Skoda Superb - Should You Buy One?

This improved version of the third generation Skoda Superb seems a very complete product, looking sharp and tilting at some big names. It's well equipped too. Jonathan Crouch reports.

Market and Model

Prices for this revised model sit in the £25,000 to £41,000 bracket. There's a £1,320 premium to go from the hatch body style to the estate. UK range consists of six familiar trim grades; 'S', 'SE', 'SE Technology', 'SE L', 'SportLine Plus' and 'Laurin & Klement'. Plus DSG auto transmission is now standard across the line-up. As before, all models in the range feature high levels of standard equipment, with every variant including full-LED front and rear lights, along with seven airbags, a touchscreen infotainment system with DAB, voice control and Skoda's 'SmartLink+' set-up for 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone connectivity.

The most popular variants are the 'SE' models which come with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and electrically folding door mirrors with boarding spot lighting. In terms of driver assistance, 'SE' models come equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control, Light assistant and Driver fatigue sensor as standard. Business customers opting for the 'SE Technology' derivatives benefit from leather upholstery and heated front seats, Light Assist with high beam control, Blind Spot Detection and the brand's 'Amundsen' infotainment system with touchscreen display and integrated Wi-Fi. 'SE Technology' models are also equipped with Drive Mode selection allowing you to tweak throttle, steering and gearchange feel to suit the way you want to drive.

Cost of Ownership

Skoda has forged its modern-day reputation on building quality cars that aren't expensive to run. Here's another one. As before, there's an 'Energy Recovery' set-up to reclaim energy that would otherwise be lost under braking or during cruising. And the usual Start/stop system to cut the engine when you don't need it, stuck at the lights or waiting in traffic. Plus the driver can do his or her bit by keeping an eye on the gearshift indicator on the dash.

All these things of course aid the efficiency returns you'll get - which are very similar with the line-up's 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines. The 1.6 TDI Hatch manages up to 50.4mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and up to 110g/km of NEDC-rated CO2; for the 2.0 TDI 190PS model, the figures are up to 48.7mpg and up to 117g/km of CO2. For the 2.0 TSI petrol Hatch, the figures are up to 38.2mpg and 139g/km. If you really want to drive down your running costs ,it's worth asking your dealer about the Superb iV plug-in hybrid model, powered by a 1.4 TSI petrol engine that delivers 156PS and is boosted by am 85kW electric motor. This offers CO2 emissions below 40g/km, along with an all-electric, zero-emission range of up to 34 miles thanks an integrated 13kWh battery.

Summary

The Skoda Superb looks the part, making it ever easier to convince those whose car views are at least a decade out of date that a Skoda deserves a place on your shortlist if you're in the market for a medium-ranger. Compared to a Mondeo or a Mazda6, a Superb represents a very different take on the theme. The Mazda is a pin-sharp drive, the Mondeo tries to blend size and sprightliness, but the Superb makes no real pretence at sportiness, instead offering a reassuring heft and vault-like build quality.

Above all, the Superb delivers space, and that's a quality you can never really have too much of in this corner of the market. Why? Because it's the one attribute where more mainstream marques can really land a telling blow on the premium badges. A BMW 3 Series or a Jaguar XE is never going to be able to offer as much space inside as a Skoda Superb. Cars like those are just not remotely viable if you need a lot of family interior room, so for those who need something cut from more generous cloth, give the Skoda the once over. It's slick, presentable and, yes, simply clever.

[johnbradshaw]

Most reviews seem to reference the BMW 3, Audi A4 and MB C Class as alternatives to the Superb if people want a premium badge. However the real equivalents are the E Class, A6 and 5 Series as the Superb is a much bigger car than the 3 Series et al and as luxurious as the bigger cars. For example the rear legroom of a 3 Series is way smaller than the Superb, the boot is both a lot smaller and less practical than the Superb. Spec an A6 like an L&K Superb and it makes the Superb look an absolute bargain. OK you don't get the fancy badge but you do get a beautifully built luxury limo for the price of a regular family saloon car.

[jaydenrai]

I like the Skoda superb its a amazing car, who loves the Skoda superb?

[mariolak]

I would love to have the new model. Currently i have the 2016. 2.0 TDI 190 HP limousine. Reliable, low consumption, low maintenance for now(1 year of ownership). Recommend it to everyone.

[fredbloggs]

Lots of videos go on about the Superb's huge interior, but what's actually impressive is that it achieves this with modest exterior dimensions. It's actually shorter externally than, say, a Mercedes E class or a Ford Mondeo. And it's only about a centimeter wider. So you get all the interior space without having a huge barge of a car on the outside.

[jonhunter]

I have a 66 plate, currently at 96000 miles. Lovely car, no real dramas until last MOT. Front suspension struts were leaking. To replace they cost They are over £350 each!!!! Had to have a sit down and a cup of sweet tea!!! I have the L&K spec, with adaptive suspension, a system I never use, which is the reason for the alarming price!! If buying second hand, consider whether the L&K spec is what you really need

[mandst]

As has been the case for decades, if you want to know which cars are the most reliable and cheap to run in their class, look at what the taxi boys and girls drive.

[stevefgjojnes]

Love mine just waiting For my next one to arrive

[dragosbogoi]

2:52 - the top of the range has 272 PS, not 227.

[slw]

Great car, great review as usual...well done OSV.

[regregan]

NZ police just selected these to replace having commodores for 20 years, a big change but they are growing on me. They'll probably end up getting the kodiaks and octavias as well to cover other roles to keep it in the skoda brand as time and holden replacements go on.

[CzechEngine]

Lovely bit of kit, its one I may look into in the future

[rohanw]

The 2.0 TSI engines are actually 190 and 272ps not 227ps.

[angushogg]

Just bought my second Superb and it comes with a with very high spec. Fantastic car but an otherwise amazing machine let down badly by absolutely dreadful software. This is particularly so in the area of satnav and predictive cruise control which simply does not work. Very disappointing that Skoda allowed such a great car to be so diminished by a lack of proper testing prior to release to service.

[billycairns]

BEST CAR I HAVE EVER HAD FAST COMFY AND ECONOMICALL

[hishonline]

The top of the range 272 hp car is great.

[stephencurran]

I own an octavia love the superb but it’s a motorway car just to big for going a to b in a small town with narrow parking spaces . Definitely a great motor way cruiser

[petermitchell]

Nice car, shame about the audio system. If you can call it one.

[nkosev]

watching him drive is uneasy - expect to crash all the time and then i am reminded this is brittan not left hand drive :)

[rajendrashrivastav]

I have been owner of Superb. It is nightmare and has faced many problems, more often than I could ever imagine. These failures included, electronics issues, engine oil leaked into radiator coolant, AC conked off twice, coolant leakages, automatic gears software conked off from time to time. Spent lots of money for labour cost. It was off the road for 3-4 weeks due to lack of parts supplies at least twice in last three years. Can someone one show me an independent assessment of its reliability and ownership costs? I have Honda CRV and Toyota car, never faced such issues.

[ratbertovich]

Try to put a 3-bike trunk bike rack on that boot lid. I'll wait. There is a reason Skoda sales material shows bikes on the top of their "simply clever" cars.
I bought one, impressed by the boot capacity and the backseat space (I frequently take the family on long journeys) and I am currently driving it: this is a very boring car ("all wheel drive and 2 liter diesel being favored for *towing caravans*" should be understood as a warning sign). The loan gets paid back in December and the car goes as soon as that happens.