Skoda Superb TDI Range
Depending on your company circumstances, you could well feel that youre more likely to win the lottery than end up running an Executive car.
This could be because your corporate situation is rather limited or it might be because theres rather a stingy accountant downstairs. Either way, your options on company transport at best are likely to be limited to something from the familiar Mondeo/Vectra/Laguna Medium Range Family class. Unless you can inveigle yourself into a Skoda Superb of course, a BMW 5 Series-sized saloon for medium range money or at least thats the idea. Were talking company car-talk here because the vast majority of Superb sales are financed through corporate cheque books.
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In fact, you could reasonably argue that the whole car is borrowed from the fifth generation VW Passat: underneath the skin, there arent too many differences and Skoda are quite open about the fact that the Superb is broadly based on a stretched long wheelbase mkV Passat that was originally developed for the Chinese market. The latest models have received a more imposing grille and indicators embedded in the wing mirrors. In the UK, Skodas importers have pitched this car at highly affordable levels: take the Classic 2.0-litre TDI 140 variant at £16,010, also offered in Comfort form at £17,410. This, rather than the entry-level TDI PD 115 version, is likely to be the strongest seller. At the top of the range, the entry-level Classic-speced 2.
5 V6 TDI at £17,640 comes in well below the equivalent Passat, so much so that you may feel that you can stretch to the Comfort, Elegance or LandK versions. All models come with the Tiptronic automatic gearbox.
"An astonishing 90% of Superbs will be sold at prices below £18,000. "
But here were getting into fairyland. Skoda know very well that the number of people prepared to pay more than £18,000 for one of their cars is extremely limited which is why an astonishing 90% of Superbs will be sold at prices below that level. Half the models in the line-up, in other words, will hardly ever find UK customers. Such are the problems of battling with an embarrassing past.
Move inside and the first thing that strikes you is the quality of the trim, which features wood on plusher versions. I remember laughing the first time I saw wood in a Skoda (an after-market package fitted to a Felicia many moons ago) but theres nothing remotely funny about this. Adorning the dashboard and the doors, the dark timber is tasteful and Germanic. Theres also a redesigned dashboard configuration on all trim levels and the instruments clusters are backlit with very gentle white light.
Sadly, the boot capacity is no different to an ordinary mkV Passats (462 litres) but you can at least extend it by using the easily-to-operate split-folding rear seats. Its even possible to fold the front passengers seat flat for particularly long items. If you want to go further, youll be wanting an estate but there are no plans for one: yet. For the driver its all very plush, thanks to a multi-function steering wheel that adjusts for both rake and reach. Four trim levels are being offered Classic, Comfort, Elegance or Laurin and Klement and all include all-round electric windows, air conditioning with additional vents for the rear seats, power mirrors, remote central locking and a CD player. Go for the Elegance and you can expect to find xenon headlamps, a premium CD stereo system, an electric sunroof, climate-controlled air conditioning, 17" alloy wheels leather trim, satellite navigation and electric seats with a memory function. The top LandK are named after Skodas founders and models move the car further upmarket. You shouldnt expect a particularly involving driving experience from the Superb. Still, most buyers will find the ride to be truly excellent thanks to Skodas careful tweaking of the four-link strut and torsion beam suspension.
Its certainly difficult to imagine anyone getting out of shape in one, particularly as ESP Electronic Stability Control is standard. The Superb is a sensible buy theres no getting away from that, provided you dont much care about an involving driving experience and the versatility of five doors. And it gets even more sensible in TDI guise. If youre buying in the medium range sector and really rather wishing you could afford something larger, then you cant afford to ignore it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Skoda Superb TDI range
PRICES: £14,870-£22,540 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 10-13
CO2 EMISSIONS: 151-216g/km / C-E
PERFORMANCE: [TDI V6] Max Speed 138mph / 0-60mph 9.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [TDI V6] (combined) 35.8mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4803/1765/1469mm
