Skoda Elroq vs Audi S7

What's the difference?

The Skoda Elroq is a niche option in a boiling hot small SUV segment, but it makes sense as the next plank in Skoda’s multi-model EV strategy. It has the value, quality and performance to cut through. We think it’s a worthy newcomer.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with accommodation and meals provided.

Audi’s S7 Sportback wraps style, comfort and sportiness in an appealing package that is sure to please onlookers and occupants alike.

The great engine/transmission aside, the S7 Sportback also has cutting-edge technology at a more affordable pricetag, though less-than-comfortable rear-seat space lets it down a little.

We wish the car we sampled didn’t have the all-wheel steering, as we much preferred the more neutral feel of the S6 sedan we also drove but, overall, the S7 Sportback puts forward a strong case for its existence.

Skoda’s aim with the Elroq is a contemporary, ‘solid’ design approach and while of course a car’s looks are always a subjective call I think it’s sleek and clean. 

In this case, perception is reality with the car recording a slippery 0.26 drag coefficient and a 2025 Red Dot Award in the automotive category is an impressive design feather in its cap. 

First thing you’ll notice is ‘SKODA’ type on the leading edge of the bonnet in place of the more typical winged arrow brand logo, which is a cool detail.

Functional pieces include active shutters to help balance aero efficiency and battery cooling as well as front wheel arch air curtain inlets on the outer edges of the nose.

The underbody has been smoothed and at the back 'separation edges’ help to manage exiting airflow, as does a roof spoiler with subtle mini aero pieces underneath it on either side.

The interior is understated and manages to combine visual interest with easy functionality.

A 13-inch media screen sits in the centre but happily there’s a row of physical shortcut buttons underneath for often-used functions. The ‘SKODA’ lettering replaces the logo on the steering wheel, too.

A two-tone treatment across the console, seats, doors and multi-level dash looks deluxe, as do bold orange seatbelts in the 130 Years Edition.

There’s also a heavy emphasis on the use of what Skoda says are “sustainable, practical and durable materials” in the cabin.

The ‘Loft Design’ interior in the 85 Select uses fabric comprising 78 per cent recycled PET plastic, while the ‘Lodge Design’ in the 130 Years Edition features synthetic leather and a fabric made from Nylon waste. The floor trim and mats also contain a high percentage of recycled polyester.

Audi’s second-generation A7 has always been a bit of a looker, but Audi has taken it up another notch in the S7 Sportback.

Differentiating the S7 Sportback is a more aggressive bodykit, complete with larger air intakes up front, blacked out exterior trim, quad-exhaust tips (denoting that it’s an Audi Sport model) and large 21-inch wheels

The S7 doesn’t go too overboard with the aggressive appointments however (that’s what the top-spec RS7 Sportback, due here later this year, is for), but balances its sportiness with a stately aesthetic.

We think the S7 Sportback is stunning, especially the white exterior colour that gives it an almost Stormtrooper-like look, but even our test car, finished in Daytona Grey, while much more subtle, is still easy on the eyes.

We especially like the strong shoulder line, chiselled doors and sloping roofline of the Sportback body style that combine in profile to make the S7 look like a sprinter on the starting blocks ready to pounce.

Inside, the S7 Sportback scores all of Audi’s latest interior technology, including a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrumentation and dual-screen centre console layout.

The triple screen set-up definitely helps the S7 Sportback feel very cutting-edge from the driver’s seat, especially when you start to play around with the multimedia system that sports haptic feedback when you press the screen.

Everything is laid out in a clear, concise and easy-to-use manner, while the surfaces of the dashboard are covered in soft-touch, premium materials.

If we’re being honest, we'd probably skip the red-leather interior of our test car in favour of something a little more subdued, but to each their own.

We like the integrated air-vents that blend well into the dash, while the sea of black is broken up with some aluminium detailing and different finishes.

In terms of practicality up front there are big bins in the doors able to easily cope with larger bottles as well as a pair of cupholders in the centre console with a removable divider. They’re best for cups rather than bottles. 

There’s a decent glove box, a useful oddments tray behind the cupholders, a console box in the centre with a lift-out tray and a ‘false floor’ style door at the bottom to hide things, which is typically Skoda.

Wireless device charging is onboard and under the ‘flying buttress’ style centre console there’s a large storage bay with two USB-C sockets, plus there’s another pair of USB-Cs in the back. And don’t forget the obligatory Skoda umbrella housed in the driver’s door. Very nice.

The Elroq rides on the VW Group ‘MEB’ platform and although shorter overall it has the same wheelbase as its larger Enyaq sibling, so rear space is surprisingly generous.

