Comfort zone
Here it is then, along with the Citigo iV , Skoda’s first step into the world of electrification. Hardly earth shattering – it’s a mildly facelifted Superb with the same plug-in hybrid gubbins as a VW Passat GTE – but how often do the Czechs do radical? Skoda’s modus operandi is to incorporate tech when it’s genuinely useful, reliable and, more importantly, affordable. This Superb iV (that’s the Skoda electric sub-brand we’re about to see a lot more of) starts at £31,970 – nearly £5,000 less than the equivalent Passat GTE – so that’s half the job done.
The other half, whether it’s useful or not, depends on your personal situation. Skoda claims e-mode – the default when you switch the car on, assuming there’s any battery left – gives you 34 miles of zero emissions running (and over 500 with a full tank of petrol). Not bad, but probably closer to 20 in reality. Unexpected side effect: by trying to eke out every last drop without waking up the 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine you will accidently find yourself driving sensibly – tickling the throttle, conserving momentum, thinking ahead. I found myself arriving at my destination without an angry vein popping out on my neck. Result.
So, somewhere to charge at home, or work, and a short commute? It’s a workingweek electric car, lots of potential for savings. More miles to cover? The case over a cheaper petrol or diesel model will progressively crumble. Getting one as a company car? Back in the game – the sums will look irresistible.
So far, so familiar. What the Superb does so well is never pretend, even for a nanosecond, that it’s sporty. OK, there is a Sport mode, but even when you select that it oozes down the road, smothering speed bumps and generally isolating you and your passengers from any nastiness going on outside. Build quality is pretty faultless, right down to the (gasp) tasteful fake carbon-fibre trim on our Sportline Plus test car, while the Alcantara seats are a joy. This focus on comfort suits a heavy plug-in hybrid, and the patient way it forces you to drive. Even the way it flubbers around corners in Comfort mode – just see it as a friendly reminder of how comfy the next straight is going to be.
Attempt to cram the throttle through the bulkhead, and the engine and motor in tandem do a great job of thumping off the line, although any excitement tails off quickly… plus the initial brake bite, as regen blends with friction, could be further finessed. But it’s not a big deal. If I wanted to be excited, I would have bought something, anything, other than a Skoda Superb. And who needs excitement when you’ve got this much space? You forget just how palatial this car is in the rear: I mean Rolls-Royce amounts of legroom, and everywhere you look lights, pockets, sockets, cubbies and an ‘e-manager’ so you can programme the car to charge only off-peak, all ideas to make your journey and ownership experience more comfortable. It’s brilliantly thought through.
Biggest surprise of all is that there’s an estate version, and you probably don’t need it. The battery pack under the rear floor and in front of the rear axle eats into bootspace a bit (485 litres and 510 litres for the plug-in hatch and estate respectively vs 625 litres and 660 litres in conventional models), but that’s still huge. Lift the enormous rear hatch, fold the seats down and it’s basically a van. Do the sums, see if plug-in works for you, because if it does, the Superb iV is Skoda playing to all its strengths.
“GETTING ONE AS A COMPANY CAR? THE SUMS WILL LOOK IRRESISTIBLE”