Skoda Superb 2016 Review

Skoda Superb 162TSI, 140TDI and 206TSI 4x4
Local Launch Review
Southern Highlands, NSW

Skoda is bringing power to the masses with its new Superb model, ditching the slower-selling 118TSI variants that were at entry level in the previous range. For the swish-looking new model, the range starts with the variants Skoda expects to be the most popular here. Across the range there are substantial performance gains, lighter weight and even better packaging. Pricing starts from just under $40,000, but the flagship wagon will leave little change from $53,000.

We've long been fans of the Skoda Superb, but were among the first to admit that the previous model had been nearly bludgeoned to death with the ugly stick. Local director of Skoda, Michael Irmer, has told motoring.com.au that the previous (Combi) wagon sold better than the (liftback) sedan – and we can't help wondering whether that was due to aesthetic reasons as much as practicality.

Any misgivings about the Superb's styling are largely consigned to the past, following the local introduction of the all-new model, built on Volkswagen's modular MQB platform.

The new car's style is much more elegant than the superseded model's and the Superb's visual presentation fits better within Skoda's local line-up. It no longer looks out of place sitting among the Fabias, Rapids and Octavias on a Skoda dealer's forecourt. Added width enhances its visual presence on the road too.

The style extends to the cabin as well. There's an obvious Volkswagen corporate look to the infotainment screen and switchgear, but that aside, the Superb offers a more modern presentation. Soft materials abound throughout the car and the Alcantara/leather combination sampled in the base-grade diesel model is a (literal) nice touch for a car positioned at this price. For fit and finish the Superb would be a very accomplished act, were it not for the rattles, squeaks and buzzing that intruded at different stages during the drive program – and in different variants.

We've become quite accustomed to Skoda models that are very well put together, so instances of build-related NVH are disquieting.

An intermittent buzzing emanated from behind the centre fascia in the dash of the diesel variant driven. It occurred infrequently under acceleration. At other times there was unexpected vibration from the drivetrain permeating the cabin through the firewall.

For the flagship 206TSI it was a similar-but-different story, with an occasional rattle from behind the instrument binnacle and a persistently annoying buzz from within the driver's door. According to Skoda that noise was due to a loose-fitting umbrella that sits in a slot in the door for easy access on rainy days. Skoda stresses that these are early-build cars and the production vehicles coming on stream should not suffer from the same issues.

That's the bad news; the good news is that the Superb is a very quiet car for road and wind noise. The tyres rolled across coarse-chip bitumen with very little complaint.

Generally the Superb rode with some composure, even in selectable Sports mode for the dampers, which was available in the 162 and 206TSI variants driven, but not the diesel. One particularly sharp-edged pothole did provoke crash-through at speed in the diesel model.

All three variants turned in promptly and the steering was light and responsive in the diesel, which was the car tested over the longest distance. Get the braking right and modulate the power appropriately and the Superb proved itself a neat handler, although in Comfort mode the 162TSI variant felt slower to respond and somewhat ponderous.

But the softer suspension setting will be welcome on patchy and lumpy bitumen often encountered on Aussie country roads. Even the sport setting delivered a decent ride quality on smoother suburban roads. The Superb in any setting offered a fine balance of ride and handling, relative to the needs of different drivers, but the Sport mode is the preferred option for enthusiasts who can live with slightly less compliance from the suspension.

Both the 140TDI (diesel) and 162TSI variants pump out a fair amount of power and torque for two front wheels alone to handle. Axle tramp, wheelspin and torque steer were relatively easy to provoke. Torque steer was especially obvious in the case of the petrol front-wheel drive, which is basically powered by the same engine as the Octavia RS 162TSI. Our driver for the trip to the airport on the morning of the drive program induced axle tramp on a wet road when he prodded the accelerator pedal too hard in the diesel Superb, to overtake a slower-moving vehicle.

There was little opportunity to test the 206TSI for straight-line performance other than one full-throttle blast entering a freeway. With all-wheel drive in its favour, the Superb blitzed its way onto the freeway, merging safely with none of the power delivery traits that coloured the perception of the front-wheel drive cars.

Both the petrol engines sound sporty at full cry, and the subdued diesel has been to finishing school. It didn't suffer unduly from turbo lag either. The 206TSI variant's idle-stop system was slow to restart the engine in the sample tested. While the diesel would be restarting as soon as the driver eased off the brake pedal, the higher-performance petrol model required an actual prod of the accelerator for the engine to fire back into life.

Fuel consumption over the course of the drive program was a commendable figure of 6.6L/100km for the diesel. At 10.4L/100km, the Superb 162TSI was clearly working at a disadvantage, with the driver giving it a right flogging on country roads in southern New South Wales. The Superb 206TSI was driven mostly at open-road speeds and correspondingly posted a figure of 10.1L/100km, which was better than the lighter and less powerful Superb 162TSI.

All three engines drove through six-speed DSG (dual-clutch) transmissions. Generally smooth-shifting the DSG was also pretty useful with the shift paddles in the two petrol variants, dropping back to the appropriate gear at the right moment for engine braking into a corner, and positive torque out the other side.

The Superb's principal strength is its packaging. Wider than the car it replaces, but with the same rear-seat kneeroom, the new model still offers plenty of room for sprawling out in the back seat. One of the quirky but useful features of the new model is a removable bracket to mount an iPad on either the rear of the front-seat headrest or from the leading edge of the centre armrest in the rear seat. Adjustable vents provided a third-zone temperature setting from the climate control system too.

By adding length to the wheelbase, but not actually expanding rear-seat legroom, Skoda has managed to find another 60 litres of boot space, which some families will doubtless find useful. The luggage compartment is huge, extending what looks to be around 1.5 metres forward from the tailgate. A 12-Volt auxiliary power outlet is located on the driver's side (offside) of the boot and two locating hooks can be used to suspend luggage or bags with straps so they won't roll around inside the boot under brakes or while cornering.

There's a first-aid kit in the driver's side well also, and across from it on the other side of the boot is a pack of luggage-locating brackets with velcro bases that can be positioned anywhere within the boot to grip the carpet and keep luggage from shifting. They're quickly deployed and extraordinarily easy to use. Frankly, they make a mockery of more complex systems of nets, rails and fixed or moving anchorage points that have been the norm in the past. A full-size spare resides under the boot floor.

For its combination of style and practicality, plus the helpful performance boost, the new Superb is a car with plenty of potential for a buyer in the market just below the Luxury Car Tax threshold. Our only qualm is the rattles and squeaks from the new model. We look forward to testing the Superb on local roads over a seven-day period. We'll let you know how that goes...

2016 Skoda Superb 162TSI pricing and specifications:
Price: $39,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 162kW/350Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 6.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBA
Safety Rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP, 2015)

2016 Skoda Superb 140TDI pricing and specifications:
Price: $43,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/400Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 4.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBA
Safety Rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP, 2015)

2016 Skoda Superb 206TSI 4x4 pricing and specifications:
Price: $50,990
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 206kW/350Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 7.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBA
Safety Rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP, 2015)

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