My Skoda Superb estate car certainly ticked most of the boxes for me. It was finished in an attractive maroon metallic (Rosso Brunello metallic), with silver roof rails. Inside it was superbly upholstered in ivory Nappa leather, offset with a certain amount of black on the facia and along the tops of the doors, plus imitation burr walnut wood veneers. It looked every bit a premium sector, high quality, luxury car. It came fully equipped to luxury car standards too, with electronic gizmos like an automatic parallel parking assistant, front and rear parking sensors, satellite navigation system, Bi-Xenon adaptive headlamps, tyre pressure monitor, electrically adjustable front seats, heated, electrically adjustable, exterior rear view mirrors, front fog lamps, cruise control and in the tradition of most luxury cars today, heated front seats. However, Skoda take this luxury a step further, as the two outer rear seating positions are heated as well ! In the boot there are adjustable bars, straps and hooks to prevent your luggage, parcels or shopping sliding about in the generous space provided.

Under the bonnet, there was a 2.0 litre, four cylinder, turbocharged, direct injection, diesel engine, driving a six speed manual gearbox. In this installation the engine is tuned to deliver a healthy 125 kW @ 4,200 rpm, with 350 Nm between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. This gives the car a potential top speed of 220 kph (136 mph), with 0-100 kph acceleration in a very satisfactory 8.9 seconds. This translates into an Urban cycle fuel consumption of 36 mpg (7.7 lt/100 km), Extra urban cycle of 57 mpg (4.9 lt/100 km) and a Combined cycle average of 47 mpg (5.9 lt/100 km). Considering the size, comfort and refinement of this car, that is excellent. I was a little surprised, however, that the exhaust emissions were as high as 155 gm/km. That allows the car into Irish road tax band B, with a current annual liability, at present rates, of 156 euro. Considering the overall excellence of the car that too is more than satisfactory. My surprise stems from the fact that the same engine, in the same level of tune, when installed in the Volkswagen Golf GTD, manages an exhaust emissions count of 139 gm/km, but the Golf GTD has a gross vehicle weight of 1880 kg, compared to the 2140 kg, gross vehicle weight of this Skoda Superb estate. It just goes to show what a significant difference extra weight can make.
Generally speaking the six speed manual gearchange was smooth and precise. It doesn’t liked to be rushed, but that is not a problem. One of the few difficulties I had with the car, was its tendency to stall at slow speed when manoeuvring, in second gear. It happened in reverse too, once or twice, which probably indicated the high overall gearing used to achieve those excellent fuel consumption figures. No doubt once I became fully acclimatised to the car, this would no longer be a problem, but constantly changing from car to car, as I do, it can take a bit of acclimatising to get used to the particular foibles of different cars. Perhaps it is a characteristic of this engine, as I have experienced the same annoyance with various Volkswagen models, using this engine from time to time.

From a driving satisfaction point of view the car is excellent. The electrically adjustable drivers seat, with memory function is superbly comfortable. It is well shaped and comfortably bolstered offering reach, height, lumbar support and backrest angle adjustments. The leather covered steering also offers reach and height adjustment, so finding a comfortable position, is relatively easy.

The instrument panel is simply and clearly laid out. The main instruments have black faces, with white lettering and red highlights. The large dial on the left is the tachometer and it is marked in steps of 500 rpm. From 5,000 rpm to 6,000 rpm those markings are red. A small dial is located at the bottom centre of the tachometer and it is the engine temperature gauge. The matching large dial on the right, marked in graduations of 20 kph, is the speedometer, with a small fuel level gauge at its bottom centre. Between the two large round dials, there is a rectangular digital information panel, that shows a variety of information like the time, outside air temperature, trip and total distance recorders, door open and similar useful information.
Near the top of the centre console, below the two air vents and the hazard warning switch is a large rectangular screen that serves the air-conditioning, audio system and satellite navigation. It is located above the controls for the dual zone climate control. Two buttons to the right of the gear lever gaiter surround operate the parking sensors and the parallel parking function. There are further controls on the steeling wheel for the audio and mobile telephone.

Between the two front seats there is a large sliding armrest that also serves as a lid for a spacious storage box. It can slide backwards and forwards, so as not to obstruct the access to the centrally mounted handbrake lever. Ahead of this armrest there are two cupholders, with a sliding top cover, so they can also be used as a convenient shallow storage space.
The rear seating compartment is spacious and comfortable, fully on a par with the two front seats. There is plenty of kneeroom and footroom. The centre console, which juts out between the two front seats, houses the controls for the heated seats, as well as a digital clock and an outdoor temperature indicator. There is a large folding armrest between the two outer seats, that also houses two cupholders and a storage tray. The seat backrest is divided 60/40 and the seat may be folded in sections to provide additional carrying space for long, large or awkwardly shaped items. The two outer positions are equipped with ISOfix fittings for child safety seats.
Although the centre section is higher and flatter than the positions on either side, it is still reasonably comfortable, with an adequate amount of headroom for persons of average height and build. While shoulder room is quite good, it is obviously better if you do not have an adult passenger in the rear centre seat. The intrusion of the centre console does not cause a major problem, as it is possible to put a foot on either side of it. All five seating positions have adjustable head restraints and lap and shoulder seat belts. Perhaps the cleverest idea of all is the folding umbrella, that is stored in the nearside, rear door armrest.

In normal use the luggage compartment is covered by a roller blind type tonneau cover. It opens in two stages, so you do not need to expose the full contents of the boot when you open it. The luggage compartment floor has slides on either side, that house an expandable metal bar as well as an adjustable belt, to secure loose items, when the space is not loaded to capacity. There are also folding anchorages for a luggage net. Two other rails along the upper edge, just below window level, have folding hooks for smaller items, like shopping bags. Finally on either side, behind the wheel arches there are large covered, rectangular storage boxes. In normal five seater mode, the boot offers a very generous 0.633 cubic metres of luggage space. This increases to 1.058 cubic metres, when only the two front seats are required.

Above left : Normal luggage space ---------------- Above right : Maximum luggage space

Above left : Covered storage boxes on either side
Above right : Full size spare wheel and tools below luggage floor

Besides its commodious luggage space, the Skoda Superb with the two litre diesel engine, can tow braked trailers up to 1800 kg in weight and unbraked trailers of up to 750 kg. It can also accommodate up to 100 kg on the roof. All in all, besides being an excellent passenger carrying vehicle, it is also a very competent and versatile vehicle for a variety of other purposes. It is thus an ideal family car for the active family, who like to go touring and who partake in a number of varied sporting activities.
Ride and roadholding are comfortable and well controlled. The car handles easily, helped in tight spaces by those front and rear parking sensors. The steering is light and sensitive, with three turns from lock to lock.

Technical data