SUPERB ESTATE

Choose the Škoda Superb and you’re getting a very similar car to the Volkswagen Passat. Perhaps not quite as good to drive (although there’s not a lot in it), but it is even roomier.

Compared with the Passat, the Superb has been stretched between the front and rear wheels. This gives the Škoda class-leading cabin space. It’s most noticeable in the back of the car, where a passenger of well over six feet tall can stretch out behind an equally tall driver with room to spare.

Luggage space is as good as it gets, too. There’s an impressive 660 litres, rising to 1950 litres with the back seats folded down.

You have a wide choice of petrol and diesel engines, and Škoda has just introduced a plug-in hybrid, called the Superb iv. We’ve yet to drive it, but we’d expect it to be just as able as the Passat GTE, which uses the same drivetrain.

Diesel engine

We have a soft spot for the range-topping 272hp petrol. It’s comfortable when driven gently, but very rapid if given free rein. Four-wheel drive makes the most of performance in all weathers. However, the official combined figure of 32.5mpg would put us off, and there’s better value lower down the range.

One of the 2.0-litre diesels would be our pick, with 150hp or 190hp. The lower-powered model is fine for towing, and achieves 56.2mpg on the combined cycle. SE spec comes with 17-inch alloys, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and dual-zone climate control, and costs £27,390. It’s a lot of motor for the money, and makes a stable and frugal tow car.