Model update 8/10
Positive Attractive interior and exterior
styling, quality feel to the interior with clever switchgear, more rear and boot space
Skoda Superb Estate
In a contracting market, Skoda proves there’s still a place for an old-school, big, comfortable and refined estate.
Martyn Collins
Once the large estate was one of the biggest markets for fleet in the UK, but with crossovers and SUVs seemingly taking over, there have been big ticket casualties such as Ford’s Mondeo and Vauxhall’s Insignia leaving over the past few years.
Still, with the Peugeot 508 and Volkswagen Passat seemingly now the Superb’s only competition, Skoda see this as a real opportunity to fill the gap for a traditional big estate model. With highlights, according to a spokesperson for the Czech company, being its roominess, practicality, usability, and a good level of standard equipment. Outside, the fourth-generation version of the modern Superb (not including the original from 1934!) is more evolution than revolution. The new octagonal grille finished in dark chrome, plus the large headlamps, mean you couldn’t mistake the latest Superb for any rival. At the side, the front windscreen is more steeply raked, there’s a more streamlined roofline, and an elongated roof spoiler, which along with redesigned wing mirrors equal a drag coefficient of 0.25, which is improved by 15 percent over its predecessor, with Skoda claiming it’s the most aerodynamic estate car. At the back, the Superb is identified by the high-set LED lit rear lights. If the estate doesn’t suit, the hatch follows shortly.
The result of the Superb Estate growing by 40mm in length and 5mm in height, is obvious really – a more spacious interior! Let’s start with the boot, which was already a key part of the Superb’s appeal, which with the extra length now equals a massive 690 litres (30 litres more than before) with the seats in place. It is not just the space that marks the load area out, there are some ‘simply clever’ features such as a stowage cubby on the left, latches positioned by the tailgate that lower the rear seats, and barriers that can be attached
Standard equipment: 17in Mintaka silver alloys, 13in central infotainment display with integrated satnav, 10.25-in Virtual Cockpit, fabric upholstery and Gloss Black fi nishes.
Engines: Diesel: 148hp 2.0 TDi, 191hp 2.0
PHEV: 202hp 1.5
Equipment grades: SE Technology, SE L, Laurin & Klement
Transmissions: Seven-speed auto
Petrol: 148hp 1.5, 202hp 2.0, 263hp 2.0
to the floor via Velcro. Choose the plug- in hybrid version, which fleets probably will, and it loses 80 litres of space thanks to the high load floor – but the boot space remains impressively practical. In the rear seat, there’s the expected, almost limo-like levels of leg- and headroom, which leads us to the front. The driving position is comfortable, with plenty of adjustment. Dashboard highlights are the latest 13in touchscreen, although Skoda was keen to tell us how it has listened to its customers as there are three clever, multi-function rotary dials below it, plus some other buttons below them. The multi-function dials work well enough, but their chrome-plated plastic finish is disappointing.
Skoda Superb Estate
1.5 TSi E-TEC SE L P11D £38,655 On sale Now Residual value 43% Depreciation £21,930 Fuel £8,017 Service, maintenance and repair N/A Cost per mile N/A Range 47.9-53.3mpg CO2 (BIK %) 121-134 g/km (29-31%) BIK 20/40% a month £196/£392 Luggage capacity 690 litres Engine size/power 1,498cc/148hp
Negative
Some interior fi nishes not as impressive as the design, PHEV has 80 litres less boot space, gets expensive further up the range
Elsewhere, all Superb Estates are auto only, with the gear selector on the steering column, the same as fitted to Volkswagen’s I.D EV models, and frees up space in the centre console. We got to try three of the engines that will be offered in the Superb Estate. The 148hp version of the 2.0-litre TDi diesel is grumbly at idle and at load but feels willing enough. The 202hp, 1.5 TSi iV plug-in hybrid, sure to be the most popular with fleets, boasts a 62 miles electric-only range, and can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in around two and half hours, with an 11kW rate. Our favourite of the three we tried, the entry-level 1.5 TSi petrol also with 148hp, is more refined and responsive than the diesel.
On the road, all the cars we drove were fitted with 18in wheels. The happiest seemed to be the entry-level petrol – which coincidentally was also the lightest. Most unhappy was the plug-in hybrid, where the extra weight of the battery gave a harder, more uncomfortable edge to the ride. Whichever Superb Estate you choose, while there are no fireworks to the drive, they all impress with the lack of wind noise, and the ride in general is impressively refined. If you still have a need for an ICE-powered big estate, the Superb must be the best of its type.
www.businesscar.co.uk | April 2024 | 37
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