The Long Game: Meet The Skoda Superb SE L Estate

The Skoda Superb SE L Estate is one of the longest cars and can cover a massive 700 miles on a single tank. Jeremy Taylor and Jessica Talbot-Ponsonby take the executive estate (and its limo-like legroom) for a spin.

Car Review: Skoda Superb SE L Estate

Jeremy: When was the last time you filled a car up with fuel or electricity and the range exceeded 700 miles? Possibly never, which is why I was amazed to climb into the massive Skoda Superb estate and realise John O’Groats was within reach on a single tank.

We’ve become obsessed with range since the EV revolution, forgetting that combustion engine technology has moved on too. Emissions are down, economy is up – perhaps it’s no wonder that hybrid cars are more popular than ever, a convenient stepping stone in the jump to pure battery power.

The Superb is offered with mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrid, petrol and diesel options – no electric-only model yet unfortunately. It’s unusual to be offered a diesel test car these days but we wanted to see how Skoda’s latest, VW-sourced turbodiesel model performed.

Our SE L version is mid-range and costs £45,805, considerably more than the budget-priced Skoda’s that were once the butt of so many bad jokes! There’s an even swankier Laurin & Klement model – named after the brand founders – but the 2.0-litre SE is the sweet spot.

I can reel out a whole list of standard kit, from wireless mobile charging to a 13-inch touchscreen display but what makes the Superb so impressive is the space and range, features that put cars costing considerably more to shame.

The TDI is all-wheel drive yet will officially cover 698 miles on a single 14.5 gallon tank and return around 47mpg. It’s quiet, efficient and emissions are a lowly 154g/km – you wouldn’t know it was a diesel, apart from a cold start-up, when there’s a hint of engine grumble.

The fuel tank was just below 3/4 full after 180 miles, the seven-speed automotive gearbox pulling the Superb along like a train. It’s quite simply one of the standout cars of the year. Want more miles and cheaper fuel? The 1.5-litre petrol can cover 837 miles on a tankful.

Rear seat passengers will discover plenty of legroom in the L but open the boot and that’s where the Superb really lives up to its name. A cavernous 690-litres is available. Lower the back row of seats and it expands to over 1900-litres.

Of course, if you struggle with parking, the 4.9-metre Skoda may not be the car for you – even though it has reversing cameras and sensors.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Superb – a car that changed our perception of the Skoda brand. It’s odd the first estate didn’t arrive until 2008. Thankfully, Skoda has more than made up for time lost with the current model.

Jessica: Volkswagen started to buy-out Skoda in stages during the 1990s. A massive brand transformation that quickly followed was astonishing. The Czech brand was soon no longer a laughing stock but it took the launch of the Superb to show what it could really do.

A statement of intent, Superb proved that Skoda was no longer simply about budget cars, it was ready to compete in the executive market. Roomy, comfortable and still very affordable, the well-built interior design was practical and deliberately understated.

Big family estates are a dying breed these days, overtaken by tall SUVs in every shape and size. Oddly, that makes the latest Superb estate stand out from the crowd and cut a real dash. The Skoda is a surprise hit and something of a bargain too!

Drive It

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