The new Škoda Superb is officially here already in November and these days it is coming to the Czech market. In February, Škoda published the latest price list, which was a harbinger of the moment that had just arrived. We have finally had a ride with one of the most important innovations of recent years, and although the automaker itself was wondering whether it would be able to surpass the successful third generation, the innovation is an intergenerational leap.
During the first acquaintance on the roads in Portugal, we tried the Škoda Superb only in the more practical station wagon body. It appeared on the Czech market ahead of the standard liftback and is available to those interested for an acceptable 40,000 crowns extra. The new Superb, liftback and station wagon, is a sibling of the latest Volkswagen Passat. All these models are produced together in the concern’s factory in Bratislava.
Design, spaciousness and interior
The new Škoda Superb arrives with a new design, which does not mean a revolution, but with the evolution of the curves first introduced by the fourth Octavia, it is an elegant car. The minimalist design station wagon has more rounded edges than its predecessor, and the automaker has significantly improved aerodynamics during development with the goal of lower fuel consumption – with a drag coefficient of 0.25, it claims to have developed a significant 15 percent improvement. The new generation of Matrix LED headlights and the new Crystallinium design element are also new.
Between generations, the new Škoda Superb Combi is 40 millimeters longer and 5 millimeters higher, and since you can see its design for yourself, let’s go straight to the interior. If you expect a lot of spaciousness with an already visibly long wheelbase, the superb will certainly not disappoint you. The last generation was already a really big car, and the new model obviously continues the rut, and is even more spacious in the back seats.
And the essential information is that the suitcase, which was already huge in the past, is now even bigger. In Škodovka, they found a way to make the luggage compartment even bigger and it now has a basic volume of 690 liters. Between generations, it is 30 liters larger. I don’t have experience with the liftback yet, but it also impresses with its large trunk – it has a standard volume of 645 liters, which has been improved by another 20 liters. The new electric blind then moves automatically together with the opening/closing of the fifth door.
Classic air conditioning controls are back
The intentionally invented subtitle is a bit misleading, but we all had a heart drop when Škoda announced with the new generation Kodiaq and Superb flagships that it was introducing new multifunctional Smart Dials. They were first introduced in the futuristic Vision 7S family SUV concept, and the latest Škoda cars are the first production models where we can find them.
Smart Dials are a compromise between classic and touch controls. Each of the selectors has three functions – the left and right control the temperature of the air conditioning, heating and ventilation of the seats, while the middle control allows you to choose between setting the audio volume, quick selection of driving modes or the intensity of the ventilation. Turn to control the selected function, press to cycle to another. You can see how it works in our video.
After the exclusively touchscreen solution on the central infotainment screen, we were worried that all other cars from Boleslav would have it. Skoda, thank you for making the latest models with common sense again, because there is nothing easier to drive than simply turning the wheel. User-wise, it works great and it’s significantly more pleasant and safer to drive than looking for climate control settings on the display, like in the pre-facelift fourth octavia.
The new touchscreen infotainment with a 13″ screen is a significant improvement over its predecessor. You can customize quick preferences on the top bar, for example to turn off stop-start or quick access to the assistant menu, and you can also customize the quick menu, which can be accessed by downloading from the top. infotainment is an evolution of an already known solution and impresses with its very fast response without freezing, which you can quickly view in our next video.
So far in two configurations
The new Škoda Superb is starting to be sold here in two trims – Selection and Laurin & Klement. When we recently looked at the latest price list, we realized that the basic equipment of the Selection offers the most important comfort elements, such as three-zone Climatronic air conditioning, heated front seats or a 15W wireless mobile phone charger.
The more luxurious Laurin & Klement also adds Matrix LED headlights, a head-up display, a massage function for the front seats, heated rear seats, a sleeping package or a new generation of DCC Plus adaptive chassis. This has a significant effect on the overall driving characteristics, although the characteristic “rockiness” of modern superbs of the model still remains.
