Skoda Superb Sportline 4x4
It may be inconspicuous, but you shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover
I’M NOT SURE OUR SKODA SUPERB could look much more boring. It’s not a bad-looking car per se, but it’s so sensible with its practical ride-height and three-box shape, and its grey paint only makes it blend into the background even more. It’s almost too discreet, as if it’s trying so hard to go undetected that it’s ended up looking like an unmarked police car.
I understand that muted tones are perfect for a photography car – so it’s less obvious in reflections in tracking shots – but this Superb’s lack of glitz and aesthetic aggression mean it’s hardly a tantalising prospect. So when the Skoda’s duties as camera car on last month’s M2 v RS3 shoot were complete, and logistical reasons meant that I’d be driving it home and for the best part of a week thereafter, it was hard to be appreciative.
Things don’t get much better on the inside. It’s pleasantly designed, everything is where you’d expect it to be and it’s all solidly built. There’s masses of room too, and what seems like hundreds of handy cubby holes and pockets. But there’s nothing sexy about it; there’s just acres of black plastic and some flat, unsupportive seats – also in black. The closest you get to anything remotely stirring are the wheel-mounted gearshift paddles, but they’re also finished in black plastic as if to temper any soupçon of excitement.
The ordinary looks and monotone colour palette lower your expectations, as if preparing you for disappointment. And that makes what the Superb is actually capable of a huge surprise. It’s fast and offers lots of grip, yet when the road is slippery it can also display a degree of adjustability that’s big enough to require you to have your wits about you.
After hundreds of miles on motorways and B-roads, it’s hard not to appreciate how the Superb goes about making progress. You don’t fall for it or love it, but it’s deeply effective and a very natural thing to pedal along briskly in – far better than its looks would have you believe. A glance at the spec sheet reveals why it’s a bit more fun than you expect: a 276bhp engine and a set of adaptive dampers aren’t the usual preserve of an ordinary saloon.
Okay, okay, so the Superb isn’t going to tempt anyone out of an M2 or an RS3, even though it’s significantly cheaper than either. But the muscular bodywork, big wheels and plethora of exhaust pipes of the Audi and BMW shout loudly about their abilities and speed. As great as they are, there is something to be said about slipping under the radar and delivering some surprise, Superb-style.
Date acquired September 2017 Total mile age 6025 Mileagethismonth 1275 Costs this month £0 mpg this month 28.2