On the road
The cars’ difference in mass is noticeable in corners, where the Megane is sharper to turn in. That aside, the Skoda has an edge; its chassis is more sweetly balanced thanks to a rear-drive layout, its steering is more natural, and it’s more supple and comfortable.
The Megane is marginally quicker (its 7.5-second 0-62mph time is 0.5 seconds quicker than the Elroq’s), but the gap between them isn’t noticeable on the road.
Price and running
The Skoda is ahead on price, delivering an SUV-sized family car for traditional hatch money.
The Megane’s lighter, sleeker body doesn’t do much for efficiency; we were hoping for slightly more than the
0.1 mi/kWh advantage over the heavier Skoda. That is a saving of only £20 a year in charging bills, based on electricity prices of 28.6p/kWh. The Skoda is more resistant to depreciation, too.
Practicality
At 4.2 metres versus almost 4.5 metres, the gap in length between the Megane E-Tech and Elroq respectively is stark on the road.
While the more compact Renault is easier to park, the Skoda’s greater size makes a big difference to interior space, especially in the back. The Elroq’s 470-litre boot is only 30 litres up on its rival, but that’s because the Megane is very good by the family hatchback standards.
