The second generation Skoda Superb offers families an alternative to the people carrier of yore at a competitive price, writes Michael McAleer,motoring editor
CAR FIRMS need to be careful with their naming conventions. Overly ambitious titles merely arm the motoring cynics who wait at every press conference to maul a new car. If you're in any doubt, ask Mitsubishi about the response to the Carisma.
When Skoda opted for "Superb" as its flagship title, even the most ardent fan of the Czech brand grimaced.
There may be history and heritage to back up the Superb moniker (first introduced by the brand in 1934 before coming to an end after the second World War) but it smacked of the sort of naivety that lets parents name their children without first thinking of the potential playground reaction to little Apple's arrival.
The 2001 version was good value and a sound proposition, particularly as a used buy. It offered incredible space and comfort at a surprisingly good price.
So now we have the second generation of its current incarnation. Skoda has retained the strengths of the outgoing Superb and added some strong engines and a longer options list.
First impressions are obvious - this car is massive. Sit behind the wheel and look back; it seems as big as a Mercedes S-Class. In terms of rear leg room, it's actually bigger than the flagship Merc. The rear seat space is simply phenomenal for a car that sells for around €30,000.
We recently travelled in a Superb with a 6ft 5in colleague behind the wheel while another 6ft 2in passenger sat directly behind him. Despite the cloud-scraping frame of the driver, the rear passenger had room for a sports bag at his feet.
The space isn't confined to the cabin either; around the back, the boot is van-like. Skoda's fancy "Twindoor" boot lid system means you can opt for it to work as either a hatchback or saloon, at the touch of a button. In daily life, that means no problems loading a child's buggy or shopping into the back.
This system caters for the saloon snobs who still frequent Irish showrooms. In contrast to their continental European counterparts, Irish buyers remain myopic to the benefits of modern estate cars. Similar prejudices are held by some towards hatchbacks. So, in this car you get the best of both worlds.
It's a hatchback at heart, but due to a fancy boot hinge, the tailgate can open in saloon format. There may be practical reasons for reducing the opening aperture when protecting the cabin from a howling Siberian snowstorm, but in Ireland those reasons are all to do with image.
Thankfully, none of this takes from the car's practicality. The boot is simply enormous for this class. Measuring in at 565 litres (1,670 litres with rear seats folded down), that's bigger than its rivals and on a par with many people carriers. In fact, for a family of five, this car makes as much sense as any of those silly five-seater people carriers.
Every week we receive pleas from expectant parents desperate to avoid purchasing a people carrier. For years we've had to tell them to bite the bullet.
Not any more. This car can take three child seats in the rear, making it better than many purpose-built family loaders because it has a great big boot, while retaining a modicum of saloon styling.
It's on the styling issue where the less practically minded buyer may have a gripe. Though the format is a traditional family car, the effect of creating the hatchback/saloon trick is to give the rear c-pillar and boot a rather awkward line. From some angles it looks as if the boot was added as an afterthought, while the rake on the back pillars slightly inhibits rear headroom. That said, it measures up the same as the new Mondeo.
In terms of specification, the Superb is well-equipped. A long list of standard features includes a plethora of airbags (including the recently introduced knee airbag for the driver), cruise control and stability control.
The jump from entry level to Ambition adds €1,750 to the price, for which you get a touchscreen display and alloys. You also get the most pointless gimmick ever introduced on a Skoda: a stubby umbrella that fits into the doorframe of one door - a sign that someone at Skoda had too much time on their hands.
The move up to Elegance is far more expensive, adding €5,200 to the Ambition price, for which you get bi-xenon lights, parking sensors and heated part-leather seats. It's a big extra outlay, although these features may help buffer the car from the likely drubbing it will get in terms of depreciation.
There is no doubt that Skoda is pitching the Superb to appeal on a value and practicality proposition. That's a big segment in Ireland, dominated by brands like Toyota. Skoda has now built up a solid reputation amongst these buyers and they will be very tempted by the Superb. If we were to identify one definite target market for Superb sales, it would be among the former owners of the Toyota Camry.
Ever since Toyota pulled the plug on European sales of its big family car, these motorists have been at a loss. This could be the answer to their practically minded prayers. It's big, comfortable and, while it doesn't have the best handling characteristics, it seems a perfect fit for Camry fans - sure to delight taxi drivers and Garda protection officers.
Given that the Superb is more likely to be used as a mile muncher than a town runabout, diesel is the only sensible buy, although it comes with a choice of three petrol engines, ranging from a 1.4-litre 125bhp to a 3.6-litre 260bhp.
Our test car was powered by arguably the best of the diesel engines in the Superb range: the latest 2.0-litre common-rail diesel engine from parent VW. Putting out 168bhp, it keeps its emissions down to 153g/km.
That's better in both power and fuel consumption than the older 2.0-litre 140bhp version that's also on offer. With the same annual tax outlay, the €700 premium for 30 more horsepower seems worth it.
Many owners will seek an automatic transmission in a car of this size and Skoda will introduce a dual-clutch DSG auto version later this year. However, it pushes emissions into a higher band, with annual motor tax rising from €290 to €430 (or €302 to €447 as of January 1st).
Despite the car's size, the 168bhp engine is well able to push it along at pace. Acceleration is smooth and with cruise control as standard, it's well able to devour a long-distance journey. The ride quality is comfortable, although it can be caught out on more rutted Irish roads, while handling reflects the size of the car. It's all very competent and as able as most mainstream rivals, though not as entertaining as class leaders like the Ford Mondeo.
On paper the Superb's price looks competitive - if not quite superb - when compared to established rivals. Similarly, its styling, while traditional, is nowhere near as eyecatching as recent arrivals, such as the Mondeo or new Opel Insignia.
However, it's only when you sit inside that you realise just how much car you get for your euro. In the current economic storms, such a solid value proposition can't fail to attract new buyers.
In a nation that put Toyota on top for just such traits, Skoda's new Superb is now a serious contender for Irish driveways. It may not live up to its name, but it's right for the current economic climate.
Factfile
• Engine: 1968cc turbocharged common-rail diesel engine with DOHC, putting out 168bhp @ 4,200rpm and 320Nm of torque from 1,800rpm
• 0-100km/h: 8.8 seconds
• BHP: 168
• Max speed: 222km/h
• Consumption: 5.8L/100km (48.7mpg)
• Specification: standard on all models are: driver and passenger front and side airbags; driver's knee airbag; curtain airbags; ESP (electronic stability programme); four-spoke multifunction leather steering wheel with radio controls; variable boot opening system; dual-zone air conditioning; rain-sensing wipers; cruise control; front foglights; radio/CD with eight speakers and MP3/iPod socket; 60:40 split folding rear seat; 16-inch steel wheels
Ambition spec adds: 16-inch alloys; decor wood inlays; front fog lights with corner function; umbrella with storage compartment; six-CD changer for radio and colour touchscreen display
Elegance spec adds: artificial leather seats; 17-inch alloys; electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats; heated seats front and rear; rear parking distance detectors; tyre pressure monitoring; bi-Xenon headlights with AFS
• L/100km (mpg):urban - 7.7 (36.7); extra-urban - 4.8 (58.9); combined - 5.8 (48.7)
• CO2 emissions:153g/km
• Tax bands: VRT - 20 per cent; motor tax - €290 (€302 from Jan 1st)
• Price: €37,145 (range starts at €25,990 for Greenline version)