Review | Skoda Superb: A Car Worthy of the Name?
I was thinking recently, why do so many pubs have a sign outside promoting ‘Good Food’? Are they really going to use a sign saying ‘Average Food – Bit Bland – Pricey For The Amount You Get.’
Once you’ve tried the Shepherd’s Pie, it’s up to you to decide whether the sign was telling the truth or porkies…or is that ‘lambies’ in this case.
I digress, back to the main subject of this review. Back in 2001, SKODA had their equivalent of ‘Good Food’ when they decided to produce a large car and call it Superb, I think a lot of folk thought they were setting themselves up for a fall if it turned out to be pretty average. However, the SKODA Superb turned out to be, well, superb and the estate version is currently one of the best load-luggers around.
In terms of interior space for occupants and space for luggage, the Superb is terrific. A 6ft 6in driver can have a 6ft 6in passenger sat behind them and to be honest, I’ve seen tighter space in some limos. The boot area is so enormous that you could almost climb in and go for a walk. The capacity is a vast 1800 litres and if you’re in the antiques business, you should be excited as loading a knotty pine chest of drawers should be no problem.
Currently, prices start at £32,605 for the standard SE trim and this represents decent value for what is a well-equipped, big estate car, even in entry level form. There’s then SE Tech. SE L, Sportline Plus and top of the range Laurent and Klement. I like the SE L level and while it adds around three grand to the price, it does mean you get satellite navigation with a really smart 8-inch colour touchscreen, leather upholstery, heated front seats, matrix LED headlights, privacy glass, keyless entry, power-operated driver’s seat which also has powered lumbar support, and additional safety kit. That’s a lot of add ons and it’s worth it, making the Superb feel a lot more luxurious.
There are also some clever, thoughtful touches. In the boot, there’s a removable LED lamp. In the filler cap, there’s an ice scraper and you'll find an umbrella in the driver’s door. We’d also recommend Area View which uses a 360-degree image created by four cameras to provide an overview of the car’s immediate surroundings when parking or manoeuvring. Trailer Assist is also available. It’s ideal for anyone who’ll be using the Superb Estate for towing.
In terms of engine choice, the one I love is the plug-in hybrid version called the SKODA Superb iV which has a 1.4 litre 154bhp petrol engine paired with a 113bhp electric motor. It gives you an overall output of 215bhp which means a 0-60mph time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 139mph. You can drive for 35 miles on battery power alone. Make full use of the hybrid technology and you’ll crack the 100mpg mark. It makes huge sense as a company car, particularly if your daily commute or school run is around 30 miles.
Every Superb is good to drive and seriously comfortable. It’ll be a brilliant long distant cruiser for the commuter or family. The DSG transmission works well and gives you a choice of power output: Sport and E-Mode. The latter lets you choose between either electric or hybrid.
So, is the SKODA Superb Estate iV really superb? Absolutely. It’s comfy, lively, quiet, nicely kitted-out, sturdy, looks good and is a cracking value for a pretty sizeable vehicle. And if you can make full use of the electric-only range, it’ll be extremely economical to run. A great car.
Words: Graham Courtney
Pictures: Skoda
