New Skoda Superb

New Skoda Superb First Look Review: Business Class; Premium Economy price

L-R Mr. Werner Eicchorn, Member of Board, Sales and Marketing, SKODA Auto, Mr. Sudhir Rao, CMD, SKODA Auto India, Mr. Ashutoh Dixit , Director, Sales, Services and Marketing, SKODA Auto India

So, Skoda Auto India today launched the third generation of the Skoda Superb, with prices starting from INR 22.68 Lakhs (Ex-showroom Mumbai) at an event in Mumbai. Without further ado, let’s go over a few details that make up the all-new Skoda Superb in this first look review.

Exteriors

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The all-new Superb marks the moniker’s entry to its third generation, and is built on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform. Benefits from the latter involve a 75 kg weight loss as compared to its predecessor; while drag coefficient is now down to 0.275. The new Superb has its styling generously influenced by the Vision C Concept that was showcased in Geneva back in 2014. Styled by Skoda design chief Josef Kaban, the overall visual philosophy moves away from the current Superb’s bulky stature towards a more edgier, athletic physique. The bodywork is a synthesised clamour of straight lines, taut surfaces and the odd, well contoured bulge.

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With the new Superb, Skoda India will reintroduce the exclusive Laurin & Klement (L&K) moniker which will be placed at the top of the model range. The new Skoda Superb will be available in 4 colours: Candy White, Brilliant Silver, Magnetic Brown, and Business Grey.

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The front borrows those sexy, sharp head-lamps from the Vision C Concept, although they have been toned down to a more production friendly specification. Even the new bonnet’s contours are analogous to the Vision C’s and culminates in the new Skoda corporate grille, along with new, edgier front bumper-work.

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With an innocuous shut-line, the bonnet gives away an impression that it has been visually fused with the front fenders. The sides get a high set waist line addressed as the Tornado line, and a much narrower glasshouse than its predecessor, again, quite like the Vision C and also the new Octavia.

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The two-part, broad and narrow headlamps shine with LED technology as standard and feature a crystalline effect inside, celebrating the renowned Bohemian glass-cutting skills.

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At the same time, crystalline elements provide the slim, part LED tail-lights with additional luminosity.

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Pert styling cues at the back include a hidden exhaust pipe, and more horizontal lines.

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Models sold in India will ride on 17-inch, multi-spoke alloy wheels wrapped around 215/55 Hankook rubber. The top-end L&K trim level gets a different wheel design from the Style trim level.

Interiors

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Inside, the ambience is set by beige and black colourations, highlighted with wood and chrome trimming. The dual tone dashboard likes playing with horizontal lines and classy finishes. Like the exteriors, the interior design is crisp, familiar and understated, with a slight cascading effect of the dashboard.

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The 3 spoke multifunction steering wheel is wrapped in leather. Its meaty and thick rimmed, while being adorned in chrome and piano black finishers.

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The centre console is dominated by an infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display. The system features smartphone integration using SmartLink (which includes MirrorLink/Apple CarPlay/Android Auto). In addition, the system offers Bluetooth, FM radio, RDS, JPEG viewer, an SD-card slot, plus an Aux-In and a USB socket, both of which are located in the central console.

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Below the infotainment system lie the controls for the tri-zone climate control where you can set different temperatures for the driver, front and rear passengers. It’s also fitted with a humidity sensor, which reduces windscreen misting.

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Below that, there’s a chunky aluminum gear selector lever for the DSG transmission, similar to the one in the Octavia, surrounded by an array of buttons for parking sensors, the auto stop-start and the handbrake.

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Instrumentation is tidy, classy and well done. We especially liked the period font of the numerals on the dials against a white background.

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The sumptuous, air-conditioned driver’s seat is 12-way electrically adjustable; and can store three different seating and door mirror positions. Fat-cats at the back can free themselves almost unlimited legroom by tweaking the two buttons on the passenger seat’s side, which lets the front passenger’ seat slide forward.

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As compared to the last generation Superb, the driver and front seat passenger now enjoy 39 mm more elbow room and more headroom.

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A moderately spacious storage compartment is housed in the front armrest, within which you can store items and even keep them cool. Two cup holders can also be found in the centre console.

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The glove-box, which hides a CD player, can also be cooled during a journey whilst the air conditioning is on.

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The rear seat is where most Superb owners will be resting their smug bottoms on. And let’s just say its expansive and comfortable enough.

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While legroom at the rear is a class leading 157 mm, knee room is equally phenomenal.

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The headroom also measures a class-leading 980 mm. Compared to before, rear elbow room has also increased by 69 mm.

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The rear seat further features an integrated armrest and a 60:40 split.  The rear backrest to be folded down from the boot at the touch of a button allowing items of up to 3.1 metres in length to fit inside the new Superb.

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The Canton hi-fi audio system set-up blares through twelve standard speakers with an impressive 610 W output.

2016 Skoda Superb (57)

Don’t worry, the Superb doesn’t let go of its umbrella fetish, and this time around, features as many as two brollies; one each nestling inside the front door trims.

2016 Skoda Superb (15)

One of the new Superb’s two umbrellas; how come we don’t see such usable, yet distinctive features on premium vehicles any more?

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Look above, and the new Skoda Superb impresses with an electronic panoramic glass roof and auxiliary heating.

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The boot capacity is the best in the segment: at 625 litres, it is 30 litres bigger than in the outgoing model.  The Superb’s boot also employs new cargo fasteners that secure loose objects a removable LED torch in the boot and misfuel protection.  The electric boot lid is also equipped with a practical tip-to-close function.

The new Superb further features a tablet holder in the rear, a tablet storage compartment in the Jumbo Box in the front, a parking ticket holder on the inside of the A-pillar, mechanical roller sun visors for the rear side windows, along with a USB port and 230 V socket in the rear.

The new Superb’s completely redeveloped suspension system employs MacPherson front struts and a multi-link rear axle. The new Superb is fitted as standard with Electronic Stability Control including Multi-Collision Brake, electronic Tyre Pressure Monitoring, eight airbags, five three-point seat belts with fastening alerts as well as safety headrests. XDS+, an enhanced function of the electronic differential lock, also comes as standard.

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The Superb will be powered by the new 1.8 TSI/132kW (180PS) and the 2.0 TDI/130kW (177PS). The third-generation Superb is more powerful than ever and yet it is up to 30 per cent more economical thanks to new and efficient engines and improved aerodynamics.

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