The Skoda Superb has acquired itself an enviable reputation as a quality car which offers excellent value for money. But everybody agrees that something more was expected from its successor. The outstanding quality of Czech engineering and creativity inevitably leads the way to a car with a more distinct personality, packed with an even higher level of superb engineering.

And suffice it to say that the all-new Superb did not disappoint us at its introduction. Of course we picked out the top version for our first drive with the new car, as we wanted to get a taste of the high level of know-how and craftsmanship the Czechs have now reached in designing and building a quality automobile.

Styling with a unique character.

Gone is the design which faithfully follows the VW styling bible. The car now breathes its own typical character, and its proportions are somewhat bolder, more typical of central European tastes which are looking for more expressive shapes and forms. We have seen this already in the playful Skoda Roomster and now we see it translated into the form language of the distinctive Superb. The roof line for example has the typical boldness of the rounded shapes of the later Tatras, with opulent use of chromium on the bodywork included. Also the interior breathes this aura of luxury found in the roomy Tatras, with the quality and texture of the chosen materials emphasizing this even more. The delicately woven cloth and velours, the heavily chromed fittings, the wooden inlays, the deeply set dials and instruments all add to a certain sense of old world tradition and noble luxury.

State of the art technology…with the V6.  

No sweet purr of an all aluminum air cooled Tatra V8 engine coming from the back, but the even sweeter sound of a formidable 3.6 litre V6 was emerging from under the bonnet before us. This unit has FSI technology, as can be expected, and is good for some 260 HP or 191 kW and a maximum torque of 350 Nm between 2,500/rpm and 5,000/rpm. It is coupled to automated six-speed DSG and, so that all this  engine power is translated properly into driving power, with all four wheels permanently driven. The slippery and somewhat muddy country roads we encountered on our first  drive, proved that the Superb was able to master all this power even when our driving style was bold to say the least.

The car handles beautifully and can be ‘thrown’ around in the most spirited manner. The power distribution is designed to be variable. A fourth-generation Haldex clutch monitors all this ‘Urkraft’  electronically. During normal driving traction conditions, all the power goes to the front axle. But when needed, the 350 Nm of torque can be sent to the rear wheels, and this, as said, in endlessly variable proportions.

The engine proved to be quite willing, responsive  and free-revving, hurtling the Superb forward with considerable urge. 100 kph is reached from standstill in a mere 6.5 seconds, according to the factory figures. We were pressed deep in the comfortable seats, listening to the beautiful sound of this noble six cylinder, and were thoroughly enjoying this display of power.  Still according to the factory, the FSI technology sees to it that the fuel consumption of this fast (250 kph) limousine is not more than 10 litres to 100 km on average.

Small but beautiful: the 1.4 litre FSI…

We also tested on this first encounter the astonishing 1.4 FSI petrol engine. This unit is a true gem, combining economy with uncanny smoothness, power and very progressive torque characteristics. The 1.450 kg limousine is still quite agile even with this small power unit, and accelerates smoothly and progressively from 0 to 100 in a mere 10.5 seconds, demanding of course the use of the smooth changing 6-speed gearbox with verve. But it is the excellent torque (200 Nm) of this engine which never fails to amaze us time and again. Top speed of this 125 hp version of the Superb is still some 201 km/h, documenting the excellent aerodynamics of the car. And the fuel consumption? According to the factory, a mere 6,6 litres per 100 km on average…

The smaller but quite astonishing 1.4 FSI has plenty of space under the bonnet...

This frugality, together with the roominess and practical amenities of the car made the Superb 1.4 FSI win in this country already the title of “Family car of the year”, we do not need to add more…

Soon we will put this version of the car to a full test, and we will also take the Superb with the “base” 105 hp 1.9 TDI Diesel engine through its paces…

In the meantime, we are testing the Superb 1900 Diesel "Green Line", and the car displays an astonishing frugality. Driving home from collecting the car in Brussels at the premises of the importer, we were amazed to see an average consumption of a mere 4 litres per 100 km. As the following picture amply shows!

Surprising to see this noble limousine content itself with the consumption of a minicar...

Hans Knol ten Bensel

The new Superb proudly bears the name of the marque ...

... and its name is also seen on the headlights of the car.  

The instruments are beautifully recessed...

The high roofline shows new boldness and character in Skoda styling...

No wooden inlays in the Comfort version of the Superb, it is only reserved for the Elegance equipment you see in the photo below... (all the photos on this page were taken with the Nikon D40 with standard zoom lens and sensitivity settings ranging from 200 to 800 ASA.)