Auto-biographies New Skoda Superb
by Tim Barnes-Clay Motoring Writer at
www.carwriteups.co.uk
The all-new Skoda Superb really is utterly brilliant. You thought I was going to say ‘superb’ didn’t you? Well, that’s been done a hundred times before – but, jokes apart, it truly is.
Underneath, the Skoda has similarities to Volkswagen’s Passat. Available as an estate or hatchback, with the former making up the majority of sales in Great Britain, the all-new Superb has always been a major steal.
Suffi ce it to say, the Czech motor manufacturer, under the parental guidance of VW, off ers a lot of car for your cash.
The vehicle has rear seat legroom many executive limousines can’t keep pace with - and thrifty running costs too. When all is said and done, it’s a genuine work of genius by the Pilsen based automaker.
It is a massive machine. Indeed, it’s bigger than before, and anyone who encountered the preceding incarnations of the Superb will tell you just how large they were.
Stats-wise, the fresh Skoda has a 625-litre boot (30 litres more than the departing car) in the hatchback, which expands to 1,760 litres when the rear seats are folded fl at.
It features a whole bunch of safety systems too, including nine airbags, automatic crash preparation technology, an automatic braking system, and even gadgetry to warn you if a vehicle is going to crash into the back of you.
Into the bargain, the 2015 Superb contains a rear-view camera, three-zone air- conditioning, adaptive cruise control and even an automatic parking system. It can also be hooked-up to a smart-phone for the fi rst time and selected apps can be activated from the infotainment system’s screen. This is one
34 avant-garde Skoda.
You also get Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ features such as an ice scraper in the fuel fl ap and cargo netting in the boot and cabin. And talking about brand physiognomies, the umbrella in the rear door of the old Superb has been traded for a pair of them in this model - one in each front door.
British right hand drive Skoda Superbs will come with trim levels we’re already familiar with, and there’s going to be fi ve engines - the most ubiquitous likely to be the 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel with a six-speed manual gearbox. This is the one I drove at Skoda’s international press launch in Tuscany.
Under full acceleration there’s barely any diesel clatter, and the car has oodles of ‘oomph’ on the motorway – just like Geoff Capes in his British strongman truck-pulling prime. The new Skoda Superb is just as talented at low speed, fl oating over lumps and bumps in town or along deserted Italian country lanes. Pace is perceptibly more composed than that of the outgoing car.
The 2015 Skoda Superb can lurch a little through twisting roads, but it’s a big car, so it’s not the sort of motor you expect to chuck around corners. That said; the steering is direct, with excellent weighting and the car is always comfortable.
The Skoda badge shouldn’t put anyone off this car in this day and age, although die hard BMW afi cionados won’t be interested. I’d say they’re going to miss out, because this handsome new Superb is a top company car choice and, for private buyers, it looks like it will hold on to its value well.
To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com
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