Skoda Superb

New Skoda Superb Review (TSI – manual, automatic; TDI CR – automatic): Lux-economy

2016 Skoda Superb Review

Whatever they say, luxury needn’t come at a price. Take the new Skoda Superb for example. Once you make yourself comfortable on the sprawling rear seat (and you will), and see your legs stretch more than usual, you’ll be wondering if putting down money on one of those German mini barges was a good idea. Don’t get me wrong here, the new Superb is also as German as it gets, and that’s the problem. In spite of offering that rear lounge I’d mentioned earlier, it drives, rides and behaves as good as that car with four rings you noticed the other day. In fact, its behavior on the road is as clean as some of the middleweight executive saloons. Even the tagline – best-in-next-class, suggests that the new Superb is punching way above its weight.

2016 Skoda Superb (34)

Then there’s the way it looks (It might sound like a brochure)

2016 Skoda Superb (52)

Stare at the new Skoda Superb when God’s light rises or sets, and let wisps of your vision get lost in many of the precise cuts and angular crevices. Focus your corneas to a specific sector, and let yourself savor at metal bent impossibly accurately. Yes, the new Superb is indeed that beautiful. It’s not about the well balanced proportions, which are impressive in their own right, but the crisp detailing that takes the discerning viewer’s breath away.

2016 Skoda Superb Headlamps (2)

Those headlamps (Bi-Xenon) are a work of art. Stunningly detailed, they feature shards of crystal (or ‘illuminated eylashes’) that pay homage to the Bohemian glass-cutting skills. Cue down to the angular fog lamp clusters, and Skoda would like you to believe their design celebrates Czech glass-making.

2016 Skoda Superb (20)

The grille is glistening black array of well-spaced appendages, while the chrome outline around it wouldn’t have been fatter. Interplay of surfaces around the headlamps and on the front bumper give the Superb all it takes to give it to the Germans.

2016 Skoda Superb (32)

The clamshell bonnet hides its shut lines on the sides by silently following the shoulder line that emanates from the headlamps, making the whole front end look like one piece of metal. The sides are beautifully sculpted, with the strong waist line acting like a barrier that beaches the shapely waves that the wheel arch flares give off. Everything else is perfectly done, like the taut roofline culminating into the rakish rear screen, thus effortlessly masking the lengthy profile.

2016 Skoda Superb (51)

At the back, there are these edgy, C-shaped tail lamp clusters with LED technology, which also borrow the crystalline effects from the headlamps. When illuminated in low light conditions, the lamps look stunning. The interaction between convex and concave forms on the rear of the car is also a sight to behold.

If the earlier, rather longish looking Superb were a soggy set of fries that left your platter squelchy, the new one is as crunchy as they get, and you’ll be stuffing it without Coke or ketchup.

Interiors

2016 Skoda Superb Dashboard (1)

Open the wide doors and the insides are a lounge that’s VIP entry only. It’s isn’t S-Class rich in here, but there’s enough to make the E-Class uncomfortable. The C-Class can take a walk. The space of the new Superb has increased in comparison to the previous model. The driver and front seat passenger enjoy 39 mm more elbow room and more headroom. While legroom at the rear is 157 mm more, the headroom measures 980 mm. The rear elbow room has also increased by 69 mm.

2016 Skoda Superb Front Seats

The front seats are actually air-conditioned (ventilated), and when it comes to seating comfort, they give a royal throne a run for its money. The driver’s seat is also electronically-adjustable with built-in memory and can store three different seat positions and external side-view mirrors. Rich huh? The L&K grade further adds perforated beige leather upholstery to the thrones, though the Style grades ticks off the perforations. The posher trim also gets the company founder’s logo embossed in the leather seat backrests.

2016 Skoda Superb rear seat (2)

Room at the rear is more than in the first class seat of an aircraft, and the rear seat is actually more luxurious than the average sofa. The rear seat further features an integrated armrest and 60:40 split. The rear backrest can 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.

2016 Skoda Superb Boss Button

Then there’s the Boss Button (only on L&K trim), via which the front passenger seat position can be electrically controlled from the rear seat for unlimited rear legroom.

2016 Skoda Superb Infotainment System (2)

Like the exteriors, the interior design is crisp, familiar and understated, with a slight cascading effect of the dashboard – and bears an uncanny resemblance to the Octavia’s cabin. The center console is dominated by a 6.5″ colour touchscreen display that features AM and FM tuners, USB/Aux-in connection, Apple connectivity, SD card slot and Bluetooth. It comes with SmartLink system as standard. Sound quality from the four front and four rear speakers is decent.

