Testing the supersized Skoda Superb
The Superb wagon is very traditional but hugely appealing. Or would you rather have a Passat? By
Back in the early days of Skoda under the Volkswagen Group in the 1990s, there was such desperation to improve the Czech brand by bringing it into the family, shared-platform models shared a bit too much. Similar-sized Skoda and VW vehicles looked and felt too similar.
Same goes for Audi and Seat (although the latter only made a fleeting appearance in NZ).
Not a terrible situation for a cheaper brand, but not ideal overall. Things have improved rapidly over the last decade, with VW and Skoda continuing to share as much as possible, but managing to use those common ingredients to create very different flavours.
Here’s the problem (again): with every brand rapidly expanding its portfolio and only a certain number of parts in the VW Group bin, we’re getting back to a lot more crossover. Great for buyer choice, not so desirable if you value character in your cars.
So consider the Skoda Superb. In the absence of a full range of SUVs, this is the Czech brand’s default large-car. Enormous wagons are a bit old-school, but this really is a magnificent machine. It’s even on the current shortlist for the NZ Car of the Year.
But amongst a bewildering array of models (four engines, three transmissions), it’s hard to examine the Superb properly without also considering the VW Passat wagon.
Our Superb 2.0 TSI is the flagship of the range, a surprisingly swift wagon powered by a detuned 206kW version of the VW Golf R engine. It’s 4x4 as well. VW has a version of the Passat wagon with exactly the same powertrain: the TSI R-Line. Although its all-paw system is called 4Motion. Don’t worry, it’s the same.
Straight away, the Skoda looks pretty good. It’s a slightly larger car (89mm longer, 33 litres more luggage) and is $5500 cheaper than its VW equivalent. They share good stuff like adaptive cruise, lane departure warning, drive-mode selection with adaptive chassis control, three-zone climate air, keyless entry/start with power tailgate, full leather upholstery and satellite navigation.
True, the Passat comes in dressy R-Line specification, which means an exterior styling package and sports seats with Nappa-leather (which is much softer than leatherleather), so there’s some perceived value there. But assuming you don’t place higher stock on the VW brand – and I don’t, I’m the other way around in fact – the Superb 2.0 TSI looks like a pretty awesome wagon.
Don’t come expecting a sports machine though, regardless of where that engine came from. The Superb’s appeal lies in being a comfortable, relaxed family hauler – albeit one that can rocket to 100kmh a full second quicker than a Subaru Levorg should you want to.
There’s a drive-mode selection system and adaptive chassis software fitted to this model as standard, but there’s not a lot to thrill the senses. You get a tiny bit of snap-and-crackle from the dualclutch gearbox in Sport mode, but in terms of performance the Skoda is very much a quiet achiever. We like it like that.
There’s a fair bit of contrivance in the VW Group when it comes to design and quality, to ensure that each brand maintains its place in the pecking order.
That’s why the Superb has a beautifully built and functional interior, but also one that doesn’t quite have the flair and sense of styling detail that you find in a Passat. They do this on purpose, so please don’t encourage them.
The main point of the Superb is that it’s enormous. Almost comically large, with a vast 2841mm wheelbase to ensure limo-like rear legroom and a boot so large you’ll struggle to reach the back of it when you’re standing at the bumper. One of the ironies of the SUV-world is that despite the presence and height of such vehicles, the physical shape doesn’t actually lend itself to massive storage capacity.
Consider VW’s big-daddy Touareg SUV: it holds just 580 litres in the boot and 1642 litres maximum, so it’s not a patch on the Superb in terms of load-hauling.
Speaking of SUVs, we’ll see the new Skoda Kodiaq next year, which will offer full-size family motoring in a seven-seat package. Given the Kiwi love for all things SUV, will the Superb wagon survive a postKodiaq world? I’d like to think so, but I’m not so sure.
You could say the same of the Passat wagon, which will face opposition from a stretched sevenseat version of the Tiguan in 2017. That model is essentially VW’s version of the Kodiaq. And there we go again.