SKODA SUPERB

Skoda’s new Superb spells sheer comfort and elegance, holding its own in the luxury segment, says Ashish Masih

Superb by name, superb by size and superb for comfort. The new luxury car from Skoda is about to challenge established rivals and take some sales away from them. At least that’s the plan. STYLE FILE The new Superb is striking to look at and unlike the old car, which had plain-Jane styling that bordered on boring, the new Superb has a more appealing style quotient. The face gets attractive wraparound headlamps, which have a sharp edge and upward sweep to them and there are cuts and details on the nose section that look great. The lens has Superb etched on it — a classy touch. The windows get chrome framing around them and serve well to make the car more noticeable. The rear looks heavy though and doesn’t seem to gel with the sophisticated looks of the front end. Overall, the car looks more purposeful than the older one and more elegant as well. Step back and you’ll notice that the new Superb is a hatchback and a saloon. You can open the bootlid alone or open the entire tailgate. And at 565 litres, there’s plenty of space here. Skoda has also come up with a lighting system that varies its beam pattern according to your speed and driving style. It includes cornering lights and has settings to reduce reflection when driving in the rain or in snow. Though the Superb is shorter than the older car, it still has impressive road presence. But despite that, it’s the rival Accord that has a longer wheelbase and overall length. INSIDE STORY Step into the cabin, remove the Skoda badges and you could well mistake the Superb for an Audi or Mercedes — yes, quality is that impressive. Skoda seems to have achieved the impossible with the Superb’s cabin — increasing space (as if it needed more) within a shorter wheelbase. The boot is impressive too and with the seats down, it looks more like the hold of a container ship than the boot of a car. The stylish steering wheel is exceptional; it’s really comfortable to hold and the chrome ‘smile’ and Skoda badge make it look special. It’s one of the best electronic-mechanical systems we’ve come across and offers plenty of communication. The hooded circular gauges look really classy too. All controls on the dashboard are intuitive to use, and the puddle lights inside the cabin go a long way in adding an air of luxury to the cabin. Another ‘you’ll love it’ feature is the iPhone-like central touchscreen that controls everything from the radio and in-dash CD-changer to the phone and navigation system. It’s much easier to use than BMW’s iDrive or Audi’s MMI (Multi Media Interface) which call for the more complex action of rotating and clicking a dial. Where the Superb really wows you is in the seating department. You’re unlikely to find more comfortable seating anywhere in this class. Both the front and rear seats offer brilliant comfort with acres of space. They are very supportive and are adjustable in every direction. Generous shoulder and under-thigh support ensure that you’re in for a limousine-like experience. Other nice touches include electrically retractable rear sun blinds, footrests for rear passengers and a built-in umbrella plus drainage system in the left-side rear door. UNDER THE HOOD It comes as no surprise that the Superb rides comfortably most of the time, keeps road noise to a minimum and drives very tidily too. The 1.8-litre petrol is a turbo-charged direct-injection motor, which delivers 160bhp. This engine is mated to a seven-speed DSG double-clutch automatic gearbox. Performance is brilliant to say the least. It accelerates from zero to 100kph in 9.1 seconds and carries on to 150kph in under 20 seconds. That’s faster than the manual 2.4-litre Accord. The seven-speed gearbox ensures that you’re always in the correct gear to get the best power out of the engine. But the engine feels a bit sluggish at lower rpms around town thanks to the turbo-lag. So you will have to downshift to lower gears to move quickly. DRIVER’S DEAL Skoda has stiffened the Superb’s suspension and as a result the ride is quite firm. But the Superb is agile enough to make a mockery of its size. However, the mushy brake pedal takes some getting used to. The downside to the stiff suspension though, is that the ride is a bit fidgety on surfaces that are less than smooth. And in terms of fuel economy, the Superb betters the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry as well. It delivers 8.3kpl in the city and 12.5kpl on the highway. FINAL VERDICT Overall, if you’re after metal for your money, then the Superb is fantastic value. At Rs 19.33 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), it won’t be cheap but when you consider the sheer quality and comfort it offers along with the generous equipment and refined engine, it’s hard to build a case against the Superb. This is a big, competent and well-equipped car with a sensible price-tag. What remains to be seen is the resale value, which historically has not been good for Skoda petrols. The diesel Superb will definitely have a better residual value, but the 2.0-litre diesel engine won’t be here for another couple of months. spec check SKODA SUPERB Price: Rs 19.33 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) Engine: 1.8 TSI Power: 160bhp 0-100kph: 9.1sec Economy: 8.3 (city) /12.5kpl (highway) 20-80kph (in kickdown): 5.76sec