For the record, the Elroq is just under 4.5m long, close to 1.9m wide and a little over 1.6m tall with a 2765mm wheelbase. 

In the back, sitting behind the driver’s seat set for my 183cm position I have ample legroom, plenty of space for my feet and lots of headroom.

It would be a little tight for three full-size adults across the back; two is probably better. But a trio of up to mid-teenage kids will be swimming in it.

In terms of storage, again, there are pockets in the doors big enough for large bottles. There is a pair of pop-out cupholders in the fold-down centre armrest combined with a small tray for devices or other bits and pieces.

A removable tray, including a couple of bottle-sized holders sits on the floor in front of the centre rear position, which is terrific. Then you’ve got your map pockets on the front seatbacks. Nothing unusual there, but a thoughtful touch is a device-sized pocket on the back of them.

Both grades have adjustable ventilation for back-seaters with third-zone temperature control and drop-down side shades in the 130 Years Edition.

Boot capacity is a class competitive 470 litres with all seats up, nudging up to a generous 1580 litres with the 60/40 split-fold rear seat backrest lowered.

In typical Skoda fashion there’s a range of useful additions including a through-port door for lengthy items, side storage compartments, an intermediate position for the parcel shelf, multiple cargo fasteners, net pockets and a 12-volt socket.

There’s even a windscreen ice scraper housed in the tailgate and a charging cable tidy in the 130 Years Edition.

Bad news is there’s no spare wheel of any description, just a repair/inflator kit. But it’s worth noting the Elroq can tow a 1200kg braked trailer which is handy.

Measuring 4969mm long, 1908mm wide, 1417mm tall and with a 2928mm wheeblase, the S7 Sportback falls well and truly into the large car class.

Up front, the driver and passenger have plenty of room, while the seats and steering wheel are almost infinitely adjustable to find the perfect position.

As you can imagine though, the sloping roofline does eat into the rear-seat headroom a little.

The outboard seats offer plenty of leg- and shoulder-room, but the slanted roof prevents my six-foot-tall frame from sitting up straight comfortably.

Don’t get me wrong, the space is perfectly useable for children or even some smaller adults, but don’t expect to get any basketball players in those seats.

As for the middle seat, only children will find it comfortable due to the protruding transmission tunnel and higher-set seat.

The S7 Sportback’s boot offers at least 535 litres of space and expands to 1380L with the 40:20:40 split-fold rear seats stowed.

Being a liftback (or Sportback in Audi parlance) means the boot is much more practical than a standard sedan, and with such a large aperture, bigger items such as suitcases or golf clubs won’t be annoying to load and unload.

Bag hooks, storage tie-down points and carbo netting also feature to ensure your goods don’t roll around when the S7 Sportback is in motion.

Storage around the cabin though, could be a little better as the wireless smartphone charger takes up a fair chunk of room in the shallow central storage bin under the front armrest.

The usual storage tray found ahead of the shifter is also absent, due to the dual-screen centre console layout, but two generous cupholders and sizeable door pockets are still available up front.

Second-row passengers get access to a fold-down armrest with shallow storage tray and cupholders, as well as door pockets that can accommodate large bottles.

Priced at $159,900 before on-road costs, the new S7 Sportback is about $20,000 cheaper than before.

While the $20,000 saving is nice, we’d argue that maybe the $180,000 pricetag for an S7 was a bit high to begin with.

Aside from the new engine (more on that below), the S7 Sportback comes standard with a laundry list of equipment, including keyless entry, push-button start, 21-inch wheels (available in three designs), adaptive air suspension, privacy glass for the rear, electric tailgate with gesture control, soft-close doors, panoramic sunroof and Matrix LED headlights.

As expected of an Audi, the interior is kitted out with leather and soft-touch materials throughout, but it's equipment such as the illuminated seat belt buckles and loose wheel-nut detection that really elevate it above its peers.

The multimedia system is displayed on a 10.1-inch touchscreen and features satellite navigation with real-time traffic alerts, wireless Apple CarPlay support, Android Auto connectivity, Wi-Fi hot-spotting, wireless smartphone charging and digital radio, while the four-zone climate controls are nestled in the lower 8.6-inch screen.

While we prefer physical buttons to a purely touchscreen set-up, Audi’s implementation is fantastic thanks to the haptic feedback from the screens, which mimic a button press.

We also like that there is a dedicated volume-control knob, meaning you aren’t fumbling around with the touchscreen while driving to turn down the music.

The S7 Sportback also features Audi’s signature 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit panel, which is still the best application of a digital instrumentation.