Škoda Superb Combi: Technical data Engine 1.5 TSI 2.0 TSI 2.0 TDI 2.0 TDI 1.5 TSI PHEV Displacement [cm3]
1498 1984 1968 1968 1498 The greatest performance [kW/min]
110/5000-6000 195/5000-6500 110/3000-4200 142/3500-4200 110/5500-6000 Torque [N.m/min]
250/1500-3500 400/1650-4350 360/1600-2750 400/1750-3250 250/1500-4000 Maximum power of the electric motor [kW]
–
– – – 85 Maximum electric motor torque [Nm]
– – – – 330 Maximum system performance [kW]
– – – – 150 Maximum system torque [Nm]
– – – – 350 Cylinders/Valves 4/4 Bore x Stroke [mm]
74.5 x 85.9 82.5 x 92.8 81.0 x 95.5 74.5 x 85.9 Compression ratio 12 9.6 16 15.5 11.5 Drive front 4×4 front 4×4 front Transmission seven-speed automatic DSG automatic six-speed DSG Max. speed [km/h]
222 250 222 230 220 Acceleration 0-100 km/h [s]
9.3 5.7 9.3 7.6 8.1 Comb. consumption [l/100 km]
5.3-5.9 – 4.9–5.4 5.7–6.3 – CO2 emissions [g/km]
121-134 – 130–143 150–164 – Fuel tank volume [l]
66 45 Battery capacity [kWh]
25.7 Curb weight [kg]
1575–1757 1736–1899 1678–1859 1750–1926 1853–1987 Total weight [kg]
2124 2320 2241 2320 2350 Luggage volume [l]
690-1920 510-1770 Dimensions lxwxh [mm]
4902 x 1849 x 1482 4902 x 1849 x 1483 Wheelbase [mm]
2841
Cena Selection [Kč]
975,000 – 1,035,000 1,165,000 – Price Laurin & Klement [Kč]
1 175 000
–
1 235 000
1 365 000
–
So far, one petrol and two turbodiesels
Škoda will sell the new Superb Combi with six power units, while the most popular option is the state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid combining a 1.5 TSI four-cylinder with an electric motor. The electrified engine with a total output of 150 kW will impress mainly with its purely electric range of up to 100 km in the WLTP mode and will be a specialty of the Combi body variant, it will not be available for the liftback.
However, the novelty is currently only sold with three engines – one petrol and both diesel. The standard model is a 1.5 TSI four-cylinder petrol engine with 110 kW, which is complemented by four-cylinder diesel engines in 2.0 TDI versions with 110 and 142 kW. All engines are connected to a seven-speed DSG gearbox as standard. Of the variants currently offered, both are weaker with front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive is currently only available with the most powerful diesel.
110 kW twice differently
During the first drives with the new Superb, I was inspired by your questions and used a single afternoon to test both basic engines. First, I got behind the wheel of the basic two-liter turbodiesel with 110 kW, which impressed me with its acceptable and sufficient dynamics during the first kilometers. The standard superb with a diesel engine is an ideal touring car for the highway, because it is a bit cumbersome on the roads, but it is more confident to drive than its predecessor.
And the first habit also requires a newly located automatic transmission selector, replacing the previous right stick under the steering wheel. On the left, you control the blinkers, wipers or washers – one press of the button on the left wipes the window once, and another press to the second position then washes. In reality, the dynamics of the turbodiesel are not much different from the basic gasoline engine, but after switching from car to car, you will quickly notice the fundamental differences.
During the first drives, the gasoline engine showed slower reactions to the gas than the turbodiesel, and this was especially noticeable when exiting corners. There, it felt a little more lethargic than the diesel alternative. The turbodiesel is also stronger with flexible acceleration. On the other hand, the lighter front end of the car and the associated better agility in corners play in favor of the gasoline engine.
Another important piece of information is the fact that the petrol 15-litre Superb is equipped with a mild-hybrid system, which is the reason why you don’t even have to switch off stop/start. As soon as you take off the gas, the electronics put the engine to sleep, turn it off, and let the car sail. When you then turn off the stop/start system, the engine will stop when braking, only to wake up again after stopping. At the moment when he can safely remain idle. The mild-hybrid behaved in the same way already in the Octavia.
And how does fuel consumption differ? I don’t want to draw conclusions about both models yet, because I’d rather wait for full-scale testing in Czech conditions, but I drove the gasoline Superb in Portugal for around 7 liters, and the diesel for 6 liters per 100 kilometers. According to the on-board indicators, the real range for one refueling was close to 900 kilometers with the 1.5 TSI engine, up to 1000 kilometers with the 2.0 TDI unit.
DCC Plus adaptive chassis
The DCC Plus adaptive chassis is also a significant innovation of the fourth generation Superb. You can set it individually in up to fifteen levels of stiffness and it brings significant differences between a rocking comfort tuning and a stiff sports driving mode. While in comfort the superb floats pleasantly, in the most dynamic mode it stiffens and can be driven much more precisely.
Between generations, the novelty retains its swing, but Škoda’s technicians managed to tune the DCC Plus so that even if it swings, it stabilizes during a single suspension. The unpleasant “sailing on big waves” is not repeated, as it was in the third generation. At least in the early days of production, it used to have a lot of swaying, which was unpleasant, because, for example, after crossing the speed bumps, it easily sprung three times.
And you will also find differences in tuning between the two basic engines. During the first tens of kilometres, the diesel superb showed less sway than the petrol one. In the comfort mode you will achieve maximum comfort, the standard driving mode is an ideal compromise between neutrality and pleasant driving characteristics, and in the sports mode the superbs stiffen and copy the asphalt surface. They are much stiffer that way.
Overall, the new Škoda Superb is a well-crafted intergenerational evolution that takes the best of its predecessor and adds new elements to it. The new interior architecture with Smart Dials and new infotainment works flawlessly, you can choose between the two base engines mainly based on your subjective preferences, and the new Superb is bigger and more spacious than ever before.
2024-03-11 18:02:00
#drive #Škoda #Superb #Combi #differently #live #infotainment
