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Posted on: Jun 08 2007

Skoda-Superb

After the success of the Octavia, Skoda is aiming far higher with the Superb, which plans to tackle both the Mercedes-Benz C- and E-class. Majoring on space and comfort, and now empowered with a diesel engine, will the Superb now be the success it was always meant to be?

Design, Engineering and Interiors:
Built on a stretched VW Passat platform, with an additional 95mm between the wheels, the Superb is a big car, with an air of understated class. The Superb is a pastiche of VW Passat lines and Skoda detailing, and the headlights, grille and tail-lights do make it look Octavia-like from a distance. It’s undeniably handsome though, and its exaggerated length gives it real elegance.

The Superb’s interiors are its trump card. Beautifully built and crafted to VW-Audi standards, this vast comfortable cabin is nothing short of first-class travel. It is very well appointed, with high-grade plastics, very convincing wood inlays, chrome garnish and plush-feeling leather. The front seats are large and comfortable, plastic quality is excellent, and it is ergonomically sound. And it gets even better at the rear: there is almost as much space as in a Mercedes-Benz S-class, and getting in and out is made easy by the long rear doors.

There are interesting details like an umbrella holder in the rear doors, a cooled storage box and a host of safety and security equipment, including six airbags, a uniquely lockable boot and fuel cap. Other equipment is abundant as well, including power-adjust/heated seats, four-zone climate control, automatic wipers and a cooled storage box in the armrest. The only real problem is the refinement; far too much noise is transmitted into the cabin for a luxury car.

Performance, Fuel Economy and Handling: 
Powered by a V6 motor that makes 190bhp, the petrol Superb is no slouch. This motor uses five valves per cylinder to help it breathe better, as well as double overhead camshafts and variable valve timing. Silent and smooth at low engine speeds, the Skoda leverages the five gear ratios of the automatic ’box to good effect. Push the pedal into the carpet and the Skoda will cross the 100kph mark in 11.42 seconds, and top whack is also comfortably more than you are likely to need as the Superb steadily accelerates past a real 200kph. Gearing is fairly short, so it moves quite quickly in the city.The large, heavy Superb isn’t the most efficient of cars, returning only 6.1kpl in the city and a fairly low 7.0kpl on the highway.

The 163bhp diesel on the other hand trumps the petrol version. It is among the most refined diesels and very responsive. There’s barely any turbo lag and the strong mid-range power make driving it in stop-start traffic conditions easy. Fuel economy too is a very decent 7.34kpl in the city and 11.97kpl on the highway.

A front-wheel-drive car powered by a longitudinally-mounted V6 engine, the Superb utilises a four- arm multi-link front suspension, anti-roll bars and traction control; the rear, susprisingly, uses torsion-bar suspension, but you do get Anti-lock brakes, Electronic Stability Control and Electronic Brake Force distribution.

The Superb has been tuned for comfort rather than handling, so it isn’t a top driver’s car. Although it is hugely stable at speed, courtesy the long wheelbase and high weight, this car cannot tackle twisted roads like a Mercedes. Also, the taller springs and stiffer dampers mean this Skoda's ride is quite lumpy at low speeds, though it improves substantially at speed. Over 70kph, it’ll swallow rough patches with ease. Steering and handling, however, are not the Superb’s forte. It turns in well, and the quick steering is willing, but you have to adopt a more relaxed driving style, as the Superb lacks the body control or the grip to make it a driver’s car.

Verdict:
At over Rs 22 lakh, the Superb is still fairly expensive — it has Mercedes S-class space for C-class money, but the lack of a prestige badge may be significant. The car is now assembled here in SKD (Semi Knocked-Down) form, so it comes a bit cheaper.

Skoda’s dealer network is pretty thin, and being a CBU, the Superb will be expensive to service or repair, and spares will be quite pricey too, especially electronic components. No discounts are available yet, but you could try and wrangle a slash in the price, especially seeing that the car isn’t selling terribly well.

The diesel is where it’s at though. We really can’t think of any reason to go for the petrol now, and unless you want the ultimate in refinement, the diesel makes far more sense.
Source: autocarindia.com