Skoda's Australian tag line is 'Simply Clever'; in the case of the Superb prestige sedan we'd add: 'Simply Sensational Value'.
The most luxurious car so far from Volkswagen's Czech-Republic brand, the Superb is loaded with technology, gloriously equipped, spacious, beautifully built and starts from just $42,990.
Car Showroom tested the range-topping Superb Elegance model with a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine, all-wheel-drive and a six speed DSG automatic transmission. Priced at $56,990, this vehicle really does represent sensational buying for those looking at full-size European prestige sedans.
What You Get
Photos don't do justice to the proportions of the Skoda Superb - this is a full-size European sedan (size-wise comparable to the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class) - with impressive interior space and appointments. And with Skoda's TwinDoor variable boot opening it's both a sedan and a hatchback.
The Elegance 4x4 provides a sumptuous leather interior, lots of safety equipment including Electronic Stabilization Program and of course strong driving dynamics thanks to its V6 engine, direct-shift automatic and all-wheel-drive system.
The Interior
Skoda's ingenious TwinDoor system combines a conventional bootlid with a hatchback. For the hatchback opening, two small buttons activate an electro-mechanical release, which opens the bootlid and rear window providing access to a gargantuan load area up to 1,670 liters (with the rear seats folded).
Inside the Elegance 4x4 are beautiful leather seats (fronts with electronic adjustment and whiplash optimized head restraints), nice timber and chrome trim finishes, thick carpeting, subtle lighting and dual-zone air-conditioning.
Instrumentation is typically Volkswagen design - round dials in front of the driver and a multi-function display on the center console. It's conservative but straightforward and easy to operate.
The thick, four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel is adjustable for rake and reach and contains paddle shifters for the transmission plus controls for the six-disc/MP3 audio system. Our test car was fitted with the optional 'Columbus' satellite navigation system with 3D mapping. In total the system has a 30GB hard drive - 20 GB for audio and 10GB for navigation.
An optional sunroof has solar panels, which - like the Toyota Prius - power a fan, which ventilates the interior when parked and can reduce inside temperatures by up to 25 degrees.
On the safety front, the Superb is equipped with nine airbags.
Exterior & Styling
The Superb presents a distinctive and elegant design accentuated by the bold chrome-finished front grille with its large Skoda logo.
The Elegance 4x4 we tested was fitted with the unusual-looking but very effective AFS (Adaptive Front Light System) Bi-Xenon headlights. The AFS works automatically and has four modes: the default mode is for everyday driving, there is an Urban (city) mode with a wider, shorter spread for the light beams, above 90 km/h it switches to Motorway mode with a spread further ahead and there is a Rain mode which reduces dazzling for oncoming vehicles.
From the side, the front fenders are highlighted by deep sculpture lines that blend from the bonnet. The roofline has an elongated appearance that blends with the curved C-pillars.
At the rear, the taillights are in two parts - one on the boot and one on the bumper - and form a C-shaped light at night.
On The Road
Superb shares its driveline with Volkswagen's Passat CC - the 3.6-litre FSI V6 delivers 191kW at 6,000 rpm and peak torque of 350Nm between 2,500 rpm and 5,000 rpm. The exhaust note is sporty and acceleration with the six-speed Direst Shift Gearbox (DSG) is rapid and unfussed - zero to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds.
Volkswagen has nicely refined the Haldex-clutch all-wheel-drive system over the years and it combines with the MacPherson strut front/multi-link rear suspension design to provide the Superb with firm, stable handling and nice cornering balance.
Superb Elegance 4x4 runs 18-inch alloy wheels (17-inch on the two other models) and our test car was fitted with Continental tyres which provided high levels of grip.
Refinement levels were generally high but on poor secondary roads and over Melbourne's notorious tram and train track crossings, the Superb wasn't quite in the refinement league of 'Benz and BMW (both of which carry significantly higher prices of course).
Challenges
Globally Skoda is a brand on the move with a growing model range of nicely engineered vehicles and a history dating back to the 1930s for the Superb. However Skoda is still young in Australia so resale values remain unknown.
Verdict
The Volkswagen ownership of Skoda is paying massive dividends for new car buyers. The Superb is an excellent European luxury vehicle, extensively equipped and well made.
And its value-for-money equation is spectacular.
The Competition
Lineup the Europeans: Volkswagen's Passat, BMW's 5-Series, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Where the Superb blurs the boundaries is with its extensive list of features and technology - especially the Elegance 4x4.
Thumbs-up:
Value; manufacturing quality; driving dynamics
Thumbs-down:
Ultimately doesn't match Mercedes Benz and BMW for refinement
