Skoda's cavernous Superb estate ticks all the boxes
Skoda has once again set its sights on modern families who appreciate comfortably appointed and practical cars which offer good value for money.
Instead of just following the trend towards SUVs or electric cars, the Czechs have again fettled the Superb: The flagship model is now in its third generation and will once again make a name for itself with a cavernous interior.
It is old-school car in a positive sense, with a lack of fashionable gimmicks and fills the gap left by roomy Volvo estates of yore.
This time, customers of parent brand VW also benefit since in order to save costs and pool expertise, Skoda has also developed alongside the new VW Passat. Meanwhile, the Czechs will still offer a notchback saloon for 38,480 euros while this version has been dropped from the Passat range.
The best-selling Passat is longer than the Superb, but the Superb has improved. The wheelbase is unchanged at 2.84 metre but the loadmaster now stands at 4.90 metres and offers correspondingly more space: the boot has grown in capacity by 30 litres to 690 litres and can be extended to 1,920 litres by folding down the rear bench.
Space is however not the only selling point. The Superb displays clever little features such as an electrically operated roller blind above the boot and the clever layout of the space below.
The centre console has been re-jigged too and since the car will only be offered with an automatic gearbox, the gear knob has been removed and the selector lever repositioned behind the steering wheel. This creates space between the seats for large cup holders and two wireless charging trays, which are even kept cooled in order to protect smartphones from overheating.
When it comes to the cockpit, the makeover is nothing short of a revolution. The Czechs have hidden the ventilation system behind an elegant design on the dashboard and user-friendliness has been enhanced. The steering wheel retains the classic buttons and the centre console features three so-called Smart Dials, which combine digital and haptic elements.
Important functions such as the driving profiles, infotainment or climate control can be adjusted without having to delve into the deep menus of the large, free-standing touchscreen.
This is a welcome return to old virtues but made almost superfluous by smart tech since the voice assistant also gets AI help from ChatGPT and aims to outsmart all other input options with perfected dialogue control.
The Czechs still rely on conventional combustion engines for the Superb estate. There are two TDI four-cylinder engines with 110 kW/150 hp or 142 kW/193 hp on offer as well as a 1.5-litre petrol engine. It turns out 110 kW/150 hp and with a 48-volt system it is classed as a mild hybrid.
The diesel is great for the range anxious since 1,000 kilometres can be covered easily on a tank of fuel. Thanks to the new, adaptive chassis there is also more comfort on the one hand and more firmness on the other, with comfortable seats and effective noise insulation. The set-up makes light and quiet work of long trips, especially at higher speeds.
Naturally Skoda cannot afford to ignore the electric revolution - and the plug-in hybrid version takes centre stage. It delivers 150 kW/204 hp and, with a larger battery, it can now travel over 100 kilometres at best. It can also be charged with up to 50 kW of direct current for the first time, making it a viable bridge to the new era.
Skoda has chosen not to completely revamp the third generation Superb but boost its strengths and reinterpret the old values which have made it popular for a new era.
