Simply Superb
Skoda’s Superb offers you more bang for your pound than any other family car on the market.
It offers the size and feel of a large luxury saloon for the same money as a family hatchback.
No other model comes close to offering such excellent value for money when you consider the Superb’s size, equipment or running costs.
The current model arrived last year and like the previous generation it boasts a massive interior which can carry five adults in real comfort. The head and legroom rivals most limos and even the tallest of passengers will be able to relax in the back without any difficulty.
As well as being huge, the cabin offers real quality. It matches anything you would expect to find in a premium brand costing thousands more.
The soft-touch plastics smack of quality and many of the switches feature in the latest VW Passat. Everything is welll laid out and easy to read and use and it is all well screwed together.
Buyers can choose from a choice of four petrol and three diesel models and most are linked to an excellent six-speed manual gearbox although six and seven-speed DSG boxes are featured in the more powerful models.
If you need extra grip you can also specify your Superb with four-wheeldrive like the test car.
A perfect long distance companion, the Superb is quiet and refined. The suspension provides a comfortable ride even with large alloys fitted and it deals well with all types of surfaces.
The handling is predictable and the steering is sharp and accurate with good feedback.
This latest model is also better looking than its predecessors with nice clean lines and classy styling. It is wider, taller and longer than the old model but it hides its bulk well and it sits on Volkswagen’s new MQB platform. This makes it lighter and more economical.
From any angle the Superb looks like a sharp-suited saloon but it is a hatchback and is extremely versatile. The boot is huge and with the rear seats folded you can release 1,760 litres of space - more than most estate cars.
Five trim levels are offered and the test car came in next to top SE L form. It was stacked with all the equipment you could want and would have to pay thousands extra for in premium brands.
While the diesels are likely to be the biggest sellers the test car came with the higherpowered version of the 2.0-litre TSI petrol unit. With 276bhp on tap it was really smooth as well as potent.
It came with the DSG automatic gearbox which added to the cars premium feel. It was very easy and relaxed to drive in any conditions thanks to its allwheel-drive system and even when you pushed it hard it never ran out of grip.
With prices for the range starting from just over £19,000, the Superb represents incredible value for money and standard equipment is generous throughout with all models coming with DAB radio, electric windows and mirrors, air-conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity.
Even the entry-level S comes with a touchscreen and as you move up the range the touchscreen increases in size and more luxury touches are added as you move up the five trim levels.
I am sure you could slap a premium badge on the Superb and charge a lot more for it. Not only does it match the Mondeo, Insignia, Passat opposition - it is also capable of competing against much more expensive competition from Audi, BMW and Mercedes.