Taxi. There, I’ve said it. I had to really. The Superb, in its previous long-wheelbase-Passat form, was a favourite with our driving social commentators. I was in one the other day with two friends and three sets of golf clubs and there was as much space on the way to the airport as you could ever want. Our driver liked his and he’d undoubtedly like the new one, too. In fact I’m sure he’d like it a lot.
Skoda isn’t really saying so, but apparently the new Superb owes a good deal to its private-hire customer base. Why else would the Czech firm go to the trouble of engineering the novel rear 'Twindoor' system? Apparently, taxi drivers are a mixed bunch, with some markets liking hatchbacks, and others saloons. So rather than offer two models, Skoda neatly integrated two openings into one. Regardless of whether you’re using the hatch or the saloon option, what lies beyond the opening is possibly the biggest boot I’ve ever seen – in fact, it’s so long that, if you lose something up the back, you’ll need to climb in, unless you’ve got freakishly long arms, of course.
That massive boot is only going to get bigger too, as Skoda has let slip that it will produce an estate in the next year or so. It’ll be interesting to see how it looks; however clever and neatly integrated the Superb’s “Twindoor” system is, Skoda’s designers were having an off day when they designed the car’s rump. From afar there’s a touch of previous-generation Renault Mégane saloon about it, and the drooping rear lights make it look like it has melted in the sun.
In profile, the Superb is pretty forgettable too; only the nose, with its upright grille and family-look headlamps give it some personality. Not that you’ll be concerned when you’re inside, as the Superb is not only spacious but also beautifully finished. Simple instrumentation mixes with good ergonomics, neat chrome finishing and Audi-rivalling materials to give the Superb a cabin that’s not far off the luxury cars that its interior space matches. All that space is a luxury in itself, but in the new Superb you’re ensconced in a cockpit that’s finished to a standard that belies the Skoda’s really rather sensible pricing.
Despite the massive space on offer, Skoda is wisely pitching its Superb at cars such as Ford’s Mondeo. Remarkably, given the phenomenal legroom on offer in the back, the Superb is only six centimetres longer than its Ford rival, and those downsizing from MPVs and SUVs back to the D-segment are certain to find the spacious Skoda a desirable choice. It’s a surprisingly enjoyable drive too, as Skoda has given its big saloon a nicely cosseting ride but not at the expense of body control. The steering is nicely weighted and crisp, body roll is kept in check and grip levels are high. That all makes it a rather entertaining drive, so be sure to watch the meter to check your taxi driver isn’t taking the long route. On the motorway it excels at hushed refinement – as long as you opt for the newer common-rail diesel engine choices over the old, rattle-prone Pumpe Duse units.
Europe has the pick of three petrol engines and three diesels. The 1.9 TDI PD 105hp is almost a certainty for Ireland, and its 151g/km CO2 rating is the lowest of the range. However, Skoda offers a 2.0-litre TDI PD engine with 140hp that produces 155g/km, putting it in the same 20 percent VRT bracket as the 1.9-litre. The pick of the engines, though, is undoubtedly the high-power 2.0-litre TDI, a common-rail unit that offers far greater refinement, 170hp and CO2 emissions of just 159g/km. Twin-clutch automatics and four-wheel drive are also offered on the two 2.0-litre units; the 4x4 is an irrelevance but the smooth-shifting DSG is a gem, especially when mated to the 170hp turbo diesel – it actually matches the 140hp 2.0 TDi’s 177g/km CO2 figure and betters its economy with 6.7l/100km.
The petrol lineup consists of a 1.8 TSI and a 3.6-litre V6, but it’s the smallest unit in the range that is the most interesting. The big Superb is available with a turbocharged 1.4 TSI engine with an impressive CO2 rating of 162g/km and combined consumption of 6.8l/100km. Performance isn’t as slovenly as you might imagine either, as 100km/h arrives in 10.5 seconds, just 0.3 seconds slower than the 140hp 2.0 TDI.
Which engines Irish customers will be offered remains to be seen. Whatever is under the bonnet, the Superb will be wearing either an S, SE or Elegance badge, with these new trim levels replacing the Classic and Comfort choices of the old range. Entry-level S trim offers everything you could ever need: air conditioning, alloy wheels and an auxiliary music socket are all standard. Everything, of course, unless you simply have to have the Rolls-Royce-aping umbrella hidden in the rear door, which appears on SE and Elegance models. Oddly, Bluetooth compatibility is only offered as standard on Elegance models, which is something of an oversight in this business-orientated marketplace.
If legroom and comfort are your priorities then absolutely nothing in the Mondeo class touches the big Skoda. But with the new car it’s not all just about the luxury of all that space, as Skoda has given owners a reason to want to sit in the driver’s seat, too. The perfect taxi? Absolutely, but then the Superb is also a very desirable family car choice. If only it looked a little more interesting.
Verdict
Massive space is key to the Superb’s appeal, but it also drives better than ever. All of which makes it a shame it looks so forgettable.
Interior image caption: Inside, the Superb is not only spacious but also beautifully finished
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