rival, the Kia EV3.

The Elroq RS takes that as a place to begin after which hares into the gap due to numerous soft-touch artificial suede (constituted of recycled plastics, and nicer to the fingertips than the same old microfibre Volkswagen Group trim).

That ‘suede’ stretches, with distinction lime inexperienced stitching, from the sprint to the doorways to the superb high-backed bucket seats.

These seats seem like they’re going to squeeze you too tight, however truly they’re as mushy and yielding as one of the best that Eames can present.

Area each entrance and rear is superb, with numerous legroom within the again even when there are tall folks within the entrance. There’s additionally loads of space for storing within the field below the armrest and the big open area below the centre console, though you’ll additionally discover just a few low-cost plastics seeking to spoil the present in these areas. 

The massive 13-inch touchscreen is getting simpler to make use of with every software program re-flash, and the financial institution of correct bodily switches beneath assist with attending to the perform you want extra shortly, however we’d choose if the display screen was a contact smaller, because it tends to dominate the sprint and snatches at your consideration an excessive amount of.

The three-spoke RS spec steering wheel is sweet although and feels nice to carry with its perforated leather-based rim and extra lime-green stitching. 

Boot area isn’t sensible – 470 litres – however there are the same old intelligent Skoda touches, together with an elective web, which dangles from below the parcel shelf to tidy the charging cable away (which makes up, a bit, for the dearth of a ‘frunk’ within the nostril).

To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software

What’s below the bonnet?

Skoda has added an additional electrical motor to the Elroq to show it into an RS, giving it all-wheel drive and a most energy output of 250kW.

The rear motor does extra of the donkey work although, with its 545Nm torque dwarfing the 134Nm of the entrance motor. Even so, the additional traction benefit clearly helps, because the Elroq RS rockets off the road within the method you’d count on from a sporty electrical automotive and can hit 100km/h in a brisk 5.4 seconds.

Efficiency is sweet once you’re rolling too, with a strong slug of ‘tip-in’ torque for overtaking or for selecting up velocity on a multi-lane freeway.

It’s not outrageously quick, within the method of a BYD Sealion 7, but it surely’s quick sufficient to really feel spectacular. There’s multi-level regenerative braking too, managed by the paddles behind the steering wheel, though there’s not strictly talking a ‘one-pedal’ mode.

That stated, you should use the ‘auto’ setting for the regenerative braking, which can sluggish you down extra easily in visitors. The brake pedal itself may do with a bit extra firmness on the prime of its journey, however the bodily brakes work nicely when it is advisable to do some severe stopping.

General, the Elroq RS proved to be fairly environment friendly on our take a look at drive. We by no means matched Skoda’s official power consumption, however a day of brisk driving utilizing Sport mode more often than not noticed a return of 20kWh/100km making for a practical driving vary is round 460-480km.

The battery additionally expenses up shortly – at as much as 185kW on a high-powered DC fast-charger.

To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software

How does the Skoda Elroq drive?

The Elroq RS is planted, feels subtle and really assured on quick, flowing roads.

That’s all good, and precisely what you’d count on of a Skoda RS product.

Nonetheless, it does lack a little bit of chunk, that final nth of driver involvement and thrill, and therefore appears to be a part of a current development with Skoda’s RS fashions, in that they appear to be getting somewhat softer, and somewhat extra tuned in direction of all-round efficiency than to outright driver engagement.

Maybe Skoda is taking part in to its goal market of consumers who desire a automotive that’s quick and well-controlled, however nonetheless easy-going sufficient to be a each day driver. Equally, it doesn’t imply that the Elroq RS is a floppy mess on a quick street.

Removed from it. The steering has a beefy sense of weight to it, and only a faint tickle of communication from the entrance tyres feeding again to your arms.

The adaptive dampers can help you select between actually mushy, agency, or actually exhausting settings (with just a few shades of distinction between these factors if you happen to configure the ‘Particular person’ driving mode setup) however actually Sport mode is one of the best default setting.

It implies that the dampers are agency sufficient to maintain the tall physique below management, however not so exhausting that you simply really feel rattled about on a rippled floor.

The Elroq RS is definitely actually gratifying on a street with loads of quick, well-sighted corners which had been in abundance on our take a look at route via the Czech countryside close to Prague.

It turns into rather less gratifying when the corners get tighter, as the two.2-tonne weight makes itself identified once you’re slowing down for a tighter apex, however you’d by no means name it unruly.

