Select Page

New Skoda Flagship is ‘Superb’, but not just in name.

New Skoda Flagship is ‘Superb’, but not just in name!

The Skoda Superb is a large D-segment family car that has been produced by the Czech car manufacturer since 2001. The original Superb quickly gained itself a reputation for being supremely spacious and hugely practical and, measuring in at almost 4.8 metres in length, it was a car that could comfortably accommodate a growing family and their luggage. Now in its fourth-generation, the new Skoda Superb is even bigger, better and more desirable than ever, and is available with a choice of 5-door Saloon or Combi (estate) body styles.

New “Modern Solid” Design.

The new Superb features the brand’s new “Modern Solid” design language, which is characterised by sharply drawn lines and clearly defined dynamic proportions. When viewed in profile, the Superb’s fluent roof line, aerodynamic door mirrors and stylish alloy wheels enhance the cars’ sleek and modern design, while its instantly-recognisable front end design features distinctive narrow LED headlights and a prominent octagonal radiator grille. The clean lines at the back of the car, and the narrow LED rear lights, give the Superb a dynamic presence, with the traditional Skoda roundel badge replaced by Skoda lettering spelled out across the tailgate door. The new Superb has been designed with safety at the forefront and has, therefore, been fitted as standard with industry-leading safety systems providing the utmost peace-of-mind for both drivers and passengers. Key safety systems include: Front Assist, Side Assist, Intelligent Speed Assist, Emergency Assist, Turn Assist, Lane Assist, Rear Cross Assist, and Multi Collision Brake Assist. The advanced driver-assistance systems in the new Superb keep the occupants safe and help prevent collisions with other road users. If an accident is unavoidable, the occupants are protected by up to 10 airbags, and the eCall system helps to summon assistance.

Four Trim & Two Engine Options.

Buyers can choose from four generously-equipped trim levels: Selection, Selection +, Sportline and top-spec L&K trim, which is in honour of Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, the founders of the Czech automobile, motorcycle and bicycle manufacturing company than changed its name to Skoda Auto in 1925. Today, the L&K designation is used for the most exclusive versions of Skoda car’s. The Superb Saloon is powered by a choice of a 1.5-litre TSI m-HEV petrol/mild hybrid powertrain with 150hp, or a 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel unit with 150hp – both of which comes with a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission as standard.

Beauty in Simplicity.

Skoda’s interior designers collectively recognised that there is ‘beauty in simplicity’, and that is reflected in the Superb’s upmarket cabin. The driver’s space is dominated by a multifunction steering wheel, which comes with decorative elements in a unique dark matte chrome colour. The infotainment system’s free-standing modern touchscreen protrudes from the decoratively ribbed dashboard so that it is always at the driver’s fingertips for ease of use. The automatic gear selector has been repositioned to the right-hand side of the steering wheel (where the windscreen wipers would have traditionally been located) so that the centre console has more space and an uncluttered look to it. Additionally, ambient lighting across the dashboard and door panels adds to the inviting mood of the interior. The cars’ supremely spacious cabin enables all occupants to travel in the utmost luxury, and the overall feeling within the cabin is one of impressive craftsmanship and excellent build quality. Parents of small children will find it reassuring that Isofix child seat anchor points feature on the rear outboard seats and are also located on the front passenger seat. The 10-inch Virtual Cockpit in front of the steering wheel comes with five different layouts and it offers more detailed information that can be configured to display the data chosen by the driver. The three rotary and pressable Smart Dials located under the centre air-vents are customisable and come with a mini display in the middle, providing front seat occupants with easy access to the air-conditioning, audio volume, map zoom and numerous other functions. Every part of the Superb’s interior has been crafted with the utmost attention to quality workmanship and the use of premium materials, all with sustainability and conservation in mind. All the textile parts in the interior are made from 100% recycled polyester, and the umbrellas concealed in the front door trims, and the ice scraper in the fuel filler door, are also made from sustainable materials. The luggage compartment contains 645-litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, rising to 1,795-litres when the rear seats are folded down, and this makes the Superb’s boot one of the largest in its class.

Test Car Details.

My test car was a Superb Saloon ‘Selection +’ 2.0-litre TDI 150hp DSG in Pebble Silver metallic paintwork (a €905 optional extra). Key standard equipment includes leather upholstery, ergonomically certified front seats, electrically operated front seats, heated and Ventilated front seats, advanced massage functionality, seat memory function, power operated child safety lock, electric tailgate with motion sensor, dark tinted rear privacy glass, 18-inch “BOSONA” alloy wheels, 3-zone air conditioning, “Laura” voice control assistant, wireless charging pad with active cooling, and a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with Tiptronic, along with a host of additional comfort, convenience, safety and infotainment features. The turbocharged diesel engine produces 150hp and 360Nm of torque, proving enough forward shove to enable the car achieve a 0-100km/h sprint time of 9.2-seconds, on its way to a top speed of 225km/h (where permitted). The 7-speed DSG automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels in a composed, fuss-free manner, and the engine can consume as little as 5-litres of diesel (or HVO) for every 100km driven on a WLTP combined driving cycle. With a fuel tank that has a capacity of 66-litres, it is possible to achieve up to 1300kms between fuel station visits. Buyers who opt for the Superb TDI version can fuel their car with pure diesel, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), or a mixture of both, if they so wish. HVO is a fuel replacement or alternative for compatible diesel engines and it offers a cleaner way to fuel by providing up to 90% reduced CO2 emissions. HVO is a second-generation biofuel made from pre-existing bio-waste products, primarily used cooking and vegetable oil from food industry waste. Manufactured from renewable and sustainable waste, HVO is a paraffinic drop-in fuel and it is presently available at selected Certa and Circle-K outlets in Dublin, Tipperary, Carlow, Cork and Donegal, with availability improving all the time. The Superb is quite a relaxing car to drive in town, and its surprisingly tight turning circle makes it easy to manoeuvre in small spaces. The standard-fit front & rear parking sensors and rear-view camera are a necessity for such a long car and they take the guess work out of parking in tight car parks. With an overall length of 4,912mm and a height of 1,511mm, along with a 2,837mm wheelbase, the new Superb has terrific road presence, in addition to supreme space for up to five occupants in the upmarket cabin.

Verdict & Pricing.

The new Skoda Superb is a hugely practical and supremely-spacious family car that is a magnificent motorway cruiser, but is also fun to drive in urban areas too. All trim levels come very well equipped, and the petrol/mild hybrid engine, along with the turbocharged diesel unit, are amazingly frugal for a car as big as the Superb is. An even more practical Superb Combi (Estate) is available too, and it adds a Plug-in Hybrid powerplant to the petrol and diesel engines available in the Saloon. Pricing starts at €49,365 for the Superb Saloon 1.5 TSI m-HEV in Selection trim, with my test car specification (Superb Saloon 2.0 TDI Selection +) priced from €52,365. I was extremely impressed by every aspect of the new Superb Saloon during my time with the car recently, and it really is a force to be reckoned with in its market segment.

Visit www.skoda.ie for further information.

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)