2016 Skoda Superb (76)

However  the Canton Sound System with twelve speakers and 610 W output, exclusive to the L&K trim, is a headier aural experience.

2016 Skoda Superb (85)

Below the infotainment system, 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, boot release, the auto stop-start and the handbrake.

2016 Skoda Superb Steering Wheel (2)

The multifunctional steering wheel is a familiar sight if you’re ‘into’ Skodas. Apart from being wrapped in leather and adorned with chrome elements, the 3-spoke steering wheel has controls for radio, phone and shift paddles.

With 3-zone Climatronic air-conditioning, which is available in the Laurin & Klement variant, you can set different temperatures for the driver, front and rear passengers. It’s also fitted with a humidity sensor, which reduces windscreen misting. The L & K trim also adds ambient lighting in three colours – warm white, green and blue.

As for interior storage, the new Superb offers truckloads of it. A cooled Jumbo Box storage compartment is housed in the front armrest, while a dual drinks holder can also be found on the centre console. The door pockets will comfortably swallow 1.5-litre bottles with ease, and the storage compartment in the dashboard on the front passenger side can also be cooled, when the air conditioning is on. At the back, the rear seat centre armrest is integrated with twin cup holders and storage.

2016 Skoda Superb (77)

The 625-litre boot capacity is the largest in its segment, 30 litres more than in the second-generation Superb.

IF

The Superb’s boot also employs new cargo fasteners that secure loose objects, a removable LED torch in the boot and mis-fuel protection.

2016 Skoda Superb (50)

The electric boot lid is also equipped with a tip-to-close function –  just swipe your foot underneath and it will open.

2016 Skoda Superb (10)

The electrically-adjustable panoramic sunroof is another L & K exclusivity

2016 Skoda Superb Umbrella

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

2016 Skoda Superb (9)

All that edginess in design on the outside is reflected inside too.

 

IF

Style trim does away with the piano black decor and gets these brushed aluminium inserts; no ambient lighting and Canton as well.

2016 Skoda Superb Wheels

17-inch Helios alloy wheels for the Style trim..

2016 Skoda Superb (23)

..and 17-inch Stratos wheels for the L & K

How does it drive?

Superbs sold in India will come with two engine and three transmission options, all powerplants transversely mounted and front wheel driven.

TDI (A) – Effortless

2016 Skoda Superb (3)

The 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine yields 177 PS and a notable 380 Nm of twist. It is married to the 6-speed dual clutch (wet) automatic transmission, which has now gained a bit of vintage as compared to the recent crop of 7-speeders with a dry clutch system. However, the diesel engine’s high torque characteristics are better suited to the old box, and here it is. Performance is really strong, and the diesel Superb pulls hard with confidence, and a lot of muscle. Put your foot down though, and both the transmission and engine take a smidgen more time than expected to wake up. While the former clears its throat and swings into action by dropping a cog or two, the latter is busy getting rid of its inherent turbo lag below 2,000 clicks. Some time lost in this slightly thwarted response is quickly made up, as the locomotive of a motor shoots 2 tons (a shade over; 2060 kg to be specific) of Superb with remarkable pace (and grace) towards the horizon. Sir, your 380 Nm has been served!

2016 Skoda Superb (71)

By this time, the transmission is doing what it does best – gently, yet quickly putting the gears firmly in place. Downshifts are not the creamiest, and the engine and its transmission spouse fall out with some aggression that’s more than just a muffled jerk. However, only after driving the other Superb (petrol engine with 7-speed DSG), does this sensation become more obvious. As a standalone case, this diesel engine-automatic transmission marriage is as spotless as it gets. Lest you’re the types who’d like to be more involved in the driving experience, there are paddles behind the steering wheel. One tap at them and manual mode gets activated – ride that wave of torque and get clicking. The transmission also offers a S (Sport) mode, wherein shift times decrease and response becomes more alacritic. It will also hold onto the gears for longer, unless intervened manually with the paddles, it’ll auto shift up at 5,000 rpm. Apart from being an incredibly relaxed cruiser, the 2.0-litre TDI turbo-diesel will also sip judiciously, as Skoda promises as much as 18.19 km/l.

TSI (A) – sports much?

