This year we have seen several new electric cars enter the Irish market and the arrival also of more Chinese-made cars which are very competitively priced. But with all the talk of electric cars and new imports some people might forget what has been one of the great success stories of Irish motoring, the growth of the Skoda brand.
The popular Octavia was the first modern car that Skoda introduced to Ireland in 1993 and over the past 31 years the brand has really mushroomed. Motorists knew when they bought a new Skoda that it was part of the Volkswagen group and would be a reliable car. The Czech company now has a range of cars that can compete with any of the other brands.
While many car companies are moving away from the traditional car body shape, Skoda is continuing with its spacious formula and the Superb is a good example of that tradition.
Last week I drove the fourth generation of the Superb, which was first introduced to Ireland in 2001. It was a 2.0-litre diesel and when I picked up the car the range shown with a full tank of diesel on board, was an impressive 1,410km; no worries about charging a battery last week. Whoever said that ‘diesel was dead,’ got it wrong.
If you give a car a name like ‘Superb’ then you have to ensure that it lives up to that moniker. And Skoda has ensured that their cars is ‘Superb by name and Superb by nature.’ The Superb name had been used previously by Skoda between 1934 and 1942.
A few years back Ray Leddy, Skoda’s Marketing Manager in Ireland said that their aim was to try and grab a bigger share of the fleet market. Not only is the revamped version up to ‘fleet’ requirements, it’s so smooth and comfortable you could also use it if you are in the limousine business.
You would probably need to be wearing your ‘Skoda anorak’ to spot the changes to the fourth generation of the car. It’s still very recognisable as a Superb with an understated elegance to it. All versions of the car now get a larger octagonal radiator grille and LED headlights and tail lights are standard. At the back, the name SKODA is spelt out across the boot lid. The design is a bit smoother and grander all round, with aerodynamic benefits.
There are three trim levels for Ireland: Selection, Selection+ and L&K. Both Selection and Selection+ models have18-inch alloys and come with rear privacy glass, chrome window surround and roof rails for the Combi, which is the station wagon version. The L&K model gets its own set of 19-inch wheels and the matrix LED headlights with new Crystallinium design element for a bit more class.
Inside the dash is well laid out and the controls are easy to use. As is common with most new cars a huge infotainment screen dominates the dash. There is plenty of space to store phones and other items. The gear lever has been moved to the right of the right of the steering wheel, which frees up more space between driver and front seat passenger.
There is ample room for five well-built adults. I don’t play golf, but I am told the boot in the Superb has ample room for any type of golf bag, officially the space is 645 litres and the really good news is that in that massive boot you also get a mini spare wheel, which is a rarity nowadays.
My test car came in a grey version, which didn’t do much for the look of the car externally. I remember driving a black version a few years back, which was much more impressive.
The Superb is also available as a 1.5-litre TSI mild hybrid and also as a plug-in hybrid with an estimated 124km range in full electric mode. A sports line version is due in Ireland early next year.
Prices start at €48,325, while for the 2.0-litre diesel version I drove starts at €51,325. It has a towing capability of up to two tonnes and is HVO compatible. Road tax is €210.
Yes, the Superb certainly lives up to its name.
