Road test: Škoda Superb SE L Estate 2.0 TDI DSG 4×4
Practice makes perfect for the new Superb, finds Jonathan Musk.
Sector Upper-medium Price £38,925 Fuel 39.8-43.5mpg (WLTP) CO2 132g/km (NEDC Correlated)
The Superb has justifiably become a fleet favourite over the years, with its combination of bang for buck practicality, space and refinement.
With this latest version, Škoda expects around 83% of sales to go to fleets, with 66% choosing diesel, as well as a slight majority opting for the estate model over the saloon.
Initially, it appears only marginal gains have been made over its predecessor, but dig a little deeper and there’s plenty to crow about. Perhaps most notably, the Superb will serve as Škoda’s first iV-branded plug-in hybrid model, which is due to arrive in January 2020 and priced from £31,970.
As well as a few minor external updates, such as LED lights as standard, there’s a raft of new safety technology including road sign-responsive predictive cruise control, and also the introduction of the new 150hp 2.0 TDI EVO with fuel-saving cylinder deactivation.
Our SE L Estate 190hp diesel DSG 4×4 is priced at £38,925, though the base model Superb starts from a reasonably affordable £23,905 with a petrol 1.5-litre.
The most popular fleet choices are expected to be SE L or SE Tech, which both offer leather, Amundsen infotainment with touchscreen and integrated WiFi and a drive mode selection. SE L adds 18-inch alloys, matrix LED headlights and an electronically operated boot amongst a few other niceties. And as standard, all Superbs come with acres of boot space and rear legroom is outstanding.
Where this car really lives up to its name is on long motorway hauls where its smooth engine, long wheelbase and cossetting suspension make light and economical work of long journeys.
With its combination of generous equipment and frugal engines, as well as its sharp looks, there’s lots to praise about the new Superb. If you need a load-lugger you need look no further.
Fleet World rating: 4/5