Skip advert
Advertisement

New Skoda Superb Estate facelift 2019 review

We get behind the wheel of the refreshed Skoda Superb Estate, and find it is still a winner in the space race

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Avg. savings
£2,880 off RRP*
Find your Skoda Superb
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Think of a utilitarian Mercedes S-Class for the masses, and you’re imagining the Skoda Superb. In this facelifted form it gets more equipment, including Matrix LED lights and improved connectivity, so although the range feels short of an ultra-efficient version until the plug-in hybrid arrives, the space, comfort and hi-tech kit on offer still make the Czech estate a really appealing option.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Skoda Superb Estate is a strikingly brilliant big family car – masses of space, keen value, plenty of equipment, comfortable and pleasant to drive. But with prices starting at £25,975 and climbing up to over £40,000, the mid-spec SE L 2.0 TDI 150 that we’re driving here comes in at more than £30,000. That’s firmly into the territory of the likes of the BMW 3 Series Touring.

Design updates with this facelift are mild; the main ones are fully adaptive Matrix LED lights and ‘sweeping’ indicators, standard on SE L trim and above.

Best estate cars on the market

The infotainment also now gets a built-in SIM card so it can offer a WiFi hotspot and online services without a smartphone. Apple CarPlay will function wirelessly, and there’s a USB C socket in addition to the traditional plug.

The engine line-up will still consist of a 1.6-litre diesel, and a 2.0-litre diesel with 148bhp and 187bhp outputs, although the former, which we’re testing, won’t arrive until later this year. A plug-in hybrid goes on sale at the beginning of 2020.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Superb

2018 Skoda

Superb

62,700 milesManualPetrol1.4L

Cash £9,900
View Superb
Superb

2019 Skoda

Superb

80,882 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £11,199
View Superb
Superb

2024 Skoda

Superb

40,980 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £18,899
View Superb
Superb

2018 Skoda

Superb

66,150 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L

Cash £9,899
View Superb

Our car’s 2.0 TDI 150 has plenty of gusto and isn’t too noisy unless you rev it hard. While the auto box is sometimes a bit slow-witted if you ask for a burst of acceleration, in unhurried driving you can forget all about it and just enjoy smooth, surefooted progress. The 190 motor really feels a bit unnecessary.

The Superb’s ride is easy-going without feeling soft or floaty, helped by the optional adaptive dampers of our test car. For high-mileage drivers and company car tax-payers who don’t fancy the upcoming plug-in hybrid, this 2.0 TDI 150 SE L is the one to go for.

Of course, you still get the Superb Estate’s cavernous 660-litre boot, lavish amounts of rear passenger space, and a solid-feeling, nicely finished cabin.

Skoda’s own Octavia or a Volkswagen Golf Estate do much the same job for less cash if you just want space, safety and comfort, while the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 estates are better to drive and have higher residual values. Yet they all fall short of the Superb’s outright interior space and kit count, so however you look at it, the big Skoda’s ‘budget luxury’ approach is a compelling one.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Superb

Skoda Superb

RRP £35,925Avg. savings £2,880 off RRP*Used from £12,990
Skoda Octavia

Skoda Octavia

RRP £21,495Avg. savings £2,212 off RRP*Used from £11,400
Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen Passat

RRP £39,840Avg. savings £3,154 off RRP*Used from £5,990
Skoda Scala

Skoda Scala

RRP £18,965Avg. savings £1,807 off RRP*Used from £8,995
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return
Ford Fiesta exclusive image

New Ford Fiesta: latest details on supermini’s potential return

The Ford Fiesta could be coming back as an electric car, and here’s everything we know so far
News
20 May 2025
Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution
Connecting charger to Hyundai Tucson PHEV

Flawed hybrid car efficiency data to stifle UK EV sales and propagate pollution

Half a million extra PHEVs could reach UK roads by 2030 in place of cleaner EVs due to changes surrounding the ZEV Mandate
News
19 May 2025
Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots
Opinion - Kia

Kia is returning to its 'Keeping It Affordable' roots

Mike Rutherford thinks new cars are simply too expensive, but some manufacturers are starting to do something about it
Opinion
19 May 2025