We’ve gone into detail about why we love it so much in the past, but a quick recap is that it's super-easy to use, can be customised to show whatever you want to see, and is clear in its layout.

Despite the long list of equipment, there are still a few items left on the options list.

Some, such as ceramic brakes and a Dynamic Package, are aimed to improve performance around the bends, so it’s nice that the extras aimed at a particular type of customer are not bundled into the asking price for everyone.

Likewise, there are also comfort- and style-orientated choices such as carbon interior, DVD player (in 2020?), heated rear seats and a premium sound system, but with the latter costing $11,700, the S7 Sportback’s price can quickly balloon.

Eight exterior colours are also available, each a no-cost choice.

The Elroq is powered by a single, rear-mounted AC permanent magnet synchronous motor sending 210kW/545Nm to the rear wheels only. 

Strong numbers for a single-motor EV; way higher outputs than the Elroq’s internal combustion and hybrid rivals and right up there with pricier Euro EV options in the category.

Powering the new S7 Sportback is a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V6, punching out 331kW/600Nm, which is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission that sends drive to the road via Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive system.

The result is a zero-to-100km/h acceleration time of 4.6 seconds.

Keen-eyed Audi fans might note that those are the exact same engine and outputs as the RS5 Sportback, RS5 Coupe and RS4 Avant, and they’d be right, however, Audi has added the 48-volt mild-hybrid and an electric powered compressor (EPC) to reduce turbo lag in the S7 Sportback.

It’s a similar system first employed in the SQ7 large SUV, and basically means that the EPC is spooling up the turbo at low engine speeds for better off-the-line performance.

The mild-hybrid technology no doubt helps shift the S7 Sportback’s 2040kg weight with peak power now available earlier on in the rev range (from 5700rpm), while maximum torque is available from 1900rpm.

Compared to the older car, the new S7 Sportback matches its predecessor in power, but ups torque by 50Nm despite losing the old car’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine.

Both Elroq grades are fitted with a CATL-sourced 82kWh (77kWh net) lithium-ion battery for a claimed 529km (WLTP) range.

DC fast-charging up to 175kW is possible which equates to a 10-80 per cent charge in 28 minutes. AC charging at 11kW means eight hours for a 100 per cent charge. Mode2 and Mode3 Type 2 charging cables are included.

Claimed energy consumption on the combined cycle is 16.6kWh/100km and on the launch drive which took in city, suburban and freeway running we saw an average of 15.2kWh/100km, which is impressive given the mix of conditions covered.  

Official fuel economy figures for the S7 Sportback are 8.5 litres per 100km, but in our brief time with the car we managed 13.6L/100km, mainly due to the inner-city and country B-road driving.

The 48-volt mild-hybrid system works to reduce fuel usage, by as much as 0.4L/100km according to Audi, and allows the car to coast with the engine off between speeds of 55km/h and 160km/h for up to 40 seconds.

The start/stop system also aids in reducing fuel usage.

Skoda claims the Elroq will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.6 seconds which is usefully rapid. There’s plenty of power and nearly 550Nm of torque available. But the car weighs almost 2.2 tonnes, so you’re talking strong rather than ‘extreme’ performance.

There’s plenty of acceleration on tap for the nip and tuck of the city and suburbs as well as easy cruising and overtaking on the freeway.

There are multiple drive modes including ‘Eco’, ‘Comfort’, ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Individual’ to manage energy use and performance.

The Elroq sits on the same ‘MEB' battery-electric platform as any number of EVs in the VW Group portfolio and it has a strut front, multi-link rear suspension set-up. And it feels the bumps.

Even on reasonably smooth surfaces little bumps and thumps make their presence felt. The worse the surface gets, the more pronounced it is. Once you get out onto the smooth highway and freeway, of course it’s not an issue. And you may get used to it over time but it certainly is present.

Noise suppression tech along with low wind and tyre intrusion combine to deliver a calm interior environment, even by EV standards.

The Elroq steers nicely. It points accurately and the steering weight is quite light, although it’s not the last word in terms of road feel - the connection between your hands on the wheel and the tyres on the tarmac.

Speaking of which, tyres on the 85 Select’s 19-inch rims are Kumho Ecsta PS71 (235/55 fr - 255/50 rr) and the 130 Years Edition’s 21s are shod with Hankook Ventus S1 evo3 (235/45 fr - 255/40 rr), both EV-specific tyres designed to reduce rolling resistance for improved energy efficiency. They grip firmly and the car feels stable and nicely balanced in twisting corners.

