7 February 2011
Skoda's Flagship model, the Superb features conservative, yet stylish lines that impart a quality European flavour.
It's built on an elongated floor pan and the long rear doors that border on limousine like dimensions stand out against the likes of your Ford Fairmont or Holden Statesman.
Once inside, you are presented with a well-equipped and set out cockpit.
The Skoda lacks a degree of panache with a flat and simple central facia, exacerbated by fairly austere audio and climate control units with backlighting until the headlights are activated.
The instrumentation is a little busy with excessive increment markings on the tacho and speedo dials and greater attention to the little items like this could've made all the difference to an otherwise quality interior.
Appearance aside, there is a gaggle of innovative and useful features at occupant's disposal within the Superb. For instance, both the glove box and the centre console can be used as chiller boxes, and the left rear door even includes a discreet cubby that reveals an umbrella holder. The umbrella holder has its own drain so the brolly (that comes standard) can even be put back wet.
Heated front and rear seating comes as standard. Heated seats for rear occupants are uncommon, even among luxury brands that carry a price tag four times that of the Superb. However while Skoda gives with one hand they take away with the other, and electric adjustable seating is not an option.
Similarly Skoda has incorporated separate temperature controls for rear occupants, but has not included dual zone climate control for front passengers. This is a feature now standard on most of the Superb's rivals.
Cabin Safety gains a four-star Euro NCAP rating with front and side airbags; disappointedly curtain airbags are an additional cost option.
Child seats can be restrained with the universal ISOFIX restraint system.
Three Adults are more than comfortable in the rear of the Superb, which utilises Volkswagen Passat underpinnings, lengthened by 100mm to create bountiful legroom for rear passengers.
The Superb is available with two engine variants, a 2.8 litre V6 petrol generating 142kW and 280Nm of torque and the 2.5 litre turbo- charged V6 diesel as in our test vehicle, which produced a healthy 120kW and 350Nm of torque. The diesel engine suffered slight turbo lag at lower rpm, but still offered impressive acceleration, overtaking was made short and safe, even hills and a full load proved no struggle for the ample torque of the diesel engine.
The Diesel powerplant isn't of the common rail injection type that most other manufacturers have adopted and lacks the refinement you'd expect a modern diesel. It's quite noisy, particularly on start up.
The 5-speed automatic transmission is standard for both engine selections and was well matched to the diesel, providing smooth gear changing and responsive kick downs throughout its range.
Measuring in at a lengthy 4803mm one could be excused for thinking the Superb would be a difficult vehicle to park and manoeuvre. None of our technical team had any issues with this however and the turning circle only differs from the shorter Volkswagen Passat by 0.4 meters (11.8m total).
On the open road the Superb offered a pleasing combination of ride comfort and stability soaking up bumps with ease, but also remaining flat and sure-footed through bends.
Generous luggage capacity (462 litres) is easily accessed through a wide boot aperture and a low luggage lip height, only 671mm from the ground.
A nice touch we thought was the 'ski-sack' that is accessed from the boot and folds away neatly behind the centre-rear armrest. The ingenious, durable bag ensures the leather upholstery remains unscratched when transporting long objects such as skis or snowboards.
With rear occupants treated to such luxuries the Superb tries a little too hard in being a car to be driven in and misses the mark as one that you drive.
That said, the Superb won't hit the pocket as hard as some of the European sedans more established in New Zealand's competitive market. But can still include good reliability through German engineering, conservative but classy styling and a choice of two strong power plants and an armoury of features.