What a pleasant surprise the new Skoda Superb is close to living up to its name! Superb is not only great value for money but very functional too, all it lacks is a posher badge!
To those fools who still crack ignorant gags that have been imported from the UK about Skodas I can tell you the Superb proves beyond a shadow of doubt that Skoda is a force to be reckoned with. So come on if you haven’t already, give Skoda a break as the Czeck firm has earned our respect. Skoda is a serious car maker and since Volkswagen bought the controlling share some years ago it has become one of the best European manufacturers around. Skoda has an impressive heritage.
The new Superb is not only a car with massive interior space (so was the model it replaces) but it also has a superb party trick. The Limo-like car now features the best and cleverest boot/tailgate on the market. Called the ‘Twin Door’ the Superb can be a conventional saloon with a boot lid or thanks to an ingenious hinge mechanism if you press another button the boot opens as a hatchback! It is the ultimate Irish car because as we Irish have a love affair with the saloon car and have never warmed to large hatchbacks but now in one car we get the insulated cabin that a booted car affords us plus the versatility and practicality of a large hatchback opening for those trips to the recycling plant or DIY store.
The Exterior of the long car is best described as conservative, okay it is a little dull but on closer inspection the car is clearly sensible with some interesting curves and lines. The Superb’s real beauty lies within. The cabin depending on the specification is VW or Audi-like. All the switchgear and bits and bobs are from the VAG family bin. The rear legroom is simply huge as is the boot. Sadly my kids aren’t basketball player size so we rented out the remaining legroom space as a Dublin apartment. If you need to haul ‘7 footers’ in the back you can in the Superb!
The engine range will be familiar to buyers of VW product (1.4TSi, 1.8TSi & 3.6FSi petrol units and three diesels 1.9TDi , 2.0TDi and a 170bhp 2 litre TDi) the 1.9TDi is the entry level car and it’s called ‘Greenline’ (105bhp Diesel) and surprisingly for such a big car falls into the €150 road tax band. At just €25,990 you get a whole lot of car for the money and an average fuel consumption of just 5.1L/100km or 55.3mpg in old money.
My test car came fitted with the 170bhp 2 litre TDi and with its six-speed gearbox seems to run on the promise of fuel yet delivers plenty of poke. The car is comfortable and while not in the same league as a Mondeo on the twisty bits is none the less a decent place to be.
Car snobs will always look down on Skoda but in this day and age smart money buys value and this Skoda has that in spades.
Michael Sheridan
