Skoda Superb review: A spacious diesel that outshines SUVs and premium rivals

Irish Examiner

2 days ago

Its greatness has not diminished in any shape or form
top drawer, while the décor is also top drawer – even in this mid-range model
They say that old friends are best and, if that's the case, then — in automotive terms — myself and the Skoda Superb must be bosom buddies.
For 24 years now, the two of us have been bessie mates — since, in fact, 2001, when the Czech manufacturer revived the 'Superb' nameplate, something it had originally initiated in 1934 and ran with until 1949.
Back in the early noughties, a lot of people scoffed at Skodas in general and burst out laughing altogether when they named a car called the Superb.
In the post-war period, when the Russians were handed control of Eastern Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Belarus, as well as the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, the native car industries in those countries fell into a steep decline by comparison with their Western rivals.
Names such as Lada, Polski, Trabant, and, to a lesser extent, Skoda were common fodder for comedians looking for a soft touch — 'What do you call a Lada with a sunroof? A Skip.'
The Czechs, however, retained a degree of credibility through the 1950s, '60s, '70s and into the '80s.
Models such as the rear-engined 105/120 (Estelle) were a common enough sight on Western roads and, remarkably, had a wonderful motorsport record, coming home with class wins on events such as the RAC Rally in Britain for 17 consecutive years.
By the late '80s, however, Skoda products were dated and only sold to the budget end of the market.
However, as the company was slowly privatised by the Czech government, one particular investor came to the fore — the Volkswagen Group.
VW came on board when the main Skoda factory at Mlada Boleslav was still using ponies to move car parts from one production line to another. No such thing as automated lines back then but they were not far off. I wonder what happened to the ponies?
Superb's spacious interior
Anyway, after a lengthy tendering process involving motoring giants such as Renault, Mercedes, BMW, and others, VW was selected as the preferred buyer. Between 1991 and 2000, the Wolfsburg outfit slowly took control and a significant overhaul of the company's model line-up ensued.
Some might pooh-pooh the idea that, once given access to the VW parts bin, the Czechs were like kiddies in a toy shop but that wasn't too far removed from the truth. They began an era of unsurpassed growth.
Having got stodgy — but necessary — models such as the Felicia to an acceptable level for public consumption, they then took then VW Golf and made it into another thing altogether — the Octavia. Cheekily, they then did the same with the Passat and came up with the Superb. In both cases, the cars were bigger and roomier than those they were based on.
Over its 21 years, the Superb has gestated from being a slightly ungainly big family car with huge comfort levels into a svelte, smart-looking family car with a big spec — even in the entry models — and massive comfort levels.
With the advent of the SUV — sorry, complete takeover — the death of the saloon car has been the result. Well, the segment is not quite moribund but it damned nearly is and the Superb is one of the few left, even if it is officially classified as a fastback because of its fifth door.
But given that Skoda already has all the SUV segments covered, making the Superb as an in-house alternative makes perfect sense. It is a joyous alternative to SUV motoring and, for those not in need of a high-perch driving position, it represents a real option for those wanting a fast, practical, roomy, and economically advantageous option.
And it is swimming against the hybrid/EV tide by offering a normal, common turbo-diesel option alongside its non-ICE variants. Skoda is covering a lot of ground with this car, perhaps more so than most manufacturers these days.
It was the ICE car which we tested recently and not only was it a pleasure not to have to worry about range issues or finding a working charger which didn't have a queue at it but it seemed like a throwback to simpler and less arduous times.
Skoda Superb
The 150bhp engine was a joy to live with — smooth, distinctly lacking on the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) front, and economic too. And, if you're a little guilty about its lack of greenness, you can console yourself that, as well as diesel, it will run perfectly normally on HVO (treated vegetable oil), which is fast becoming a thing in the motoring sector.
There is a seven-speed automatic 'box allied to the engine and the Superb will cover the 0-100km/h dash in 9.2 seconds, while top speed is 225km/h. Consumption is 5.0l/100km (56mpg) and, with just 132/4 of CO2 emissions, the annual tax is a hardly prohibitive €210.
Like all Superbs, it is massive inside, and simply looking at the amount of rear legroom will put a smile on your face — your average basketball player would be quite happy back there.
The boot, too, is vast — 645 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,795 with them flat. For God's sake, Bruce Springsteen could comfortably hold an intimate gig back there.
This thing ticks so many boxes, it is hardly true. The fact some of them go unseen and yet contribute greatly to the car's efficiency is also worthy of note. Take one example — the air intakes for the braking system are integrated into the front bumper and form a neutral and cooling low-pressure area for the front discs.
The result is the layout not only makes the brakes more efficient but lowers wind noise and minimises drag. Clever.
Getting into this car was as pleasurable as meeting an old friend you'd lost contact with for one reason or another — rapport is immediately re-established and it is like you'd never been apart.
Notable, too, is the quality of the interior and the thoughtfulness that has been invested in making this a car that will delight drivers and passengers alike. From the driver's point of view, the ride and handling are spot-on. These are characteristics that will, always and ever, remind you why you decided to buy it in the first place.
If ever a car was made that illustrates a manufacturer completely in tune with its customers, this is it.
Skoda has genuinely gone to exceptional lengths to continuously improve this car and has done so to the point where it very nearly embarrasses its larger — and way more expensive — rivals, from Audi and Mercedes to BMW.
As a standout option for SUVs, it is in a class of its own. That's why we've been bosom buddies for so long.