Skoda Superb
We take the updated Superb out for a quick spin
The Skoda Superb, in my mind, has always been the thinking man’s sedan. The build quality is outstanding; it’s incredibly spacious and absolutely incredible to drive! You could spend a little more and have an entry level German luxury sedan and cram yourself into the backseat with your belief that everybody thinks you’re cool, or you could invest the deficit and have a Superb. Sans the badging then, the Superb is probably the same if not better in every sense. This Superb gets a bit of a sprucing up on the cosmetic front, but the headlines focus on the new 2.0-litre TSI motor that replaces the 1.8 TSI. Additionaly there is no diesel option in the lineup in sync with the VW Group’s dramatic departure from diesels. There are two trims on offer, the driver-focused Sportline and the luxury oriented L&K (Laurin & Klement), though they are mostly separated by minor tweaks.
Cosmetic changes on the Superb have been done well. The most distinct change is the new headlamp unit which is now slimmer and fuse into a slightly tweaked grille tying the new fascia together. The new bumpers have been tweaked too with a slightly rounder imprint. Air-dams get enhanced aero with air-curtains now added on the flanks. The tail now features Skoda lettering in script replacing the badge. LED tail-lamps get a slight re-profile with a chrome strip running along with the width. Finally, new designs on the 17-inch alloys complete the refreshed presence of the Superb.
The cabin is familiar with very few changes to set it apart. Although, honestly, there was not a lot I’d change to begin with. The attention to detail, every hinge, right down to the felt lined cubbies just exudes a sense of luxury. The L&K edition that we had on test came with the black-on beige theme, while the Sportline gets the more “sporty” all black theme with Alcantara upholstery. The Superb isn’t short changed on features either. You get eight airbags, ESC, LED headlamps, keyless entry and go, powered front seats, three-zone climate control, configurable ambient lighting and a powered tailgate as standard equipment. An 8-inch touch screen is crisp and intuitive, although the missing connected
COSMETIC CHANGES ON THE SUPERB HAVE BEEN DONE WELL. SUBTLE CHANGES ADD FRESH PRESENCE WITHOUT ALIENATING THE MODEL THAT IT REPLACES
tech is a little glaring.
Under the hood, the Skoda Superb gets a new 2.0 litre direct injection TSI turbo petrol motor, that it shares with the Tiguan Allspace paired with the slick 7-speed DSG. The new motor makes a juicy 10bhp and 70Nm of torque more than the older 1.8, with 190hp peak power kicking in at 4,2006,000rpm and 320Nm of peak torque at 1,450-4,200rpm. Not that the 1.8 TSI was slow to begin with but this 2.0-litre does up ante a bit when it comes to drive. The added torque kicking in low makes for smooth and refined driving in traffic and adds a sense of ease to the Superb’s low speed maneuverability. Although, I’d argue that the reality of this 2.0-litre turbo mill really sets in when you put your foot down. The strong(er) mid range adds some enthusiasm to the Superb’s charge to the 6,000rpm mark and it’s accompanied by a nice raspy engine note as fuel is force induced into the motor. Paddle shifters add to the dial-in, making the temptation to regularly stomp your right foot down very real.
Priced at Rs 29.99 lakh for the Sportline, and Rs 32.99 lakh for this L&K trim, the Superb makes an incredible case for itself when you consider the fact that it’s only direct rival the Toyota Camry Hybrid costs almost Rs 10 lakh more!