Skoda Superb V6 TDI : HOW TO CLEAN UP IN THE CAR PARK

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Skoda Have Proved With The Superb V6 TDI That You Can Own A Big Car Without A Big Stain On Your Environmental Conscience. Andy Enright Reports

Its possible to get rather nostalgic for the days when a company car was an outrageous perk. Reputations were staked on whether yours got the vinyl roof and the velour seats and careers were sometimes ruined by the non-appearance of a quartz dashboard clock. These days, things are a good deal more complicated and with tight budgets and emissions-based taxation, theres an almost overwhelming choice. Its very easy to get things expensively wrong.

Skodas Superb V6 TDI puts such problems to bed.

The very mention of the term V6 is enough to send many scurrying for cover, the connotation being crippling fuel economy bills, monster depreciation and the propensity to churn out more CO2 than a Labour Party conference. The Superb V6 we consider here is a very different beast, due not only to the fact that its a diesel rather than a petrol powerplant were looking at in this case but also because its compliant with Euro4 emissions regulations. When the government drew up emissions-based taxation schemes, it tacked on a three per cent surcharge for diesel cars due to the fact that as well as emitting carbon dioxide, they also churned out worrying quantities of carcinogenic particulates, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons. The Euro emissions standards measure all of these pollutants and only cars that get a clean bill of health on all of these criteria pass.

In order to comply with these stringent emissions restrictions, the Superbs engine was modified with a revised injection system, turbocharger and cylinder head design. The electronic control unit software was comprehensively remapped and fuel consumption is an excellent 39.8mpg on the combined cycle despite the fact that power has been increased from 155 to 160bhp. Torque goes up too, from 310 to 350Nm at a subsonic 1,250rpm.

This means that at little more than tickover, this engine has more muscle than a Porsche Boxster at full chat can manage. Revisions to the grille and the addition of indicators embedded in the wing mirrors feature on the latest models as does a resculpted dash with tasteful white backlighting. Three versions are available, kicking off with the £17,640 Classic model, before we move on to the £19,040 Comfort, the £21,740 Elegance version and the £22,540 LandK. Theres a huge amount of extra rear seat legroom for the Superb compared to the mkV Passat on which it is based some 838mm from the back of the rear seat to the back of the front seats.

"At little more than tickover, this engine has more muscle than a Porsche Boxster at full chat can manage"

But how many corporate users are going to be at all concerned with rear seat space? In fact, quite a few. Company car user choosers these days expect their chosen car to double up as family transport on evenings and weekends and its here the Superb comes up trumps. Skoda reckon that over 80% of Superb sales will be financed through corporate cheque books. But thats not to say that this isnt also an impressive alternative if youre shopping around from the family bank account.

If thats the case, then versatility will probably be key and one drawback of this Czech contender is that it only comes in a single four door saloon bodystyle. 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 a few years ago) but theres nothing remotely funny about this. Adorning the dashboard and the doors, the dark timber is tasteful and Germanic.

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 and LandK 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. As with the mkV Passat, you shouldnt expect a particularly involving driving experience. 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.

Skoda estimate that ninety per cent of Superbs will be sold below the £18,000 price point which appears to put the upspec V6 TDI models on something of a sticky wicket. If you can get beyond the badge and have the budget however, youll have landed one of the biggest executive car bargains around. Who said the days of the too-good-to-be-true company car were dead?

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Skoda Superb V6 TDI range
PRICES: £17,640-£22,540 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 13
CO2 EMISSIONS: 192g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 138mph / 0-60mph 10.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 38.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front and side airbags, ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4803/1765/1469mm