IS there a more aptly named car out there than Skoda’s Superb?

Asking for a friend here, but I already know the answer.

Superb Skodas are actually nothing new – there’s been one in the range since 2002, and even long before that.

In 1934 to be precise, a car so sought after for its beautiful coachbuilt body that the Emperor of Japan had one.

And while the latest offering from the Czech manufacturer might not be quite up to ambassadorial standards, it’s still a car with a uniqueness all of its own.

Its profile hints at a very long car, as it sits lower to the road and has a window line that accentuates the distance betwixt boot and bonnet, but it is in fact very similar in length to its major competitors, which makes the amount of interior space available all the more praiseworthy.

It looks long, and when you come to park it you find out your initial impression wasn’t too far wide of the mark.

The hatchback is an alternative to the Superb Estate for those who simply don’t want an estate, but don’t want to turn their back on the practicality. The hatchback Superb gives you similarly vast interior space, and as a bonus it’s actually cheaper by a worthwhile margin.

The 2.0-litre diesel here has 148bhp, with plenty low-down pulling power, so it’s a decent choice if you’ll be towing a caravan.

Anyone who’s a fan of diesel engines will love the unit in this car. It pours out mountains of torque (265lb/ft) to allow you to accelerate quicky and, more importantly, overtake swiftly and safely.

On the road, the Superb rides, well, superbly. All but the harshest impacts from potholes and drain covers are soaked up before passengers stretching out in the back are disturbed.

It’s not difficult to throw in a few more superbs here and there. Superb feel from the steering, which is weighty yet precise and is no hindrance to pushing on a bit when the road allows.

Superb ride comfort, with little body roll when you’re making swift progress on a country road.

Superb comfort for those aboard, with plenty steering wheel and seat adjustment so it’s easy to find a good driving position.

Mid-range SE L models add 14-way electric adjustment for both front seats, and there’s an extendable seat base and four-way adjustable lumbar support. Superbly comfortable, with a great driving position attainable by anyone from Warwick Davies to Meadowlark Lemon…..

Inside you’ll find a 13 inch infotainment touchscreen with large, clear icons positioned high on the dashboard so you don’t have to take your eyes far from the road to operate it.

Superb has a 10.25in Virtual Cockpit digital driver’s display, which can be configured to prioritise various pre-set combinations of data. A colour head-up display is optional, and projects driving information including speed and sat-nav directions on to the windscreen.3

There’s plenty interior storage too, including a cavernous front centre storage compartment, now the gear selector from the centre console has been moved to the steering column.

And then there’s the huge boot. At 645 litres, it’s 20 litres bigger than that of the previous Superb Hatchback.

Classy? Yes. Value for money? Yes. And the cruncher, desirable? Definitely, as the largest and most luxurious car to ever wear the Skoda badge, and to my mind one of the best.

 

Skoda Superb SE L hatch

Price: £38,405 (£41,420 as tested)
Engine: 2.0 litre, four cylinder, turbocharged diesel
Power: 148bhp
Torque: 265lb/ft
Transmission: seven speed DSG
Top speed: 139mph
0-62mph: 9.2 seconds
Economy: 56mpg
CO2 emissions: 133g/km

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