Škoda Elroq — Volkswagen’s Coolest Compact EV the Americas Can’t Buy
Category: Alternative Energy
Via: bob-nelson • last year • 25 commentsBy: TTAC - the truth about cars
The electric revolution continues to produce “forbidden fruit” for North American drivers—and nowhere is that more apparent than with the Škoda Elroq
This is the car my wife and I bought on returning to Calais in late June. The salesman arranged for an incoming "showroom model" to correspond precisely to our specification. It was available as soon as the sales paperwork went through.
Ours cost € 33 000, including 20% value added tax, so about $ 25 000 before sales tax.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform , the Elroq fills a crucial gap in the lineup: it’s smaller than an ID.4, yet roomier and more versatile than the ID.3 hatchback. For American and Canadian buyers who want the efficiency of a compact EV without sacrificing usable cargo space or rear-seat comfort, the Elroq’s size and packaging are spot on. Its crossover profile and thoughtful interior storage address the daily needs of families and city dwellers alike—exactly the kind of “just right” EV that’s missing from North American showrooms.
After a few days of hands-on driving, the Elroq reveals its charm in the details: playful design cues, animated lighting signatures, and a surprisingly spacious interior loaded with Škoda’s signature “Simply Clever” touches. The Sportline trim offers supportive cloth sport seats, a thoughtfully simplified infotainment system, and a trunk filled with organizational hacks that put rivals to shame. Škoda even delivers some classic enthusiast wins: cascading amber turn signals, regular door handles, and robust, practical materials that make daily use a pleasure.
What’s most exciting about the Škoda Elroq is how brilliantly it bridges the gap between practicality and driving enjoyment. It delivers the kind of fun, flexible, and thoughtfully designed EV experience that many North American buyers may crave—one that’s easy to live with day to day, yet full of clever details and lively personality. While the Elroq remains exclusive to Europe for now, it serves as proof of just how good mainstream electric crossovers can be and how flexible the VW's MEB platform is. Here’s hoping that VW brings more of this European flavor—and its blend of style, versatility, and smart engineering—to the Americas in the future.
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I wanted a Renault Scénic, but the salesman was an unmitigated a******. And then... this is quite a bit less expensive.
We don't get great mileage - the VW platform isn't brilliant, and my wife doesn't like one-pedal driving, so we don't profit from regen braking . Then again, we probably only drive about twenty-five km every day, so... We plug it into an ordinary 16A socket, at home, about once a week, to keep the battery in its healthiest zone, between 20% and 80% charge.
This car is exactly what most Americans need (and would want , if there wasn't so much bullshit being spread on the subject of EVs). Thanks to President Trump, you can't have it.
Wont be in the market for a vehicle for some time personally , but i do find this particular model interesting , not that i would purchase one either . it wouldnt fit my individual needs as i define them , and doesnt fit a "second car " niche exactly for me ., still too many used cars on the market here , that are better fits.
As for what someone needs , thats up to the individual to decide , no one else can make that choice for them .
Im interested because you say it only takes a 16 A plug in , would that be comparable to a standard household wall socket ? if so thats a good step in the right direction to my thoughts . no expensive charging stations or cords needed . and if range anxiety is a concern , a simple gas generator could be carried , of course charging time needed would have to be factored in .
We have this car in Europe, where 220V is standard, but in the US you'd need the same socket as for a big appliance like a clothes-washer. Not a big deal, but not all homes have them.
The used EV market is still thin. In Europe, there are plenty of used up-scale EVs, but you can now buy a new entry-level EV for the same money, so... I have no idea how the American used-EV market will evolve, considering Trump's hostility.
EVs with 1000 km (600 mi) range - making even Wyoming easy - will be available in about two years... but probably not in Trump's America.
Ok i can see the 220V thing , dryers or electric stove type plug format , not hard to wire one of those .
as long as they stay in the sedan or even SUV configuration , i likely wouldnt get one anyway . but that is personal choice and personal desire talking .
Cars have always been "personal" choices. So... sure.
There are several battery pick-ups available for in the US.
None of which i feel are worth a damn so out of contention .
now if i were in the market for a pavement queen vehicle there might be some consideration and some that could be worth an evaluation , but that alone does not fit what i do . and until one comes along that fits my needs , i will happily stay where i am with what does fit and does all that i want it to do . i have no plans on being the so called experimental test subject .
I've no idea what you're looking for. I asked ChatGPT if there are any legitimate "working" pick-ups available. I got a long, repetitive answer, including this recap:
Summary: Legitimate EV Work Trucks in 2025
something that can get me close to this . this was taken a couple years back and i drove into the bottoms and walked up about 3000 in elevation , pretty good for someone my age i think considering the actual angle grade , were not very many flat spots . its 25 miles from the nearest pavement and it wasnt a leisurely ride in . a couple water crossings , as well as some moments of wondering about ground clearance .
Out of the options you posted , i have seen 4 in person on dealership lots, and in my own opinion , they wouldnt take the beating to get where i want to or usually go throughout the year , something can be advertised as "heavy duty " but the reality , can and usually is very different . i will say the options you think would suffice , likely would , but thats limiting them to pavement , and maintained dirt roads .
the slate is too new and its basically a custom order from Amazon if i understand it correctly and would fit more in the small or micro truck category .
