Its clean and modern looks certainly gets the car off to a good start. Skoda have been on a strong push upmarket of late and this premium design is the latest statement. A wide grill sits between raked headlights as sharp creases run down the Superb’s length. It is a long car but these lines draw your eye to further intricacies at its rear. Whilst this grey might not be the most eye-catching colour for this car, it looks grownup. A sloping roofline completes this Skoda’s silhouette.
This specific 2016 Skoda Superb is in SE Business trim and has plenty of nice features. The cabin in endowed with leather and alcantara seats, of which are very supportive and ideal for long journeys. Cruise control and dual zone climate control are also standard on this model. Vast amounts of space are made available for occupants, particularly those in the rear who experience almost limo-like levels of leg room. It is a spacious place to sit and large windows further amplify this. This car was fitted with the optional upgraded 8 inch touchscreen infotainment display. Not only is it responsive, but the system is also very ergonomic. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be used. Skoda’s slogan is “simply clever” and the Superb possesses plenty of intelligent features to live up to this. Forgot your ice scraper at home? There is one in the fuel filler door. Need some light? There is a detachable torch in the boot wall. About to get soaking wet on your walk from the car? In Rolls-Royce fashion there are umbrellas hidden in the front doors. Each of these little details makes you really feel like you can rely upon this car. It is as if the designers have pretty much thought of everything. There is even a wireless phone charger in the console. Something else that has certainly had a lot of thought put into it is cargo space. The boots large hatch opening revealed 625 litres, but fold those rear seats flat and that grows to a canyon-like 1,760 litres.
This 2016 Skoda Superb is powered by a 2.0 litre TDi engine of which produces a healthy 148 BHP and 340Nm of torque. The engine in operation is smooth and very hushed once underway. It does emit a slight grumble under hard acceleration, but nothing to write home about. You effortlessly cruise down the road as the car provides a rather relaxing ambiance in the cabin. There isn’t much in the way of road or wind noise and the ride, especially on these sensibly sized alloy wheels, is good at soaking up road imperfections. Another option on this Superb was Dynamic Chassis Control, a system that will allow the car to alter its suspension stiffness dependant upon its mode. In comfort it quite happily dealt with even rather appalling surfaces. Sport firms things up and reduces body roll as well as alters throttle responsiveness. In general driving, the Skoda Superb’s well judged control weighting and good visibility makes it easy to use everyday. On more dynamic roads the car is surefooted offering plenty of grip, however, it is the Mazda 6 and Ford Mondeo that retain the crown for best handling in the class. The Skoda handles well, but it lacks that bit of sparkle when driven spiritedly. That said, this car has its sights set on the long haul as opposed to B-roads. The 2016 Skoda Superb makes itself at home on the motorway as it munches the miles like a child eats chocolate. Taking everything in its stride, a tedious journey becomes tranquil and much less stressful. The six speed manual transmission has a well calibrated set of ratios, and when combined with its torque, makes it flexible. Set the adaptive cruise control and let the car take the strain. It is in this carefree moment that you appreciate what a complete car the Superb is. Skoda claims that it will return 68 MPG combined.
The 2016 Skoda Superb is a difficult car to fault as the attention to detail in its engineering is very impressive indeed. It feels durable, practical, and generally well equipped for family life. Premium looks also make it a winner in the office car park. However, the biggest ace up this Skoda’s sleeve is its price. Our test car with all of its toys came to £25,245 which is good value considering that many equivalent rivals come in at higher figures. The generously garnished SE Business model without the added gadgets is £22,555 making it a relative bargain for what you get.
