What is it?

The Skoda Superb has become one of the firm’s most well-known models thanks largely to its all-around capability.

Over its generations, it's provided owners with comfort, refinement, reliability and above all else – space.

The trouble is, with the old iterations being so good, how do you refine and improve it even further? Well, Skoda certainly thinks it has with this fourth-generation car, and now with more upgraded technology and efficiency, has the new car set the standard even higher? We’ve been finding out.

What’s new?

The Superb still remains the firm’s flagship model, taking on cars like the Volkswagen Passat - with which it shares a platform - and the BMW 5 Series.

Skoda has taken full swing into the SUV market with its Kamiq, Karoq, Kodiaq and Enyaq models, however, cars like the Superb and smaller Octavia still take a large proportion of the market due to their lower driving positions and incredibly capacious cabins.

This latest Superb instead, focuses on fine-tuning all the imperfections from the old car including some of the firm’s latest technology including ChatGPT, which is standard across the entire range.

However, what makes the Superb great, is what you get at the back in terms of space. The Estate model comes with a whopping 690-litre boot capacity – which is 30 litres more than its predecessor. Push the rear seats down and that space will jump to 1,960 litres – making what was already a practical car even more commodious.


What’s under the bonnet?

There’s no shortage in the engine department with a wide array of options on offer. This includes a plug-in hybrid which is ideal for those who drive a lot around town and built-up areas, but it’s nice that the Czech firm has kept traditional engines like the 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel – the one we have in our test car. Although there is a push towards mild-hybrid and electrification engine technology, a long-distance mile-muncher like the Superb suits this diesel engine down to the ground.

Considering it’s a big car, you won’t be faced with large running costs as the firm claims that over 50mpg can be achieved from our test car’s diesel unit and CO2 emissions are as low as 135 to 139g/km making it a tempting proposition for fleet buyers, taxi drivers and large families, too.

What’s it like to drive?

This is where the Superb really starts to shine, as it’s really difficult to come up with any negatives at all. So, let’s stick with the positives.

This big Skoda doesn’t shy away from what it really is – a big car. But, that means you get a very comfortable and relaxing driving experience. Take it on the motorway and it’s even better as there is very little intrusion into the passenger compartment with hardly any wind and road noise and the suspension does a tremendous job of ironing out all those imperfections in the road. What’s more, our test car is sitting on smaller 18-inch wheels which do benefit the ride even further.

How does it look?

The latest Superb estate still carries that classic family wagon status. Design cues are also carried over from other models in the Skoda range like the new Kodiaq for example and the design itself now is more curvaceous than the outgoing model.

You could argue that the Superb is rather sedate and plain, but you can get a sporty VRS model which adds beefier wheels and sits slightly lower than the standard car – but the overall design is not scintillating nor offensive, either. It’s more of a car that uses subtle makeup to mask its practical reputation and to be a car that’s easy to live with every day while giving that understated classy image, too.

What’s it like inside?

There is only one word that springs to mind when you step inside of a Superb – and that is space. Lots of it. In fact, this new car has even more room in the back for occupants with tons and tons of head, leg and knee room and the seats are very comfortable to aid those longer journeys as well.

Cubby spaces don’t go a miss, either. Up in the front, you get large door bins and a deep centre storage area. The gear selector has been repositioned from the centre console to the steering wheel column which also frees up space allowing for more storage and there are plenty of USB-C charging ports to keep all the kids happy.

What’s the spec like?

There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to buying a Superb. In fact, the entirety of its range consists of lots of standard equipment and reasonable pricing.

The entry-level SE Technology comes in at £36,175 and features a full 13-inch central display, front and rear parking sensors with reversing camera, heated front seats and there is even a massaging function, too.

We’re driving the mid-range SE L trim which has a large variety of options such as a head-up display and ‘Ice Tea Yellow’ paintwork. The total price comes in at £42,600 which is still competitive compared to the likes of the BMW 5-Series and Volkswagen Passat for example. Regardless of the extensive options list, the Superb still represents excellent value for money in this sector of the market.

Verdict

The Skoda Superb has always been one of those cars that you buy with your head instead of your heart. However, as the models have progressed over the years, you could argue that now you would buy it with both the former and the latter.

This new model is better than all the previous versions that have gone before, and the best thing is that it offers more on-board tech, while still maintaining to be comfortable and extremely spacious.

It may not be the sharpest car to drive in its class – but you know with this big Skoda it does everything in an effortless and fuss-free manner – and for that, it’s one of the most impressive and likeable cars on the market.