Long-term test: Skoda Elroq vRS

The Elroq vRS is nothing like that. It’s the Czech brand’s most powerful ever production model with 335bhp, yet it feels as if it’s got just the right amount of performance, and really hits the sweet spot between fun and fear. 

Skoda’s vRS cars in the past have never been all about record-breaking numbers, instead focusing on affordability (which we’ll come to later) and driving fun. And that’s pretty much what the Elroq achieves as well. Yes, there are some compromises when it comes to the ride and I often find the car becomes a little unstable over bumpy or undulating roads, but it’s something you get used to and can quickly make corrections on the steering to counter. 

What really makes the Elroq vRS so impressive is that it’s a very similar car to the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX, with an identical power output and battery set-up, yet it’s miles ahead of its relation in almost every way. How has Skoda taken such a similar product and made it so much better? Where the GTX fails dynamically, the vRS excels.

Away from outright speed, the Elroq is a superb all-round family car. So good in fact, that it’s pretty hard to fault. My only real bugbear is the microsuede seats. They look and feel great, but are a complete nightmare to clean. My two children, Hugo and Matilda, regularly drop crumbs, which they then grind into the upholstery whenever they brush them off. The seat fabric acts almost like Velcro, so I’ve resorted to keeping a hand-held vacuum cleaner in the car, because it’s the only way to really get it clean.

And then there’s the price. As I’ve mentioned previously, vRS cars of the past were considered almost an entry-level way of starting out on performance-car ownership, but there’s no way this hot Elroq could ever be considered cheap. It costs almost £50,000, so you’ll need deep pockets to get one on your driveway, which is a shame because price is one of the main reasons the standard Elroq (which starts at just £33,560) won our 2025 Car of the Year award.