Another remarkable feature is its twin changing degrees of assistance were
tail door: one minute a saloon bootlid, sometimes noticed – possibly influenced
the next a hatchback tailgate, instigated by the numerous stability and safety
Technical
with a squeeze of a second tailgate systems which can intervene in the
List price £21,510 (otr)
button and confirmed with a double steering (and braking) system. Engine 1968cc, in-line 4-cyl, PD
flash of the high-level stoplamp. That’s Along with the steering, foot controls
turbodiesel. Transverse
smart – and appreciated by occupants on and gear shift have a nicely-balanced
Power 140bhp (104kW) @ 4000rpm
cold days when the boot can be accessed quality, all seemingly operating with a Torque 325lb ft (441Nm) @ 1900rpm
without the cabin freezing. Luggage matched weight and smoothness which
Transmission 6-speed manual, FWD
space is more akin to an estate car’s. makes the car feel very integrated and
Fuel/tank Diesel/13.2 gal (60 litre)
At the other end, the driver has a nice offers a satisfying driving experience.
CO2 155g/km
time, too. With the generous legroom
come memoriseable electric seat PULLING PERFORMANCE
Fuel consumption 43.6mpg solo/26.2mpg towing
1270kg
adjustments and reach/tilt steering – Nice to find squareish door-mirror
Range 575 miles solo/345 miles towing
though the wheel only manages a near cowlings offering secure towing-mirror
Kerbweight 1490kg (85% = 1267kg)
vertical angle when it’s too low, attachment, though fixing straps might
obscuring the instruments. Seats are obscure the integral indicator repeaters.
Gross vehicle weight 2110kg
well shaped, comfortable, supportive Just one fly in the ointment: no obvious
Gross train weight 3910kg
and, in our Elegance model, finished in attachment point for a caravan’s
Noseweight limit 75kg (7% of laden trailer weight
nice soft, fine-grained leather. breakaway cable .
= 88.6kg)
Beneath chrome-edged hooded cowls While the
˘
Skoda stepped off the mark
Towing equipment Detachable towbar £235; electrics
kit £160 (£150 for cars with “towbar
the analogue gauges’ party trick at start- neatly in normal towing, a quicker
preparation”) inc VAT, plus fitting
up is to illuminate the needles as they getaway (and during less grippy
Spare wheel 16in steel with 205/55R16 tyre
sweep once around their dials, settle at hillstarts) could set front tyres scrabbling
Insurance Group 10E
rest then the figures light up. Seemingly to the accompaniment of traction
pointless, but visually impressive. control, the resulting ‘axle tramp’ being
Superb model-range £15,490 (1.4 TSI S) to £26,117
(3.6 V6 4x4 Elegance)
Between this double act is a well- an undignified way to get moving. Get
presented information display. the drivetrain hooked up, though, and
Switchgear is conventionally laid out you could see 60mph in around 16.5
VERDICT
and kept simple, with each section of seconds. Engine noise was quite
CABIN COMFORT
the facia encircled with a discreet noticeable during these antics, but
DRIVING DYNAMICS
chrome embellisher. Depending on your reduced considerably once the outfit
PULLING PERFORMANCE
viewpoint, the chrome trims may either gained momentum.
OVERALL
appear fussy or provide a touch of Sixth gear was usable above about
012345678910
traditional class. The ‘Elegance’ end of 50mph, though all but gentle inclines
Superb’s equipment repertoire provides were a struggle up to that speed. With
many goodies including touch-screen 5-10mph added, top gear became more overhang; and ride tended to be quite
navigation, dual-zone climate control, practical when 1750rpm at 60mph joggly, but caravan pitching was kept
fold-flat door mirrors with auto- raised the revs towards the torque band. well in check.
dimming (but a manually-dipped A 30-50mph time of 7.1sec again
interior mirror), premium Bluetooth showed the pulling power to good effect, VERDICT
phone preparation and tyre-pressure but if revs dropped much below the Does Superb live up to its name? Almost.
monitor, among numerous other items. magic 1800rpm in too high a gear, trying But even if it falls slightly short, it could
to slog it out was just too painful. hardly be called a
˘
Skoda ‘Very Nice’. So,
DRIVING DYNAMICS Stability in all circumstances never Superb it’ll have to be... a73
Despite the Superb being the longest gave any concerns, the Superb in good
in its class, it feels pleasingly agile to control of the outfit. Steering felt quite
drive, possibly partly due to its light, possibly due to the caravan
i
Information:
skoda.co.uk
wheelbase being somewhat shorter levering on the Superb’s long rear
and partly owing to firm suspension.
The latter is a mixed blessing, as along
2
with assured handling and flat P
2
cornering comes a choppy ride on poor
W
h
a
t
c
a
n
m
y
c
a
r
t
o
w
?
roads. While the 18in alloy wheels
certainly look the part, their low-
profile tyres amplify the coarseness of
broken surfaces and I fear for their, and
the wheels’, wellbeing whenever they
drop into a pothole (well, you can’t
miss ’em all!). Less severe undulations
are ridden well.
Credit to the Superb, though, for
its suppression of ‘tram lining’ from
those low-profiles, its steering masking
the worst effects rather better than
many similarly-tyred cars. Electro-
mechanical variable power steering felt
a bit light around the straight ahead and
discovertouring.co.uk
DISCOVER TOURING 41
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