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By
EWAN KENNEDY in AUSTRIA
26 May 2008
From Skoda comes a new
model unlike anything we’ve ever driven before. A car with a
huge amount of rear legroom, far more than just about anything
else on the market. Indeed, there's sufficient space back there to
call it a limousine, not simply a sedan.
Don’t believe that
description? Then take a trip down to your local Skoda dealer and
sit in a Skoda Superb yourself. We are sure you will be convinced.
This rear legroom is
achieved in several ways, firstly by using a transversely mounted
engine to enable the cabin to be squeezed further forward, then by
raising the back seats to enable a more efficient seating angle.
The latter means headroom may be restricted for very tall people,
though my 1.82 frame fitted in with a few centimetres to spare.
Again, test the car for yourself. Finally, clever engineering,
something for which the Czechs
have been famed for centuries has enabled a few more
centimetres to be found.
Skoda
Superb is a long car, being similar in size to Holden's Commodore
and Ford's Falcon. However, it is only about the same width as a
typical medium-sized car, so doesn’t have the width to carry
three adults in the rear in comfort. There are lap-sash safety
belts for three in the rear should you need to squeeze them in
sometime.
And
while testing a Superb’s spacious interior have a look at the
fascinating boot system. Push one button and it opens in a
conventional manner like any other sedan’s. Press another and
all of a sudden you find you have a large hatchback with all that
means in ease of loading and the ability to car bulky items.
Skoda's
Twin-Door bootlid system is one of those fascinating inventions
that has you asking yourself why no-one has thought of it before.
Total
volume of the boot is 565 litres with the security screen in
place, making it one of the largest on the market. With a stunning
1670 litres when the split-fold rear seats are folded down
completely.
Skoda
Superb will be sold with a big variety of engines and
transmissions in Europe, Australian imports will initially give
buyers a choice between a turbo-petrol, 1.8-litre four-cylinder
with 118 kW, and a new design of 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel producing
125 kW. Later, a V6 petrol unit displacing 3.6 litres and 191 kW
will join the list. The latter engine gets an all-wheel drive
system called 4x4, the others drive through the front wheels.
We have tested several variants of the new Superb in Europe and
were most impressed by its smooth quiet running on 300-plus of
road testing on Austrian and German roads. We see no reason why
this limo-like comfort shouldn’t move across to Australian road
surfaces, but will have to try it in our country, particularly on
the notoriously harsh coarse-chip surfaces than can challenge even
the best of European cars.
Handling
is excellent with a relatively neutral steering and plenty of
ability to hold onto the road even at speeds well over these
likely to be attempted by a driver of a large limousine.
At
all times the big Skoda had the solid feel that’s such a
trademark of all produces from the Volkswagen Group.
The new Skoda Superb
is due to be introduced in Europe in a few weeks time, with
Australian models not reaching us until, “the first quarter of
2009,” according to, Matthew Weisner, who is the Head of Skoda
in Australia. Pricing is yet to be determined but we anticipate it
to figure in the low to mid forties, ranging up to the low
fifties.
It
will be interesting to see who is attracted to this fascinating
new limousine called Skoda Superb. Will it be private buyers who
routinely need to carry four adults in a car or, alternatively,
two adults and a pair of hulking teenage sons? Perhaps hire car
companies who are looking for something at a modest price which
can be selected with the economy of a turbo-diesel engine? Or
simply anyone who is tired of having to cram people into a
comparatively cramped back seat even on rare occasions?
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Marque Publishing Company
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