Motoring journalist, Sue Cooke, reviews the ŠKODA Superb Hatch
Facts at a Glance
Model: ŠKODA Superb SE L | Price: From £27,725 otr | Engine: 1.5 TSi 150PS 6G Man | Performance: 0-62mph in 9 seconds and on to a top speed of 136mph | CO2 emissions: 120g/km | Combined fuel consumption: 42.8-38.7mpg
While the days are getting longer and lighter, driving around in half light at this time of year can cause collisions. Your lights are vital for your safety and the safety of others. Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging all road users to make themselves bright and visible on journeys and not rely on automatic light settings. Check your lights, clean your lights and use your lights appropriately says GEM.
And in this murky world this week, I have been lucky enough to drive ŠKODA’s updated flagship model, the Superb. In 2019 the Superb was the first production car to feature innovative full LED Matrix headlights. With redesigned LED fog lights and full LED tail-lights with dynamic indicators, they are wonderful for seeing and being seen.
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Inspired by the Latin word meaning ‘stately’ the first ŠKODA model to bear the Superb badge appeared in 1934 and set the benchmark for luxury. The rear legroom in its segment has always impressed me and for 2019 the levels of cabin space, advanced technologies and excellent value for money are equally impressive.
The updated road test car has a dynamic and elegant design, subtly refined with a remodelled radiator grille and a chrome trim between the LED tail lights. Thanks to a new front bumper, the Superb has grown in length by 8mm to 4,869mm (Estate by 6mm to 4,862mm.) The wheelbase, width and height remain the same.
There are six familiar trim grades; S, SE, SE Technology, SE L, SportLine Plus and Laurin & Klement all with incredibly high levels of standard equipment. All models are fitted with LED front and rear lights as standard, along with seven airbags, a touchscreen infotainment system with DAB, voice control and SmartLink+ for smartphone connectivity.
There are a number of new assistance systems including Predictive Cruise Control and an updated Blind Spot Detection, which now works at a distance of up to 70m. A Driver fatigue sensor is another innovative feature and cornering front fog lights help with good visibility. The numerous technical highlights make the Superb one of the safest and most comfortable vehicles I have had the good fortune to drive.
The boot capacity of 625 litres in the hatch is one of the largest in its segment.
The new 1.5 litre 150PS petrol engine, which powered my road test car has instant acceleration just when you need it when driving around town. On motorway journeys, I didn’t need to keep changing the six speed manual gearbox as traffic ebbed and flowed.
This year ŠKODA will launch the Superb iV plug in hybrid drive. Ushering in a new electric chapter in the brand’s history, the Superb iV combines a turbocharged 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine and 85kW electric motor, delivering a total performance of 218PS (160kW) and CO2 emissions of less than 40g/km. The Superb iV also offers a zero-emission drive up to 35 miles (56km) and can travel up to 578 miles (930km) on a single full tank and a fully charged battery when in hybrid mode.
And while talking about the importance of lights, I will mention my biggest irritation – drivers who do not use indicators in good time, to provide information to other road users about where you intend to go!
