Skoda Elroq vs Subaru Outback

What's the difference?

It’s a new, premium, pure-electric, mid-size SUV, but unlike every second market arrival CarsGuide has been looking at lately, it doesn’t come from China.

This is Skoda’s Elroq, the Czech manufacturer’s second electric SUV, following the larger Enyaq which launched here just on 12 months ago.

Effectively an electric counterpart to the Karoq, it’s a single-motor, rear-wheel drive, five-seater with healthy performance and range claims as well as sharp pricing and generous spec to challenge its ever-expanding competitive set.

After a brief preview drive earlier this year, we’re back behind the wheel for a fuller examination. So, read on to see if this sleek newcomer could be part of your family EV future.

The Subaru Outback holds a special place in the hearts of adventurers everywhere. It’s long been regarded by its fans as a genuine mix of decent on-road manners, family-friendly practicality and sound off-road capability. Just right for light-duty off-roading.

Now, Subaru claims, it has made the Outback even better and a new off-road-focussed variant called the all-wheel-drive Wilderness now sits near the top of the line-up.

The Wilderness is equipped with a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol, four-cylinder, horizontally-opposed 'boxer' engine, 240mm of ground clearance, improved approach/departure angles and electronically controlled dampers.

But is this new Outback all it’s cracked up to be? Read on.