In recent months we have seen several new electric cars enter the Irish market and it’s significant that many of the newcomers are Chinese-made fully electric cars which are 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.
At the end of May, Kia were sitting in 4th place in the chart of new car sales for the first five months of the year, behind Toyota, VW and Hyundai. Skoda are part of the VW stable, but for sales figures they stand on their own feet.
The popular Octavia was the first modern car that Skoda introduced to Ireland in 1993 and over the past 32 years the brand has really mushroomed. Motorists knew that 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 Combi, which was first introduced to Ireland in 2001. It was a 1.5-litre plug-in hybrid. When I drove the diesel version last year the range with a full tank was over 1,400km, but last week the range in the plug-in hybrid was only 610km.
However, the idea behind a plug-in hybrid is to familiarise drivers who are worried about the huge leap to fully electric. Basically, you can charge at home overnight and a full charge should get you approximately 120km in full electric mode, which could mean almost a week driving in electric mode in an urban setting. Alternatively, if you want to make a long journey, simply fill up with petrol.
However, plug-in hybrids are not doing that well when it comes to analysing engine type sales, with petrol still at number one, followed by: hybrid, diesel, electric and lastly plug-in hybrids at 14.6%.
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.
All versions of the car now get a larger octagonal radiator grille and LED headlights and taillights 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, which I drove, gets its own set of 19-inch wheels and matrix LED headlights. L&K is a nod to Skoda founders, Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, who started off in 1895 in the Kingdom of Bohemia making motor bikes and bicycles. In 1905 they switched to motor cars and quickly became the largest car manufacturer in Austria-Hungary. Twenty years later they re-branded as Skoda Auto.
Today, the Laurin & Klement name is used by Skoda Auto to distinguish luxurious editions of some of their car models like: Octavia, Superb and Kodiaq.
Externally it looks like a regular estate of sports wagon, but when you open the doors, you will be dazzled with the classy colours on the seats and on the inside of the doors. To my eye it looked brown, but officially I’m told the interior colour is Cognac.
There is plenty of 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.
Prices start at €50,865, while the classy L&K plug-in hybrid version with lots of extras, that I drove will cost you €60,335. My test car came in Henry Ford’s favourite colour, black. I would call it a black beauty. Yes, the Superb Combi certainly lives up to its name and the L&K version takes the Superb to another level.
