Skoda Superb Estate SE L 2.0 TSI 190PS DSG review @ MotorBar

“It takes world-class confidence
to launch a car and name it ‘Superb’.
Skoda did, and three generations
and eighteen years on the latest
2020 version more than lives up to
the name...”

OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS it has sold like hot cakes, with well over half a million Superbs flying out of the showrooms. The likely 2020 best-seller, the petrol-drinking turboed 2.0-litre TSI in SE L trim, is big in value-for-money terms as well as for space — its limo-like rear cabin and boot are truly cavernous.

It's a good-looker too, this latest Superb. The sleek new nose treatment now boasts LED matrix headlights and premium dynamic indicators (the kind you see on high-grade Audis) and at the back S-K-O-D-A is spelt out in classy solid chrome letters across the tailgate. Overall the estate's clean styling lines and elegant silhouette give off a palpable sense of stateliness, beating the opposition hands down when it comes to kerb appeal.

“Slide into either of the
big front seats and
the comfort and space
makes it feel like you’re
chillaxing in your
sitting room. There’s
room and to spare in
every direction (with
plenty of shoulder and
elbow room as well as
hat-wearingly-generous
headroom) — much more
of it than in prestigious
motors such as the
Jaguar XE or 3 Series
BMW...”

Slide into either of the big front seats and the comfort and space makes it feel like you're chillaxing in your sitting room. There's room and to spare in every direction (with plenty of shoulder and elbow room as well as hat-wearingly-generous headroom) — much more of it than in prestigious motors such as the Jaguar XE or 3 Series BMW. A well laid-out dash treatment and plenty of soft-touch materials, including pleated leather seats, together contribute to a plush upmarket ambiance. A large touchscreen is set dead-centre in the fascia and there's a pair of stylish dials in the instrument panel book-ending a multifunction trip computer (with a usefully large digital mph readout).

The driver benefits from full power seat and mirror adjustment (with a three-settings memory recall) and the steering-wheel is a sporty, leather-wrapped, three-spoke multifunction item. A perfect driving position is easily set, aided by electric seat height-adjustment and four-way powered lumbar support. Three-stage heated front seats add another layer of luxury. The view through the screen is perfect for accurate placing and the view of what's coming up behind equally reassuring. Impressive, too, are the SE L's standard-fit 'Matrix' LED headlights — this adaptive front light system enables main beam to be used effectively permanently as they automatically adjust if there's a chance of other road users being dazzled.

Fronted by an 8-inch central touchscreen the Superb is kitted out with comprehensive comms that take in both infotainment and SatNav. MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are on hand for smartphone connectivity, giving you the option using Google Maps and the Waze navigation app on the main screen. Bluetooth and a DAB digital radio also feature, plus there are USB ports and an SD card reader for music files. You also get permanent Internet access and there's a WiFi-enabled in-cabin hotspot as well as voice control (Phone, Navi, Media, and Radio) along with CareConnect (that includes an SOS feature). More good news: screen resolution is hi-def sharp, spoken directions are foolproof, mapping is 3D with the posted speed limit shown, navigating the menus is straightforward and there are direct jump buttons around the screen for fast menu-switching.

As clever as all the tech stuff is, Skoda hasn't forgotten to include many of their trademark special touches such as the handy 'sleeve pockets' on the inner backrest sides of both front seatbacks and umbrella 'holsters' built into the front doors (one compact brolly is provided).

“At 4.8-metres long
the Superb estate has all
the wheelbase it needs
to provide acres of
personal space for those
travelling behind the
driver. As in the front,
elbow, shoulder, leg-
and head-room are to be
found in abundance —
you’ll have to pay
Mercedes prices to match
them. Not only that but
the pleated leather seats
are well shaped to ensure
that occupants retain
their composure even
when their chauffeur
is pressing on...”

In-cabin storage is wide-ranging with a large air-conditioned bin between the front seats topped by a padded, height-adjustable armrest big enough to share, a chillable glovebox, triple cupholders in the centre console with a sliding lid for when it's being used for storage, real-world long and deep bottle-holding front doors pockets, a large multi-use coin box in the right-hand fascia, a drop down overhead case for your shades and, last but not least, a big locker situated under the front passenger seat. Externally you'll find an ice-scraper stored behind the fuel filler flap.

In addition to many items already mentioned, SE L spec models also come with keyless entry (front and rear doors), keyless Start, Drive Mode Selection, dual-zone climate control, an electrically-operated boot, electric parking brake with auto-hold, front and rear power windows (all one-shot up/down), frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated and powerfolding (on-demand / automatically on locking and leaving) door mirrors, Adaptive Cruise Control, swish dynamic indicators (as seen on upscale Audis), front and rear parking sensors, privacy glass, an electric auxiliary air heater, automatic drive-away door locking, silver roof rails, and a smart set of 18-inch alloy wheels.

Upgraded safety 'assists' include: Front Assist with pedestrian and cyclist detecting abilities and which incorporates autonomous emergency braking; Blind Spot Warning that, very helpfully, beeps and flashes you if you go to pull out without checking your mirror and there's something coming up on your outside; Lane Guidance (nudges the steering wheel automatically to keep you within 'your' lane's white lines; Manoeuvre Braking (helps you steer around hazards); and Rear Traffic Alert.

There's also a driver fatigue sensor, stability control, front, front side, curtain, and driver's knee airbags (with a deactivation switch for the front passenger seat), and post-collision automatic braking. All of which contributes to a five-star EuroNCAP. In addition to the Matrix LED headlights there are LED daytime running lights, cornering front fog lights, LED tail lights, headlight washers, height-adjustable front seatbelts, tyre pressure monitoring, and auto lights and wipes.

