A limo for the price of a hatch
17/03/09 10:10 Filed in: Road
tests
When Skoda developed their
range-topping executive car they delved back into their history –
as they had with previous models – to dust off a name from their
illustrious past. The name they chose was Superb. Perhaps not the
best of names, however it does describe some of the attributes of
this flagship, now in its second iteration since the revival.
The most remarkable feature of the Superb is the interior space. This car offers limousine standards of rear space. You can really stretch your legs in the back. Skoda proudly boast that there is more room in there than in a Mercedes S Class.
The story goes that the Czech president had always had one of the extraordinary Tatra rear-engined limousines in which to be chauffeured. But, when Tatra car production ceased, attention turned to the Czech republic’s other best-known vehicle manufacturer to come up with a car to fill the role of state limousine.
As part of the Volkswagen Group, Skoda was able to raid the group’s global parts bin – something that is key to the financial viability of many manufacturers. What they did was to extend an existing platform to provide the stretched rear space of the Superb.
The other headline of this latest Superb is the innovative “Twindoor” at the back. Recognising that some people prefer saloons with a separate boot and some prefer hatches, Skoda has given their new Superb both.
Yes, you get a choice of boot, or hatch every time you open the back to load your Superb! It took me a couple of shots to become a reasonably smooth operator of the system. Once adept at choosing hatch, or boot, it works well. It is not just a gimmick either.
If you have rear seat passengers, it is much more comfortable not to open the hatch and blast them with air from outside by opening just the boot. But, if you have bigger loads to carry, you have the full flexibility of a hatchback with large tailgate and folding seats to offer a huge load area.
There is another luxury limousine touch to the Skoda Superb. Just like a Rolls Royce, you will find an umbrella fitted into the left rear door of the more upmarket models.
The new Superb can look a little ungainly when photographed from some angles, so I am happy to say that – while it won’t win awards for its beauty – I reckon it looks a lot better in the metal.
Although it is obviously a big car, the Superb doesn’t feel bulky to drive. Indeed, it handles very well, even on narrower, twistier country roads. To make it even easier around town, the Superb has the option of Volkswagen’s Park Assist system. This measures the size of parking spaces as you pass slowly. If it is big enough, Park Assist will control the steering to reverse park you neatly into the space. (I first tried Volkswagen’s Park Assist in the Volkswagen Tiguan.)
My test car was the 2.0 TDI and the general air of refinement was broken just occasionally by the diesel grumble under acceleration. The test car reaches 62 mph in a quoted 10.2 seconds, but there is also a more powerful 170 bhp two-litre diesel available in two and (for the first time on the Superb) four-wheel-drive.
For ultimate performance, you can get a four-wheel-drive 3.6-litre Superb, complete with Volkswagen’s excellent DSG gearbox. This flagship model has pretty brisk performance with 0-62 mph in just 6.6 seconds, but at the cost of higher CO2 emission, higher fuel consumption and a £26,640 purchase price.
My two-litre diesel test car gave a very respectable 35 and 40 mpg in a week of commuting and the occasional country road drive.
When Tatra stopped making this rear-engined limousine, the Czech President needed a new set of wheels.
The Superb 2.0 TDI PD Elegance costs £21,540. At that price you are getting limousine standards of space, quite a bit of luxury and high specification for the price of a reasonably up-market family hatchback or saloon.
For someone who needs a car to carry four or five adults in exceptional comfort, such as company car drivers or taxi operators, the Superb could prove just perfect.
The most remarkable feature of the Superb is the interior space. This car offers limousine standards of rear space. You can really stretch your legs in the back. Skoda proudly boast that there is more room in there than in a Mercedes S Class.
The story goes that the Czech president had always had one of the extraordinary Tatra rear-engined limousines in which to be chauffeured. But, when Tatra car production ceased, attention turned to the Czech republic’s other best-known vehicle manufacturer to come up with a car to fill the role of state limousine.
As part of the Volkswagen Group, Skoda was able to raid the group’s global parts bin – something that is key to the financial viability of many manufacturers. What they did was to extend an existing platform to provide the stretched rear space of the Superb.
The other headline of this latest Superb is the innovative “Twindoor” at the back. Recognising that some people prefer saloons with a separate boot and some prefer hatches, Skoda has given their new Superb both.
Yes, you get a choice of boot, or hatch every time you open the back to load your Superb! It took me a couple of shots to become a reasonably smooth operator of the system. Once adept at choosing hatch, or boot, it works well. It is not just a gimmick either.
If you have rear seat passengers, it is much more comfortable not to open the hatch and blast them with air from outside by opening just the boot. But, if you have bigger loads to carry, you have the full flexibility of a hatchback with large tailgate and folding seats to offer a huge load area.
There is another luxury limousine touch to the Skoda Superb. Just like a Rolls Royce, you will find an umbrella fitted into the left rear door of the more upmarket models.
The new Superb can look a little ungainly when photographed from some angles, so I am happy to say that – while it won’t win awards for its beauty – I reckon it looks a lot better in the metal.
Although it is obviously a big car, the Superb doesn’t feel bulky to drive. Indeed, it handles very well, even on narrower, twistier country roads. To make it even easier around town, the Superb has the option of Volkswagen’s Park Assist system. This measures the size of parking spaces as you pass slowly. If it is big enough, Park Assist will control the steering to reverse park you neatly into the space. (I first tried Volkswagen’s Park Assist in the Volkswagen Tiguan.)
My test car was the 2.0 TDI and the general air of refinement was broken just occasionally by the diesel grumble under acceleration. The test car reaches 62 mph in a quoted 10.2 seconds, but there is also a more powerful 170 bhp two-litre diesel available in two and (for the first time on the Superb) four-wheel-drive.
For ultimate performance, you can get a four-wheel-drive 3.6-litre Superb, complete with Volkswagen’s excellent DSG gearbox. This flagship model has pretty brisk performance with 0-62 mph in just 6.6 seconds, but at the cost of higher CO2 emission, higher fuel consumption and a £26,640 purchase price.
My two-litre diesel test car gave a very respectable 35 and 40 mpg in a week of commuting and the occasional country road drive.
When Tatra stopped making this rear-engined limousine, the Czech President needed a new set of wheels.
The Superb 2.0 TDI PD Elegance costs £21,540. At that price you are getting limousine standards of space, quite a bit of luxury and high specification for the price of a reasonably up-market family hatchback or saloon.
For someone who needs a car to carry four or five adults in exceptional comfort, such as company car drivers or taxi operators, the Superb could prove just perfect.