Your free to keep trying to influence , but ultimately its only my opinion thats going to count when i have to make a choice .
Of course. OTOH, sometimes it's not easy to know where to find good information. EV stuff pours across my RSS feed, so I think I have a wider perspective than most people.
I asked ChatGPT: "Please list some good off-road EVs" and got this in response:
like i said in my first post , im not in the market nor will i likely be for a number of years for an EV switch .
I can , with your last post eliminate 4 of the prospectives . anything that is SUV or wagon based , would not be desirable in my case . the jeep is simply proposed and unavailable so not really considerable until its on the market . so those would really be a no.
Tesla and hummer ? not impressed with tesla because of weight and needs for special equipment and downloads/ updates , Hummer i wasnt impressed with in its gasser version for the same weight reason and specialized equipment such as tires when the military got them but then, uncle sugar was footing the bill for that , not me . so those 2 are a head shaker and a solid NO.
that leaves the chevy /GM , ford , and the rivian , and of the 3 , rivian ,would get the closer look at as a possible purchase , but i have been reading , they might be facing some funding problems so may not be around long .
ford and the GM combo , i see plenty of from tourists ( and listening to them complain about lack of charging facilities) , still not impressed with the fit and finish feel of them , they definitely dont feel like they can take the lickin and keep on tickin off the pavement , i wouldnt be surprised if they started losing parts after a few dozen miles of real washboard roads and off road use ., you know the type, they need signs that say tighten bra straps and remove false teeth for . and thats the maintained part .
I didnt weed out wagons or SUVs just to be difficult, i have a reason , im about a week out from the start of my hunting seasons right now and it will run straight through to January in some cases and places . ,and like last year i will be using an SUV , an older Jeep Grand Cherokee, , know what a gutted deer, antelope or elk smell like in an SUV? in hot weather ? yeah , i solve that with an after market carrier on the back outside the cabin , that uses the hitch receiver .
I will say i am glad you found something to your liking that fits what you deem are your needs , i still think its interesting , but wouldnt fit with my lifestyle and driving needs .
So... I asked ChatGTP, "Is there such a thing as an EV ATV?
The only one that struck a chord is the e-Tuatara:
e-TUATARA 4×4 Farm Utility Vehicle
Description
e-TUATARA 4×4 Farm Utility Vehicle
Sale Price: $34,990 + GST
RRP: $39,850 + GST
LIMITED STOCK AVAILABLE
Standard Inclusions
Optional Extras
Motor Specifications
Chassis & Suspension
Water Protection & Power
Dimensions
Battery
Warranty
The e-TUATARA is covered by a 1-year / 800 hours / 5,000 km warranty (whichever occurs first) against defects in materials or workmanship.
You know Bob , your starting to sound like a Renault salesman , desperate to make a sale , any sale to someone not in the market .
Why Renault?
To let you know i read the first post at least , and possibly the associated article as well as all posts , i know your picky about that some times .
Rivian is one of the worst for reliability ratings. It’s down there with the euro brands. The silverado ev is nothing more than an electrified, modernized version of the chevy avalanche which i never considered a true truck. The lightning has issues as well as being very expensive, but the ev avalanche and rivian are also very expensive. You want a new truck get one with an internal combustion engine.
Well I did go look a little for this discussion, and what i did find for that brand was there certainly many choices on the used car market , meaning enough available for sale without a dealer .
that could explain their availability though even in a tight used EV market .
I don’t follow the ev market too close but i have read that ev’s depreciate pretty fast, faster than ice powered vehicles and manufacturers are scaling back production due to lack of demand.
Unheard-of!!!
The reason the Skoda Elroq is not available in the US is because it would compete with the Volkswagen ID.4. Volkswagen has chosen to promote the ID.4 in the US market and not introduce the Skoda Elroq into the US market.
This solely a business decision by Volkswagen.
No. VW group has several other brands in Europe: Skoda, SEAT, Cupra. Each is situated a bit differently in the market. They do not complete with each other. VW could have done the same thing in the US.
My guess is that VW didn't believe the US EV market would grow as fast as Europe... and now that Trump stole working overtime to kill EVs, that prediction seems right.
That's still solely a business decision made by Volkswagen.
The bit about Trump only proves that EVs cannot compete on their own merits in the US. The VW Beetle didn't need subsidies to break into the American market and become a popular automobile for decades. Datsun didn't need Federal handouts to begin selling cars in the US and take market share from the big 3.
Foreign automakers have been competing inside the US since the 1960s. Foreign badges manufactured and assembled inside the United States create jobs in America and are competitive with domestic badges.
The Skoda Elroq would have been competitive with the Chevrolet Bolt, even though the Skoda is a larger vehicle. GMC's decision to drop the Bolt was their sole business decision. Even the Federal subsidies didn't help sales of the Bolt.
No. It proves that a President who puts dogma above reason can make a mess of the market.
What dogma? The complaints about Trump has been he is too much of a loose cannon and not sufficiently dogmatic. The TACO label doesn't fit a dogmatic President.
Increasing the number of badges in a niche EV market doesn't make the profit pie larger; it means everyone competes for smaller slices of the pie. Even those competing in an import dependent market understands that economic truism.
Never mind....