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REVIEW Skoda Superb GreenLine II
Green is good The boldly named Superb Estate gets seriously efficient
The Skoda Superb Estate was one of the best cars launched in 2010 – an impressive achievement, especially when you consider that other debutants included an outstanding new BMW 5 Series, the premium Audi A1 supermini and the innovative Nissan Leaf. The Superb Estate built on the progress the Czech carmaker
has made in recent years with models such as the Octavia and Yeti, offering an unrivalled package of quality, reliability, practicality and affordability. And now the last two qualities have been enhanced by the addition to the range of a variant that bears the GreenLine II badge, the mark of the most efficient and least polluting models. The first GreenLines appeared in 2008 and this second- generation range has now been enhanced with mechanical and technological changes in an attempt to drive down emissions and increase fuel efficiency even further. So, for example, there are features such as a lowered suspension, improved aerodynamics, low-friction tyres and a start/stop system. The new Superb GreenLine is fitted with a 1.6-litre common-
rail diesel engine that generates 103bhp and 184lb-ft of torque. As the Estate weighs 1,471kg, it would be natural to assume that the engine might be a little underpowered for the car: true, it’s not exactly quick, but then this is supposed to be an ‘eco’ version of the car. As long as you bear this in mind when you drive it, try to keep the engine spinning above 1,500rpm and don’t expect to move off too briskly from a standing start (the 0-62mph time is a relatively sedate 12.6 seconds), you’ll be in sync with the car. Once you manage that, you’ll soon reap the real benefits of
this model. Primary among these is an official fuel consumption figure of 64.2mpg on the combined cycle, which is striking for a car as big as the Superb Estate. In real-world driving, this is not an easy figure to sustain, but with even without trying too hard, it’s
driving | April / May 2011
possible to achieve something in the neighbourhood of the low to mid-50s – which is a pretty respectable neighbourhood for a wagon as large as this. But the GreenLine version of the Superb Estate will not only
pay dividends at the pump. The CO2 emissions are just 114g/km, so vehicle excise duty will set owners back a mere £30 a year. The low running costs make this version of the Superb Estate
very attractive to fleet owners and the practical load-lugging nature also commends it to business users who have to cart around a lot of equipment, stock or samples. Even with the rear seats in place, there’s 633 litres of space available in the boot: when the seats are lowered, there’s a cavernous 1,865 litres to fill. All these practical, money-saving attributes might lead you to
think that this is a dull, worthy car. Not a bit of it. It’s very comfortable, thanks to its excellent ride quality and well-equipped cabin (especially if you spec the Elegance trim level), but it’s also satisfying to drive, with confidence- inspiring steering and plenty of grip. Skoda could have
been on a hiding to nothing by calling a car Superb. In this instance, though, it’s hard to disagree with its nomenclature.
Verdict 9/10
PRICE: £19,790-24,040 TOP SPEED: 119mph 0-62mph 12.6secs ECONOMY: 64.2mpg CO2 114g/km ENGINE TYPE, CC: 1,598 4-cylinder (diesel) POWER: 103bhp TORQUE: 184lb-ft GEARBOX: Five-speed manual
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