At 4.8-metres long the Superb estate has all the wheelbase it needs to provide acres of personal space for those travelling behind the driver. As in the front, elbow, shoulder, leg- and head-room are to be found in abundance — you'll have to pay Mercedes prices to match them. Not only that but the pleated leather seats are well shaped to ensure that occupants retain their composure even when their chauffeur is pressing on.

“There’s no doubt that
petrol now enjoys the
most sway with buyers�
until, of course, that
unicorn day when
all-electric takes over
completely.
Sales-wise, the biggest
hitter is sure to be the
punchy 187bhp unit —
partnered with a smooth-
shifting seven-speed
twin-clutch DSG autobox
it runs to 148mph and
takes just 7.7 seconds
to sprint from standstill
to 62mph...”

Access — both in and out — is easy courtesy of wide-opening doors. Three adults side-by-side is a definite 'doable'. However, with just two six-footers in the back the well padded, fold-down centre armrest comes into play; relaxing backrest angles, pop-out cupholders, comfy outer armrests, bottle-holding door bins, map pockets, and dedicated air vents transform long journeys into the perfect opportunity to lean back, stretch right out and let the world pass you by. Those travelling with youngsters will appreciate the Isofix child seat fittings on both outer rear seats.

The SE L comes with Skoda's Drive Mode Select as standard, which offers you a choice of driving style settings: in addition to Normal there's Eco, Sport and Individual. Your passengers will appreciate journeys in the Normal setting where progress is comfortable, quiet and relaxing as the suspension soaks up speed bumps and other tiresome tarmac imperfections while the hustle-and-bustle of the outside world is kept steadfastly where it belongs — on the outside. Motorways are cruised serenely with a loping gait and limo-like panache thanks to first-rate refinement and the hushed petrol engine, making it a cocooning way to devour coast-to-coast trips. That's not to say it has pandered to ride comfort to the detriment of getting a move on.

Despite many carmakers dropping diesel like the plague, Skoda hasn't forsaken its oil-burner fans but there's no doubt that petrol now enjoys the most sway with buyers� until, of course, that unicorn day when all-electric takes over completely. The range of petrol engines are topped by a 2.0-litre TSI 190PS with 187bhp and, for those with a hankering for speed, the hard-charging 268bhp 2.0 TSI — aided by standard-fit four-wheel drive this �ber-speedy Superb hits 62mph in a wheel-spin-free 5.6 seconds.

Sales-wise, the biggest hitter is sure to be the punchy 187bhp unit. Partnered with a smooth-shifting seven-speed twin-clutch DSG autobox it runs to 148mph and takes just 7.7 seconds to sprint from standstill to 62mph.

It's not just quick with the headline numbers (top speed and 0-62): pressed or pampered, the four-pot is both satisfyingly quiet and eager to party. With its muscular 236lb ft on call from 1,500rpm underscoring its heft, there's always more than enough oomph on tap plus that cheering feeling of there always being more in reserve. Add to that a well-behaved twin-clutch autobox and a refined driveline and you have a car that's mechanically relaxing, effortlessly gobbling up the miles on long trips.

“You don’t buy a large
estate car specifically to
barrel round country
lanes, door handles
scraping the blacktop
through tight corners.
That said, Skoda’s
engineers have done a
fine job with the
Superb’s handling.
On the move it feels
surprisingly light on its
feet and, especially in
Sport mode, can be
hustled along at a
satisfying lick...”

Surprisingly, while the Superb is big and luxurious car, its running costs aren't as wallet-sapping as you might expect. Despite an official combined cycle figure of between 37.7 and 35.3mpg, our week's test average came out at a commendable 41.2mpg with a best of 46.8 on motorway trips. That's a lot of miles per gallon for a lot of car.

You don't buy a large estate car specifically to barrel round country lanes, door handles scraping the blacktop through tight corners. That said, Skoda's engineers have done a fine job with the Superb's handling. On the move it feels surprisingly light on its feet and, especially in Sport mode, can be hustled along at a satisfying lick.

While four-wheel-drive versions are on the menu, front-wheel-drive models have plenty of grip and still feel reassuringly connected to the road. The steering is up to speed and while pleasantly light at low speeds (for easy in-town work and parking), it gains useful 'heft' as your speed rises. Decide to make up lost time and you'll be pleased to find that the Superb nips through the twisties without any hesitation while maintaining a tidy demeanour. Overall the driving dynamics will keep you interested — and safe.

Okay, so it's not quite big enough to camp out in but at 660 litres the Superb estate's boot is undeniably massive — slotting in a number of those extra-large cases you take on a world cruise is a cinch. Fold down the 60:40-split rear seatbacks and massive becomes gargantuan. The deep, long cargo bay has a load volume of 1,950 litres; a wide-opening tailgate makes it super-easy to load bulky items. For instance, there's more than enough room to sling in a pair of his 'n' hers mountain bikes — and without any need to remove their front wheels first. Boosting the convenience factor is a handsfree powered tailgate (opening and closing on the key fob).

Other essentials such as sturdy bag hooks, a 12V power socket, and a self-charging removable LED torch, are all present and correct; as too is a large lidded cubby each side of the boot floor. Particularly handy are the Velcroed place-holders that can be sited anywhere on the boot floor to keep individual items exactly where you put them. Another practical touch: the front passenger seatback folds down forwards making it possible to carry very long items. Finally, towing? You've got it — without raising a sweat the 2.0-litre TSI will haul a braked trailer of up to 2,000kg.

The tide may just be turning on the SUV's status quo as the answer to every motoring need — full-size, family-friendly estate cars such as the Superb provide a real-world alternative and can be far better to drive. Big on comfort and refinement, well equipped and with a premium feel, this particular Skoda makes a superb choice! ~ MotorBar

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