02/11/2024 Few cars tick all the boxes and there was a time when the Skoda Superb estate or ‘Combi’ did. The car has been revised and while it remains the best large estate car you can buy it is not perfect. With a Superb it is a given that it is a large car with acres of space and a boot the size of Wales that an overgrown family would find hard to fill. The latest generation is still powered by fossil fuel and must surely be the last of its generation as Europe electrifies.
The car is exterior is smart, stylish and handsome. There is no denying it large footprint, but thanks to a relatively low roof height it doesn’t attract the same negative comments a large SUV would.
Inside the cabin is very well appointed. There is a new two spoke steering wheel and some noticable tweaks. Overall, the car remains intuitive to use and drivers will be safe in the knowlegde that no one will complain about the lack of passenger room. Sadly, it’s our test car’s diesel engine and its transmission that draws attention to itself, taking away from what in every other sense is a premium experience. The 2 litre diesel feels dated. Despite being able to deliver excellent fuel consumption (5.2l/100km) the car feels very ordinary and underwhelming under foot. If you simply want to amble around or cruise the Superb does the job well but we are now spoilt with the feeling and sensation hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric cars give us when we want to accelerate or decelerate.
Skoda has positioned itself more up market over the last number of years and this has disappointed the VW owned firm’s earlier adopters who appreciated the brands affordability. With pricing starting at under €50,000 Superb is still a relatively affordable large family car – premium estate cars cost 20 or €30,000 more.
Superb Combi’s party trick is its boot, it is huge holding 690 litres in normal configuration and if you fold down the split folding rear seats you basically have a double bed sized space. The seating for five is very comfortable and long drives simply disappear in this car. The digital displays are reasonably clear and thankfully key inputs for heating etc. are on rotarty dials. The latest Superb’s gear selector is now mounted on the steering column, and this frees up more space for the centre console.
Our 2 litre diesel engine pushes out 150hp and in this day and age that is nothing to write home about, but the car is certified to run on HVO and running on this fuel can help you reduce the car’s emissions considerably over diesel – allowing some comeback against people saying you’re engine is killing the planet. On the road Superb drives exactly as you would expect to, its dull but good. That said it is much more engaging to drive than an SUV. It’s low roof height means it’s more aerodynamic and fuel efficient than an SUV. During testing we were reminded of how there is nothing nicer than being out of the open road in a regular car shaped car! The downside to the diesel engine is when using the car in built-up traffic or where there are high hedges – you do miss the taller SUV driving experience and their better field of vision. It is very nice to get into a car where there is a range of over 1000km to the tank, so no need to worry about finding a working charger or being without your car for 45 minutes as you rapidly charge up.
The Superb remains a very practical family car and in Combi guises it is as its name suggests. It’s just a pity the low powered diesel engine constantly reminds you of the progress that has been made in the area of power trains – that said there is a hybrid Superb – although with it you lose a bit of boot sace. A plain old diesel, unless you use HVO, isn’t the sustainable choice for families if they’re looking for a vehicle that they want to hold onto for many, many years. Our test car with a few extras cost just over €60,000 that’s a heap of money but you do get acres of space and masses of versatility. It’s just a pity the entry point engine doesn’t live up to the rest of the package. The Combi ‘iV’ PHEV variant powered by the 1.5 litre petrol engine is perhaps the better way to go. Michael Sheridan
