Skoda Superb review
The Skoda Superb is a large family car that lives up to its name: it's well equipped, extremely practical and great value for money
The Skoda Superb epitomises everything that has made the company so successful in recent years: it offers Volkswagen Group quality for less than the price of equivalent VW or Audi models, along with very high levels of standard equipment and great practicality for family buyers. Passenger comfort, build quality and the efficient engine range are all top-notch – this is simply one of the best big family cars you can buy right now. It would take a very determined badge snob to be put off by the lack of an upmarket logo on the nose. A facelift in 2013 has driven the Superb further upmarket with revised styling front and back and the latest family grille, more standard equipment than ever and major revisions to the engine range to improve economy and lower C02 emissions across the range. The trim levels have also been simplified to four choices: S, SE, Elegance and plush Laurent & Klement flagship.
Our choice: Superb 2.0 TDI 140PS SE
Styling
The Skoda Superb looks slightly unsual in profile thanks to its unique roofline, and overall it isn't quite as neat and resolved as its VW Group stablemate the Passat. However the facelifted 2013 model has a completely new front-end designed to push the Superb further upmarket. Sharper headlights and The estate model looks much better proportioned thanks to the extra glass area at the back. The smaller alloys on entry-level models can look a bit lost in the wheelarches of such a large car – the Superb looks its best on bigger wheels. Interior quality is fantastic and the cabin on SE trim and above there is plenty of equipment as standard, while top-spec Elegance models feel suitably luxurious inside.
Driving
You won't see many of them on the road, but the Superb is available with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and four-wheel drive. It will take the car from 0-60mph in just 6.5 seconds, but extremely steep running costs mean the familiar 2.0 TDI diesel engine is a much better choice. Its smooth nature suits the car much better, too – although it's very pleasant to drive, the Superb can't match the likes of the Ford Mondeo or new Mazda 6 for driver enjoyment. This car is also offered with Skoda's innovative 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which has plenty of low-down torque to haul its bulk around. The ride is very comfortable thanks to the Superb's long wheelbase and light controls make it easy to drive long distances and the excellent DSG automatic gearbox is both smooth and quick.
Reliability
Skoda's record in our annual Driver Power survey speaks for itself: the Superb finished second overall in 2012, beaten only by its fellow Skoda, the Yeti. The company as a whole topped the manufacturer's charts as well, so there really is no more satsifying car to own. Reliability of both petrol and diesel engines, as well as electrics, is almost bulletproof. Electronic stability control is standard across the Superb range. Combined with a full complement of airbags, this helped the Superb score a maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. Sure-footed four-wheel drive is offered on the fastest models as well.
Practicality
The Skoda Superb's party trick is that it's both a hatchback and a saloon. The 'TwinDoor' hatch can be opened like a saloon's to drop smaller items into the boot, or the rear screen can be lifted with it to load up larger objects. Plenty of space for luggage does not mean passengers come up short, however. In fact, occupants in the rear enjoy legroom that wouldn't be out of place in a long-wheelbase limousine. Cabin storage is plentiful, and includes unique touches like an umbrella holder in the rear door on SE and Elegance trims. There's also the option of a variable boot floor for even greater interior flexibility.
Running Costs
As with other Skodas, there's an eco-special GreenLine version of the Superb available. It uses a 1.6 TDI diesel engine and various aerodynamic and gearbox tweaks to deliver 64mpg fuel economy and very low 114g/km CO2 emissions. It does cost more to buy initially, though, so drivers covering fewer miles will be as well off in the cheaper non-GreenLine models, which offer a more satisfying driving experience too. Insurance is suprisingly cheap for a car this big, and the Superb's reputation means it holds its value well on the used market.
For an alternative review of the latest Skoda Superb Hatchback visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
Disqus - noscript
What price customer service and
goodwill?
In February 2012 we purchased our third Skoda car
- the first time we have purchased a used vehicle. We loved getting used to the
Skoda Superb, however when we had very cold winter weather we found the car
wouldn't start due to a drained battery, on numerous occasions we had to call
out Skoda Assist to get the car started but after around 48 hours the battery
was once again flat.
We took the vehicle to our local Skoda approved
service agent MON Motors in Chippenham, who did a diagnostic and found nothing
wrong with the car, but said they would replace the battery, under the warranty
(the car had 4 months left of it's 3 year term). This was great and Spring
progressed, the weather warmed up and we had no further trouble ...... until the
cold winter weather in 2013 when the same problem occurred.
On looking at
the battery, we found a paper label on the top with JA/09 - now we got
suspicious that for this same thing to happen, perhaps MON Motors hadn't in fact
replaced the battery (or at least not with a new one) - we contacted them and
they said the battery warranty only ran until the end of the vehicle warranty.
Skoda was contacted and they suggested we had a diagnostic check done on the car
and buy a new battery ... at our expense of course!
We skipped the
diagnostic and instead bought a battery from ATS with a four year warranty -
then we had no further problems starting the car despite the last cold snap of
winter which put night temperatures down to around minus 7C.
Skoda - who
in the past have always shown exemplary customer service - said they wouldn't
consider a customer goodwill payment for the battery and inconvenience because
we went outside the Skoda network to buy our battery - indeed they questioned
our "customer loyalty" and we had to give them details of the three vehicle
purchases over the past 11 years. BUT tell me this - why should we trust the
service agent appointed by Skoda in our town when we believe they have cheated
both us and Skoda themselves - now obviously we can't prove that - but the
evidence as far as we see points to this.
Without hesitation in the past
we have gone back to Skoda - because of quality of service and the cars
themselves - however when it comes time to change the vehicle we won't
automatically look at something from the Skoda range and will also now look at
the likes of Kia and Hyundai. It appears that now Skoda are selling more cars
than ever before they can afford to forget about those who have stuck by the
brand.
After reading all that, and knowing that's five minutes of my life I will never get back, I suggest you look at driver power - Skoda Superb is the 2nd best car to own, just behind Yeti. I'd not consider a Korean, (or any other inferior make) over a Skoda. It's your dealer that was at fault, go to a different one.
Well we gave Skoda another chance but the problem was delt by the person who gave the original response. Well he's not going to change his mind is he. Seems like Skoda don't care about customer loyalty any more but about profit. Shame really as the acoldaes they are getting now are very much from the people they are now abandoning. You can maybe tell I am extremely annoyed but Skoda Customer Services having been a loyal customer for twelve years. The reason why they won't help towards the cost of a new battery...becuase I had no faith in the dearlership whish aledgedly fitted a new battery nine months previous and I went "Outside the Skoda network" and brought a battery! Car cars but fingers crossed you never have a problem.
MateyBoy - Maybe during those five minutes you acutually read my posting - My Superb is "superb" as have been the other two Skodas I have owned. The problem now is Skoda Customer Services