Skoda’s RS fashions have been offering shocking 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-Nineteen 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 20 years, and the 1998 launch of the unique Octavia RS proved that Skoda (on the time) might make a greater GTI than dad or mum firm Volkswagen – and it got here with a much bigger boot…
As we speak, 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, intently associated to the Enyaq and makes use of the identical MEB electrical automotive underpinnings. Giving the RS therapy to the Enyaq resulted in a quick, however not actually 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 more likely to command a minimum of a $10,000 or so premium over the usual 85 Choose variant, suggesting a worth within the area of $70,000.
If that’s the case, it will likely be significantly dearer than the dual-motor BYD Sealion 7 Efficiency , which is way more highly effective and sooner in a straight line, however as you’ll learn additional down, the Elroq RS is significantly higher to drive than the fairly imprecise BYD.
To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s the Skoda Elroq like on the within?
We reckon that the usual Elroq has probably the greatest 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 because of plenty of soft-touch artificial suede (constituted of recycled plastics, and nicer to the fingertips than the standard 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 comfortable and yielding as one of the best that Eames can present.
House each entrance and rear is great, with plenty of legroom within the again even when there are tall folks within the entrance. There’s additionally loads of space for storing within the field beneath the armrest and the massive open area beneath the centre console, though you’ll additionally discover just a few low-cost plastics trying to spoil the present in these areas.
The large 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 operate you want extra rapidly, however we’d favor if the display 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 nice although and feels nice to carry with its perforated leather-based rim and extra lime-green stitching.
Boot area isn’t good – 470 litres – however there are the standard intelligent Skoda touches, together with an elective web, which dangles from beneath the parcel shelf to tidy the charging cable away (which makes up, a bit, for the shortage of a ‘frunk’ within the nostril).
| Dimensions | Skoda Elroq |
|---|---|
| Size | 4488mm |
| Width | 1884mm |
| Top | 1625mm |
| Wheelbase | 2765mm |
| Cargo capability | 470-1580 litres |
To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s beneath 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.
| Specs | Skoda Elroq RS |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Twin-motor electrical |
| Battery | 79kWh li-ion |
| Energy | 250kW |
| Torque | 134Nm + 545Nm |
| Drive kind | All-wheel drive |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 5.4 seconds |
| Power consumption (claimed) | 16.4–17.2 kWh/100 km |
| Power consumption (as examined) | 20.0kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary | 549km – WLTP |
| Max AC cost fee | 11kW |
| Max DC cost fee | 185kW |
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 anticipate from a sporty electrical automotive and can hit 100km/h in a brisk 5.4 seconds.
Efficiency is nice whenever you’re rolling too, with a stable slug of ‘tip-in’ torque for overtaking or for selecting up pace 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 mentioned, you need to use the ‘auto’ setting for the regenerative braking, which can gradual you down extra easily in site visitors. The brake pedal itself might do with a bit extra firmness on the high of its journey, however the bodily brakes work nicely when you have to do some critical stopping.
Total, the Elroq RS proved to be fairly environment friendly on our check drive. We by no means matched Skoda’s official vitality consumption, however a day of brisk driving utilizing Sport mode more often than not noticed a return of 20kWh/100km making for a sensible driving vary is round 460-480km.
The battery additionally costs up rapidly – 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 instrument
How does the Skoda Elroq drive?
The Elroq RS is planted, feels refined and really assured on quick, flowing roads.
That’s all good, and precisely what you’d anticipate of a Skoda RS product.
Nevertheless, it does lack a little bit of chew, that final nth of driver involvement and thrill, and therefore appears to be a part of a latest pattern with Skoda’s RS fashions, in that they appear to be getting somewhat softer, and somewhat extra tuned in the 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 highway.
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 permit you to select between actually comfortable, agency, or actually exhausting settings (with just a few shades of distinction between these factors in the event you 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 beneath management, however not so exhausting that you simply really feel rattled about on a rippled floor.
The Elroq RS is definitely actually pleasing on a highway with loads of quick, well-sighted corners which had been in abundance on our check route by way of the Czech countryside close to Prague.
It turns into rather less pleasing when the corners get tighter, as the two.2-tonne weight makes itself recognized whenever you’re slowing down for a tighter apex, however you’d by no means name it unruly.
The trip consolation is mostly superb, though on a very bumpy floor, you’ll be able to really feel the suspension battle somewhat to maintain the mixed actions of the large wheels and the hefty physique beneath correct management.
Total refinement is ok, however there’s a shocking quantity of wind noise noticeable at freeway speeds.
So, the Elroq RS is, maybe, not fairly as keen-edged as you’d anticipate a automotive sporting a hallowed motorsport badge to be, which is probably a disgrace (and the identical problem evenly afflicts the up to date Octavia RS too, actually in comparison with its predecessor).
Nevertheless, 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 instrument
What do you get?
Australian specs aren’t often called but, however we will use the core vary as a information.
2025 Skoda Elroq 85 Choose tools 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 (Kind 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 operate
- Clever Park Help
- Energy-adjustable entrance seats
- incl. electrical lumbar
- incl. therapeutic massage operate
- incl. reminiscence operate
- 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 instrument
Is the Skoda Elroq protected?
We’re undecided 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 additional customary security tools too, so it needs to be an exceptionally protected automotive.
Commonplace security tools on the Australian Elroq consists of:
- 7 airbags
- Journey Help
- Adaptive cruise management
- Site 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 instrument
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.
Nevertheless, electrical energy means that you may 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 fee at residence, 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 probably 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 supply.
Equally, Skoda Australia provides 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 vitality capability.
Electrical vehicles typically require far much less upkeep than a combustion-engined mannequin, however hold an eye fixed out for larger tyre put on.
To see how the Skoda Elroq traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
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 might 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).
Nevertheless, that criticism might be partly waved away as Street Tester Syndrome – taking an extended view, the Elroq RS is more likely to show a deeply satisfying automotive to personal, combining because it does robust straight-line efficiency, good deportment and simply sufficient driver enchantment within the corners, useable vary, wonderful high quality and the standard Skoda-style practicality.
As a family-friendly automotive with the promise of a mildly naughty thrill on the way in which residence from the varsity drop, the Elroq RS is difficult to beat.
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