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By
EWAN KENNEDY
14 September 2009
Here is another entrant in the
Australian family car market. One that's so completely different
it may not be noticed the first time you draw up your short list
of vehicles. Skoda Superb comes from the Czech Republic; the
company is a major part of the Volkswagen Group and uses
mechanical components designed by the Germans, often with changes
to suit the specific needs of the Czech people.
And one of the things the Czechs love is room to move in their
cars. The body of the Superb is an all-Czech design and its
biggest feature is a huge amount of interior space. Rear legroom
in the Superb sees it catering for families with teenagers on the
high side of two metres tall. The rear-seat legroom in the new
2009 Skoda Superb is achieved in several ways; firstly, it's a big
car, being slightly longer than a Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon.
Secondly, its transversely mounted engine takes up less length
than a longitudinal powerplant, so the cabin can be moved further
forward. Thirdly, the Skoda engineers raised the back seats to
enable a more efficient seating angle. Headroom may be restricted
for very tall people, though my 1.82-metre frame fits with a few
centimetres to spare.
While it's longer than the Aussie family sixes, the Skoda Superb
is similar in width to a typical medium-sized car, so doesn’t
have the interior width to carry three adults in the rear without
a fair bit of shoulder rubbing.
The Superb’s boot is huge. Its total volume is 565 litres with
the security screen in place, increasing to 1670 litres when the
split-fold rear seats are folded down completely. It's almost
station wagon-like in its carrying capacity.
A fascinating feature of the superbly spacious Superb is that
there are two way of accessing the load area. Push one button and
the boot lid opens in a conventional manner like any other sedan.
Press another button and instead of a bootlid you have a large
opening hatch, with all that means in ease of loading bulky items.
The idea is that if you don’t need the full-sized opening
offered by the hatchback the cabin isn't exposed to the outside
air with all that can mean in the way of wind and traffic noise
and fumes.
Skoda Superb is sold with a choice of engines, all designed by
Volkswagen: a turbo-petrol, 1.8-litre four-cylinder with 118 kW, a
2.0-litre, turbo-diesel producing 125 kW, and a V6 petrol unit
displacing 3.6 litres and peaking at 191 kW. The latter engine
gets a 4x4 drive system, the others drive through the front
wheels. Transmission is by a six-speed DSG sequential manual in
the turbo-diesel and petrol V6, but by seven-speed in the
turbo-petrol four-cylinder.
Our road test vehicle for the past week was fitted with the
turbo-diesel engine, the engine that we probably favour if buying
a Superb ourselves. Typical fuel use is only about six to seven
litres per hundred kilometres in easy country or motorway driving.
And diesel consumption is unlikely to rise much over nine litres
in suburban running and normal commuting.
Handling is pretty good, 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 the driver of a large limousine.
But you don’t expect to get a sports sedan in a vehicle of this
type – keen drivers may not be overly impressed with its
characteristics. At all times the big Skoda had the solid feel
that’s such a trademark of all products from the Volkswagen
Group.
Harsh coarse-chip surfaces did create the usual increase in noise
and vibration levels, but we have felt worse problems in other
European cars. But make sure you test tyre-road noise for yourself
if you are going to be doing a lot of driving on country roads.
Skoda Superb comes in two model grades: Ambition and upmarket
Elegance. Recommended prices for the Superb begin at $42,990 for
the Ambition with the 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine, and peak at
$56,990 for the Superb Elegance with the V6 engine and 4x4
transmission. Statutory and dealer delivery charges have to be
added to these prices. Contact your local Skoda dealer or click
onto www.skoda.com.au/
for driveaway prices specific to your area.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
Superb Ambition 1.8 TSI 118kW DSG: $42,990
Superb Ambition 2.0 TDI 125kW DSG: $45,990
Superb Elegance 1.8 TSI 118kW DSG: $45,990
Superb Elegance 2.0 TDI 125kW DSG: $48,990
Superb Elegance 4x4 V6 3.6 FSI 191kW DSG: $56,990
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Air Conditioning: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in all models
CD Player: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Stability Control: Standard in all models
Traction Control: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (Skoda Superb TDI 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-door
sedan)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 1.968 litres
Configuration: Transverse, four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 18.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 81.0 mm x 95.5 mm
Maximum Power: 125 kW @ 4200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 350 Nm @ 1750-2500 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed DSG
Final Drive Ratio: NA
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4838 mm
Wheelbase: 2763 mm
Width: 1817 mm
Height: 1462 mm
Turning Circle: 11.5 metres
Kerb Mass: 1655 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litres
Towing Ability: 700 kg (1500 kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson struts, lower triangular links,
torsion stabiliser
Rear Suspension: Multi-element axle, one longitudinal and three
transverse links, torsion stabiliser
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 8.8 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type:
Diesel
Combined
Cycle (ADR 81/01): 6.9 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 7/10
Air Pollution Rating: 5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000 km
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
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