Elroq Crowned Winner at UK Car of the Year Awards 2026
Building on the an already impressive collection of industry accolades the Škoda Elroq has added another major honour to its name by being crowned Best Medium Crossover at the 2026 UK Car of the Year Awards. Judges commended the Elroq for its refined driving dynamics, clever interior packaging and outstanding overall value, noting how convincingly it leads its class.
Unlike awards programmes that divide entries into numerous niche classes, the UK Car of the Year Awards focus on just eight key sectors, with an overall winner chosen from these category champions. The 2026 UK Car of the Year will be revealed in late February after the final judging stage, which involves a team of judges driving all shortlisted cars back-to-back.
This year’s judging panel brings together a broad mix of seasoned professionals from the UK motoring press, including editorial teams from Top Gear and Auto Express, alongside prominent freelance automotive writers. The panel unanimously placed the Elroq at the top of the Medium Crossover category, with John Challen commenting: “A fantastic all-rounder, without any unnecessary fuss – classic Škoda. The Elroq impresses in every department and is the perfect automotive companion for almost every occasion.”
James Batchelor added “Škoda has played a blinder here and successfully downsized everything that makes the larger Enyaq so great but put it into a smaller package. The fact that it's good fun to drive and has a quality feeling interior is the icing on the cake.” Praise also came from Paul Barker who said: “Brilliant all-round package, good value and plenty of typically clever Škoda touches.”
It’s motoring excellence was confirmed by Guy Bird who commented: “Quietly does so much right, without fuss and complication while wearing Škoda’s smart new exterior face.” Keith Jones added: “A really sound, pragmatic choice for seasoned electric car owners and first-time EVers alike.”.
While Matt Robinson summed up the overall opinion of the panel by saying: “Does everything its big brother Enyaq does, only in a more compact package and at a more affordable price. What more could you want from a family EV than this?”
Introduced to the UK market in April 2025, the Elroq comes with a choice of three battery configurations: 63 kWh (59 kWh net), 82 kWh (77 kWh net) and the vRS-exclusive 84 kWh (79 kWh net). Rear-wheel drive is standard across the line-up thanks to a rear-mounted motor, while the flagship vRS variant features all-wheel drive. With the largest 82 kWh (77 kWh net) battery in the SEL 85 and Edition 85, the Elroq is capable of a combined WLTP range of up to 355 miles. Depending on specification, power outputs span from 204 PS to 340 PS.
In 2025, the Elroq cemented its position as one of Europe’s most popular electric cars, becoming the continent’s second best‑selling EV thanks to its standout combination of range, practicality and value. In the UK, the Škoda Elroq has rapidly become one of the most decorated new EVs, collecting a string of high-profile awards across the industry. Auto Express recognised the model’s strengths by naming it both Car of the Year and Mid-Size SUV of the Year, while What Car?’s Electric Car Awards 2025 honoured it as the Best Family Electric SUV. Adding to its growing list of achievements, the performance-focused Elroq vRS was selected as Car of the Year by The Sunday Times Driving.