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The best deals in the motor trade are done by bucking the trend.  If “everybody” is down-sizing and going for diesel, look for something larger and petrol.

Pushed by Euro V (and soon to arrive Euro VI) emissions rules the premium paid for diesel is rising and pump prices for Derv already dilute the mpg advantage.

There is a trend back to petrol in the small car market but, if you are after something bigger, Skoda’s new Superb will give you food (and fuel) for thought.

The upper medium ‘volume’ class is very much fleet car, big contract territory but that makes dealers even keener to roll out the red carpet for retail buyers.

It’s a good place to be with your own money – the cars tend to be high-spec, the best are great to drive and the guys in sales will kill for your business.

Estate is the model of choice and class leaders are Mondeo, Insignia, Mazda6 and SEAT Exeo.

VW Passat will be revised for 2011 and Peugeot 407 replaced next year by the 508.  Renault Laguna, Toyota Avensis and Honda Accord are also players here.  Skoda’s new Superb, however, has wound them all up.

Front wheel drive, of course, is the conventional layout but Passat and Insignia offer the odd 4x4/AWD model. 

Superb goes further and has a range of petrol and Diesel 4WDs.  Saloon-profile hatch or estate, line-up is S, SE, Elegance and GreenLine.  Petrol engines: 1.4 TSI 125bhp; 1.8 TSI 160; 3.6 V6 260.  Diesel: 1.6 TDI CR 105; 2.0 TDI CR 140/170.  £16,670-£29,420 (Estates start at: £17,720).

The ‘mid-range’ front wheel drive 1.8 TSI Superb Estate (£18,885-£24,780) appears in all three spec variants with a six speed manual gearbox or dual-clutch DSG seven speed automatic. 

The 1.8 TSI 160 DSG can reach 135mph and 0-62 in 8.6 seconds while the combined official fuel consumption figure is 38.7mpg.

On test (brim to brim) it ranged between 28-36mpg (broader than usual) but that probably suggests around 33-35 day to day which is very economical for a lively petrol car the size of this.

CO2 at 168g/km and £180 a year road taxis not bad while the insurance ticket is 20E/21E on the new 1-50 scale.

DSG models are £1,280 dearer than the six speed manuals which is a lot to pay for 1g/km less, no reduction in Road Tax and no real gain in performance.  The manual and 4WD appeal much more – as do the 2.0 TDI 170 manual and 4WD.

The Superb employs the same sophisticated multi-link rear axle and fully independent suspension as the Passat and its dynamic attributes, while not as comprehensively excellent as the Mondeo, easily earn it a seat at the top table. It is a remarkably comfortable and effortless long distance touring car.

Skodas are not “cheap” any more – the word is more car for your money.  And the Superb is truly spacious – it has more room in the back for passengers and luggage than Volvo’s V70.

It might not have the top-drawer polish of Audi’s fit and finish inside but it stacks up well against VW’s Passat, for example.

So, is there anything ‘wrong’ with this car?  Well, the tailgate could be less acutely raked – a more squared-off rear would exploit the floorspace more effectively.

But this is the Skoda ‘estate profile’ and there are times when function has to yield to form.  That, really, is the only real criticism.  The Superb is a cracking motor with credibility stamped all over it, the Estate just more so.  Czech-mate for the competition …


By Huw Thomas
 


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