ROAD TEST
Skoda Superb 2.0-litre diesel DSG gearbox - Test Drive
Skoda has launched its new entry in the upper medium sector, the Superb. Sure to be received well in the business sector of the market, the car should also go down well with private buyers as it is equipped well and starts at a competitive price. Not only does it look classy both on the inside and on its exterior, it has a sophisticated parking system which is sure to make parking a breeze when in an urban environment. The Superb starts from £15,490…
LOOKS
The car is striking, it has a luxury state of the art look to it and there is a real sense of occasion when the Superb pulls up. Step into the inside and you’ll see that the Superb has a CatVision lighting system. It incorporates LED’s into the headlining and at night it gives the cabin a soft light, which lets the driver see the controls without dazzling the driver.
INTERIOR
Up against BMW and Mercedes the Superb really must be first class. The Czech maker claims the Superb is the most sophisticated Skoda ever built by the firm and after having test driven it we would agree. The inside of the car is smart, the dash and switchgear are soft to touch while the dials give off a soft white glow when driving at night (that’ll be the CatVision lighting system). With Skoda under the VW group umbrella, reliability should not be a problem.
PRACTICALITY
One of the Superb’s main selling points will be its practicality. The car exudes space. To make loading and unloading easy Skoda has given the Superb a Twindoor variable boot facility. This means that you can open the boot as you would with a hatch or like a saloon. The way you use it is up to you, it will probably depend on the type of load you have to store.
Luggage capacity is 565 litres with the rear seats in position – that’s 85 litres more than the previous generation. And with the rear seats folded the capacity rises to a ‘Superb’ 1,670 litres.
There’s more to the Superb than meets the eye as this car can park itself. What do you mean I here you say? I couldn’t believe it either that is until I tried it out. The system is called Park Assist.
This device allows you to parallel park in complete confidence. Drive the Superb past a line of parked cars at a speed less than 19mph. If the sensors acknowledge that the space is around 6 metres from bumper to bumper you’ll be informed by the electronic display. Engage reverse gear and the car slowly accelerates backwards, take your hands off the wheel, the steering takes care of itself and turns on its pre-calculated trajectory – the parking manoeuvre finishes when the rear parking sensors make a long continuous tone. You have to experience to believe it but it has amazed this tester.
The new Superb scored five stars in the Euro NCAP testing for passenger protection and it has seven airbags, ESP, ABS, and EBS (Electronic Braking System) all as standard.
ON TEST
At present there is a wide variety of engines to choose from. We drove the 2.0-litre diesel powered car which is mated to the DSG gearbox. The power plant produces 170bhp and is really responsive, there’s also plenty of shove when you need it. The figures look good for a car of this size as the Superb can get from zero to 62mph in 8.8 seconds and it has a top speed of 137mph. The car handles well, yes it is a well packaged model, which when pushed is impressive.
AT A GLANCE
| Name/Price: | Skoda Superb 2.0-litre with DSG SE/From £21,270 |
| Engine/power: | 2.0-litre /170BHP |
| Co2 emissions: | 159g/km |
| Official Combined fuel economy: | 46.3mpg |
IMN VERDICT
Skoda hope to sell 4,000 Superb’s in 2009 while the majority of these will probably go to the fleet market, there is no reason not to beat the queue and get down to the showroom now. This car is luxurious, can ‘park itself’ and with the range starting at £15,490 you should get down to your nearest showroom to have a look for yourself.
Simon McBride