The journey consolation is usually excellent, though on a extremely bumpy floor, you may really feel the suspension wrestle somewhat to maintain the mixed actions of the massive wheels and the hefty physique below correct management.

General refinement is okay, however there’s a stunning quantity of wind noise noticeable at freeway speeds.

So, the Elroq RS is, maybe, not fairly as keen-edged as you’d count on a automotive carrying a hallowed motorsport badge to be, which is maybe a disgrace (and the identical subject calmly afflicts the up to date Octavia RS too, actually in comparison with its predecessor).

Nonetheless, as a automotive that strikes a superb stability between back-roads enjoyable and on a regular basis consolation and refinement, it’s exhausting to overly criticise the Elroq RS.

To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software

What do you get?

Australian specs aren’t often called but, however we are able to use the core vary as a information.

2025 Skoda Elroq 85 Choose gear highlights:

• 19-inch Regulus alloy wheels
• Keyless entry, begin
• 13-inch touchscreen infotainment
• Wi-fi App-Join
  • Apple CarPlay – Wi-fi
  • Android Auto – Wi-fi
• Wi-fi smartphone charger incl. air flow
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Heated entrance seats
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel – heated
• Heated, folding, auto-dimming facet mirrors
• Mode 3 (Sort 2) charging cable
• 1 x door-mounted umbrella

Elroq 130 Version provides:

• 21-inch Supernova alloy wheels
• Matrix LED headlights
  • Dynamic headlight vary management
  • Dynamic cornering lights
• Premium LED tail lights
• Head-up show incl. AR perform
• Clever Park Help
• Energy-adjustable entrance seats
  • incl. electrical lumbar
  • incl. therapeutic massage perform
  • incl. reminiscence perform
• 360-degree parking cameras
• Canton 12-speaker audio
• Energy tailgate
• ‘Premium’ inside finishes
• Rear sunshades

To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software

Is the Skoda Elroq protected?

We’re unsure but, because the Elroq hasn’t but been examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP.

Sharing its construction with the five-star Enyaq ought to assist, and this RS model comes with some further commonplace security gear too, so it ought to be an exceptionally protected automotive. 

Normal security gear on the Australian Elroq consists of:

• 7 airbags
• Journey Help
  • Adaptive cruise management
  • Visitors Jam Help
  • Adaptive Lane Help
• Emergency Help
• Entrance Help – AEB
• Facet Help
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Exit Warning
  • Rear cross-traffic alert

To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software

How a lot does the Skoda Elroq value to run?

Because the range-topping mannequin, the Elroq RS isn’t low-cost and, even then, there are some expensive choices packs to peruse.

Nonetheless, electrical energy means you could run this high-performance, all-wheel drive, RS-badged card for comparatively little in comparison with a petrol-powered equal.

Assuming you’re on a superb 16c per kWh price at dwelling, you would absolutely cost the Elroq RS for as little as $12.60 and the ensuing circa-460km real-world vary is much more than you’ll get for $12.60 value of unleaded.

It’s not essentially the most environment friendly automotive round however equally it’s removed from the ‘thirstiest’ electrical automotive we’ve examined, and that’s spectacular contemplating the strong efficiency on provide. 

Equally, Skoda Australia presents an excellent seven-year, limitless kilometres guarantee, and the battery is roofed for eight years and as much as 160,000km if there are any issues with a drop in saved power capability.

Electrical automobiles typically require far much less upkeep than a combustion-engined mannequin, however hold an eye fixed out for increased tyre put on.

To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability software

CarExpert’s Tackle the Skoda Elroq RS

There’s a faint sense of disappointment that the Elroq RS isn’t rather less Elroq and somewhat extra RS.

If we’re being choosy, then it may actually do with being a contact sharper and extra overtly participating to drive (maybe a extra aggressive set of tyres would do the job, at the price of somewhat vary).

Nonetheless, that criticism might be partly waved away as Street Tester Syndrome – taking an extended view, the Elroq RS is prone to show a deeply satisfying automotive to personal, combining because it does robust straight-line efficiency, good deportment and simply sufficient driver attraction within the corners, useable vary, wonderful high quality and the same old Skoda-style practicality.

As a family-friendly automotive with the promise of a mildly naughty thrill on the way in which dwelling from the college drop, the Elroq RS is difficult to beat.

Concerned with shopping for a Skoda Elroq? Let CarExpert discover you one of the best deal right here

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