All around vision is good. The A-pillars in particular aren’t as chunky as they can be in some modern cars, which opens up the view in front. Over the shoulder vision is good and the large rear window makes the internal rear view clear, as well.

As mentioned, the Elroq is reasonably hefty for its size and you want sturdy brakes to wash off speed, which come in the form of ventilated front discs clamped by twin-piston calipers.

Having said that, there are drums at the rear. Not unheard of on an EV where regenerative braking takes a fair amount of the load, harvesting energy in the process.

Nothing wrong with a well engineered drum and the brakes work perfectly well, even when tested constantly on downhill twisting sections. No hint of fade.

On the active safety front, this car is loaded with ADAS-style crash prevention tech but we didn’t feel any of it being overly intrusive. No lane-keeping wrenching at the wheel or reminders telling you to pay attention; it’s all fairly low-key.

Miscellaneous observations include the compact 9.3m turning circle, great front seats in both Elroq grades and the effectiveness of the augmented reality head-up display in the 130 Years Edition. As well, a 5.0-inch instrument display might sound crazy small but it works beautifully. The view to it and the graphics on the screen are crystal clear with three switchable layouts available.

Audi’s formula for a go-fast vehicle has always been simple – quattro all-wheel-drive for grip, potent engine for speed – and the new S7 Sportback remains true to that formula.

We are big fans of the 2.9-lite twin-turbo V6 engine, which is matched wonderfully with a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.

The S7 Sportback always seems to have plenty to give no matter where you are in the rev range, and the transmission isn’t bogged down with slow gear changes up or down.

Though it’s hard to tell how much the EPC helps in getting the S7 up to speed, if you have you window down and accelerate hard from a standstill, you can hear the electronics whirring away.

The standard air suspension also does a wonderful job at absorbing road imperfections in comfort, while it can be switched over to dynamic for a more sporting characteristic.

Grip is plentiful thanks to 255/35 tyres and the quattro all-wheel-drive system but, as with other Audis, the S7 Sportback tends towards understeer when pushed hard around a corner.

Being such a long and wide model, you definitely feel the S7 Sportback’s size on the road, especially when navigating through quick direction changes, but this is where the $7700 Dynamic Package comes into play.

It adds a sports differential, variable ratio steering and all-wheel steering, all aimed at sharpening the S7 up in the bends.

Our test car was fitted with the option pack, but it left us a little cold.

The all-wheel steering especially, made the S7 Sportback’s handling feel too artificial for our tastes, and we were never able to gauge where the rear end wanted to go in a corner.

If we were buying one, we’d leave the Dynamic Package option box unticked.

Bringing the S7 Sportback to a stop are big 400/350mm brake rotors front/rear, with six-piston callipers in the front.

Ceramic brakes with grey-painted callipers can be optioned for $18,000, but the standard stoppers do a fine job scrubbing speed in the S7 Sportback.

Audi’s S7 Sportback was awarded a maximum five-star safety rating by ANCAP based on crash-testing done by Euro NCAP in 2018.

The S7 scored 93 and 85 per cent in the adult- and child-occupant protection tests, while the vulnerable road user and safety assist categories yielded an 81 and 78 per cent score respectively.

Standard safety equipment includes tyre pressure monitoring, autonomous emergency braking, driver attention alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, surround-view monitor, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert and a head-up display.

The AEB system is operational from 10-85km/h according to ANCAP’s documentation, and comes with pedestrian and cyclist detection.

Noticeably absent from the safety list is traffic-sign recognition, though the satellite navigation will give the speed-limit readout based on GPS data.

The S7 Sportback is also fitted with an exit warning system to warn passengers of any incoming cyclists or cars to prevent opening a door into strife.

The Elroq is covered by Skoda’s seven-year, unlimited km warranty which is ahead of most mainstream players sitting at five years, unlimited km, with 24 months roadside assist included and renewed for a further year after each authorised dealer service. The battery carries an eight-year, 160,000km warranty which is the industry norm.

The option of guaranteed future value pricing is a plus with loan terms from 12 to 60 months as well as novated lease packages to take advantage of FBT reductions for efficient vehicles.

Service is recommended every 30,000km or two years, with each workshop visit costing $502, which isn’t bad given the maintenance interval. Six, eight and 10-year service packs are also available.

Like all new Audi models, the S7 Sportback comes with a three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty with three years roadside assist.

Audi’s warranty still lags behind Mercedes-Benz and Genesis, two premium marques that offer a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty on their models.

Scheduled service intervals are every 15,000km/12 months, whichever comes first.

A three- or five-year service plan is available for the S7 Sportback, priced at $2350 and $4110 respectively.