2020 Skoda Superb: First Impressions

Just four years after the debut of the third-gen model, Skoda’s flagship is set for another makeover.

What would have happened if Skoda had become the new Volkswagen, the modern people’s car? The Czech manufacturer, after the retirement of the Felicia in 2001, started to gradually get rid of its dusty-old image of being a low-cost car manufacturer. 

In India, this change was marked by the launch of the Octavia in 2002, which went on to become an iconic car in our market. Consequently, Skoda’s tagline ‘Simply Clever’ found its raison d'être in a value-for-money aspect that was no longer synonymous with outdated mechanics. 

The third-gen Superb – which benefits from the most modern tech and know-how of the VW Group – is an example of this trend. But, almost four years after its launch, Skoda’s flagship has now been thoroughly updated – both aesthetically and mechanically.
 
All the while, it’s also remained rooted in its intrinsic practicality, evident in its abundance of space, especially in the back seat and boot, as well as in its rich equipment list. 

Comfortable & racy 
Now there’s nothing flashy about the Superb’s interior, stylistically speaking, but everything is exactly where it should be. The must-have features, like digital instrumentation, which can be customised with a button on the steering wheel, are here as well. The infotainment system comes with either an 8.0 or 9.2-inch display, depending on the trim version, which, in the latter case, also includes voice and gesture commands.
 
Given its spacious interior and a boot that has a volume of between 625 and 1,760 litres, the Superb is a brilliant travel companion for your entire family. Plus, it’s well finished and quiet. 

The updated 2.0-litre turbocharged engine has a power output of 188bhp and boasts various improvements in terms of piston, exhaust manifold, turbo, injection, and thermal management. This revised engine is robust, vibration-free, and quite smooth throughout the rev range, especially when paired with the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission, which adds an extra 20Nm of torque, for a total of 360Nm. 

The car performs impressively around bends and corners – the tweaked steering offers brilliant feel and weighs up adequately. The overall set up of the car is good enough to offer a smooth driving experience over the rough stuff and keep the car composed at all times. The grip is ‘superb’ and the front end is super communicative.

The Smart cruise control will make its debut on the Superb. The feature uses camera and GPS data to recognise speed limits and curves, automatically adapting the speed to suit the road ahead. The blind-spot warning system, which is quite useful while changing lanes, has now evolved and can monitor an area of up to 70 metres.

Battery Pack Optional

The plug-in hybrid version of the Superb made its debut at the recently-concluded Frankfurt Motor show. It’ll have the same mechanics as the VW Passat hybrid, and combines an electric motor, powered by a 13kWh lithium ion battery pack installed at the rear, with a 1.4-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine for a total power output of 215bhp. It comes with a six-speed DSG transmission, and always starts in electric mode – which has a range of more than 50 kilometres and a top speed of 140km/h. It’s unlikely that the plug-in hybrid version will make it to India, unless of course the government extends the GST rate cut to include hybrids as well.

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