2016 Skoda Superb (1)

The 1.8-litre TSI (turbocharged) petrol engine makes a dignified 180 PS. In this case, where fate has it sealed to a new, 7-speed, dual clutch (dry) automatic transmission, torque is limited to 250 Nm. With a manual transmission, the very same engine conks up as much as 320 Nm (more on that later). Much lauded in the new Octavia, this particular engine-transmission marriage doesn’t disappoint in the new Superb either. In manual mode, with paddles offering full authority, this engine actually holds the capability of exploding tiny balloons of dopamine inside the brain, especially on narrower stretches of tarmac. The mildly raunchy exhaust note reaches its headiest aural peak as the engine blips in instantaneous response to the transmission downshifting with the crispness of apples bred in New Zealand. Even during up shifts, the 7-speed DSG impresses with its lightning quick shift times. In fact, the whole engine-transmission package offers slivers of sports car behavior, especially in a straight line.  In D mode, the tension releases like the last tendrils of smoke leaving the mouth after the blunt hits the spot. With barely a whisper, the petrol powered Superb and its accomplished 7-speeder take off towards the horizon with grace. Order the S mode if you want some automated fun, but personally, the paddles in manual mode doll up enough automotive theatre for the money.

TSI (M) – the stick! the stick!

2016 Skoda Superb (68)

320 Nm, a stick, no driving modes and as bare as a Superb will ever get – manual transmission + petrol only available in Style trim. If a package on similar (but wilder) lines had a Porsche badge, they’d be asking for a premium; case in point – the new 911R. But in case of the Skoda, this is the cheapest Superb you can buy. Of course, kiss the L&K trim goodbye, with its posh sound system and pretentious interior trim, but here is the Superb that begs to be driven.

IF

The 6-speed manual transmission (surrounded by a battery of blank buttons) has slightly notchy shifts, but that’ll soon be forgotten as you slip the light clutch and row the box like its meant to. The punch from the motor is noticeably more than the DSG equipped model, and here comes the dopamine again, along with the shy whoosh from the turbocharger. As the tachometer needle climbs up fervently as it nears its 7,000 rpm redline, a smile breaks those dry lips, the brain reflecting on the leftmost pedal and a lever that can be moved around. The raspy exhaust note stays, and the gear ratios are perfectly spaced out. However, the manual transmission does unmask the slight lag in the lower portion of the power band that the turbo-petrol hides so efficiently when it is dating the 7-speed DSG. Pulling in third gear from speeds below 40 kmh give the cheapest Superb a bit of a workout. That said, its perfectly tractable provided you’re in the right gear, and when you’re hooning (within the limits of course), very few cars at this price come close to delivering such an unbridled, yet technical motoring experience.

The twists and turns

2016 Skoda Superb (72)

The Superb is unequivocally a luxury car, so I won’t dwell much on how good it rides. It does go over the road with tremendous poise, and ride quality is remarkably compliant. It’s not soft or cushy like some of its rivals, but smooth enough to garner the luxury badge, and delivers just about the right amount of firmness for the dynamic capabilities its posseses. Yes, the Superb is indeed superb around the bends, given its length and girth. Turn-in is excellent and the Superb will hold its line unless pushed really, really hard. Of course, there’s traction control to keep you out of bushes. Remarkably, the Superb will shrink to the size of a Rottweiler when negotiating curves spiritedly, with only a hint of body roll and a tinge of feeling that a massive mass is revolving giving away the luxury car’s size.  The electric power steering is artificially direct, and weighs up nicely with speed. However, this barge’s agility had us floored, especially in the slightly perkier Sports mode. Disc brakes on all four corners offer good anchorage when needed, but a little more bite would have been better.

Should I buy it?

2016 Skoda Superb (15)

With prices starting from INR 22.68 lakhs (Ex-showroom Mumbai) for the Style variant with 1.8 TSI and 7-speed DSG, the new Skoda Superb is a no-brainer if you’re out shopping for a luxury car, but feel that the true Germans are a bit out of reach (and also offer a lot of faff for their prices). The new Superb has it all – swanky looks, size, acres of interior space, fantastic comfort, tons of features and great build quality. And once you step out of it after a blast through the hills, you’re left wondering that you were not driving something else with just a couple of doors, and definitely something smaller. They say that if you’re punching way above your weight, as the new Superb indeed is, it better be a knock-out punch – and the Superb truly delivers that. As the tagline suggests, the new Superb is indeed best-in-next-class.

1 thought on “New Skoda Superb Review (TSI – manual, automatic; TDI CR – automatic): Lux-economy”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top