The Skoda Superb Estate Lives Up To Its Name

Motoring editor Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby drive the Soka Suberb Estate – a Czech mate for all occasions.

Road Test: Skoda Superb Estate

Jeremy: It’s a conundrum wrapped up in an enigma – how to tackle a sudden fuel crisis. If you don’t drive an all-electric family car and need the flexibility of a plug-in hybrid then Skoda has the answer.

The Superb SE L model combines a frugal 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and battery and is widely regarded as the sweet spot of the range. Drive carefully and you should squeeze well over 40mpg from the powertrain, or up to 500 miles between fill-ups.

Incredibly, this fourth generation Superb has an official battery-only range of up to 79 miles, making it ideal for many everyday commutes between home charging. Company car drivers aren’t hit with high tax charges either.

So what else makes this spacious Skoda such a great car? The estate excels as a long-distance cruiser with a supple, wafty ride that smooths out rough roads. The cabin is hushed and the transition between electric and petrol power is almost imperceptible.

Interior space is limousine-like, offering class-leading rear legroom. And while the PHEV (Petrol Hybrid Electric Vehicle) battery reduces boot space to 510-litres – down from 690 in standard Superb estates – the SE L remains one of the largest in its class. The underfloor storage cubby is perfect for a charging cable.

Perhaps best of all, for drivers like me who prefer buttons to screens and menus, the Skoda’s ‘smart dials’ —physical rotary controls for climate and volume – are far more intuitive than the touchscreen.

Standard features are exceptional for a car priced from £44,930. They include 18-inch alloy wheels – up from 17-inch – advanced Matrix LED headlights, leather upholstery with heated and ventilated front seats, plus an advanced massage function.

If you are packing the boot on a regular basis, the brilliant powered tailgate features keyless entry plus a ‘virtual pedal’. Just kick your foot under a sensor and hey-presto – open sesame.

If you are an ‘enthusiastic’ driver, the Superb estate’s outsize dimensions don’t lend the car to sporty driving on twisty roads. However, on the motorway it’s a different story, where the Skoda is super-quiet and refined.

To make the most of that smallish, 1.4-litre engine, switch the automatic gearbox to Sport mode and zip from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds. Don’t expect any steering-wheel mounted paddle-shifters, they would be useless on this car anyway.

To increase brake regeneration – a clever way of using brake energy to charge the battery while on the move – just hit the B mode lever.

Our test car was painted in rather fetching ‘Ice Tea Yellow metallic – a £680 option – with head-up information screen on the windscreen (£540) and something called the Simply Clever Family Pack (£610)!

What’s that? Rear-seat passengers can shade behind retractable sun blinds, computer tablet holders are fitted to the back of the front seats, with a small, removable rubbish bin is situated in the doors.

As you might expect from Skoda, the Superb is fantastic value, while the estate adds extra versatility. A no-nonsense family car that won’t cost a fortune to run either.

Jessica: The Superb isn’t a flashy estate, it’s not a radical design and there is no outstanding, single feature. Unassuming from outside and definitely not quick, the Czech load-carrier still manages to be a winner thanks to its all-round versatility, build quality and frugal nature. It reminds me of my father’s trusted Volvo estate from 30 years ago – a safe and extremely practical car.

Discover more about the Skoda Superb Estate at skoda.co.uk