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Skodas Superb saloon still struggles to make an impact on the UK market, despite offering Executive class space at Mondeo market prices. Jonathan Crouch checks out the latest models
As under-rated cars go, Skodas Superb is right up there. Here, you have a German-engineered Executive-sized saloon priced from around 14,000. It sounds hard to believe when you put it like that. Yet the Superb continues to be over-looked by customers searching in the medium range sector in which its priced to compete.
Maybe the most recent facelift will change things.
And maybe it wont. Lets look at the changes first, then take a fresh look again at the car itself. The most striking change to the exterior design is a redesigned radiator grille, updated to give it a more 3-dimensional look. The turn indicators have been integrated into the wing mirrors and the front indicators have been combined with the headlamps.
Similar to those of the koda Roomster and the Octavia, the tail lights are C-shaped, giving the Superb rear view a more distinct character. In addition, customers can choose from four fresher colours: Cappuccino Beige, Olive Green, Anthracite Grey and Satin Grey. Inside, theres a redesigned dashboard configuration on all trim levels and the instruments clusters are backlit with very gentle white light. The Classic, Comfort and Elegance trim levels remain, but a new flagship Laurin and Klement level has been added. Named after the companys founders, the Superb LandK includes 17" alloy wheels, dual exhaust and special badging. The vehicle's interior includes leather seats, wood trim and sleek metal-finished frames on ventilation outlets and door handles. These details apart, the Superb remains pretty much unchanged, still offered only in four-door form with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines. Apparently, it was Czech President Milos Zeman, embarrassed at having to use a German car for his official duties, who prompted Prague to initiate plans for a top saloon to slot in above the medium range Octavia. Actually, what he originally wanted was a stretched Octavia, revealing his surprisingly limited knowledge of VWs platform-sharing policy. The Octavia does, after all, share the underpinnings of a VW Golf: expecting to create a limousine out of it was asking a bit much.
"For those who give it a try, its an option thats hard to ignore."
What could be provided however, was the basis for a stretched MKV VW Passat. Wolfsburg had already created such a thing for the Chinese market, extending the wheelbase by 95mm to 2803mm. All the Czechs then had to do was to Skoda-ise it. This has been done rather more half-heartedly than with other transition models but then thats all to the buyers benefit.
What Skoda influence there is has been neatly integrated into the Volkswagen cabin. Move inside and the first thing that strikes you is the wood trim. I remember laughing the first time I saw wood in a Skoda (an after-market package fitted to a Felicia a few years ago) but theres nothing remotely funny about this. Adorning the dashboard and the doors, the dark timber is tasteful and Germanic.
Whereas the Octavias cabin seems to have been kept deliberately drab to preserve Passat sales, this one seems almost as good as anything from the German marques stable. Which, given that prices lie in the £14,000 to 23,000 bracket, makes this car something of a steal. AT just over 21,000 for example, the Superb V6 2.8 30v provides most of the same recipe you get in a high-end VW Passat for significantly less.
This 193bhp unit develops an impressive 206 Ib/ft of torque and is the largest engine on offer or at least it will be until someone gets round to sticking the VW Groups V10 5.0-litre lump under the bonnet. But why would you want to when this one makes sixty in 8.0s on the way to 147mph? A bit of a downside is the fuel consumption: youll struggle to average much more than about 28mpg. This is one of the reasons why most buyers go for the more realistic engine options. Petrol-wise, these include the Octavias familiar 115bhp 2.0-litre and 150bhp 1.
8 Turbo units. Diesel buyers meanwhile, get 100, 105 and 130bhp TDI PD powerplants, plus the 155bhp 2.5-litre V6 TDI. Theres no four-wheel drive option but you can specify the excellent 5-speed Tiptronic automatic widely used on up-market Audis.
As with the MKV Passat, you shouldnt expect a particularly involving driving experience. Still, most buyers will find the ride to be truly excellent thanks to Skodas careful tweaking of the four-link strut and torsion beam suspension. Its certainly difficult to imagine anyone getting out of shape in one, particularly as ESP Electronic Stability Control is standard. Never mind: the inviting cabin makes up for it. As you might expect, most of that extra 95mm has been donated towards the cause of extra legroom and it makes lots of difference. Sadly, the boot capacity is no different to an ordinary MKV Passats (462 litres) but you can at least extend it by using the easily-to-operate split-folding rear seats. Its even possible to fold the front passengers seat flat for particularly long items.
If you want to go further, youll be wanting an estate but there are no plans for one: yet. For the drivers its all very plush, thanks to a multi-function leather-coated steering wheel that adjusts for both rake and reach. All trim levels include electric windows, air conditioning and a trip computer. Go for the Elegance and you can expect to find satellite navigation, xenon headlamps, a premium CD stereo system, rain-sensing wipers, climate-controlled air conditioning, 17" alloy wheels and leather electric seats with a memory function. Plus of course you can order leather seats and satellite navigation should you want it. In the final analysis, its difficult to do anything but admire the way that, with VWs help, Skoda has pulled itself up by its bootstraps over the last five years. And yes, the Superb is a fitting way for the marque to reward both itself and its wealthier fans.