Skoda Superb review

Estate cars are ideal for weekend getaways with lots of luggage, but many associate them with less glamorous trips. More "Take that old washing machine to the tip" than "Let’s escape to Chamonix". That's where the Skoda Superb Hatchback comes in.

It’s offered as an alternative to the Skoda Superb Estate to suit those who simply don’t want an estate but are not ready to forgo their practicality entirely.

The hatchback Superb promises similarly vast interior space, and although its more streamlined shape means it’s not quite such a capable load-lugger, it has a very big boot by the standards of even the best executive cars. Plus, the hatchback is cheaper than the estate by a worthwhile margin.

The Superb is closely related to the VW Passat (which is only available as an estate car now), sharing a lot of tech beneath the surface, including petrol and diesel engines.

Mainstream rivals include pricier premium alternatives ranging from the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series to the Mercedes C-Class. Read on to find out how we rate the latest Skoda Superb…

There's a choice of four engines for the Skoda Superb Hatchback, and our pick of the range is the entry-level 148bhp 1.5 TSI e-Tec petrol, which has mild-hybrid technology to boost performance and efficiency. You have to push it fairly hard to get the best out of it, but with an official 0-62mph time of 9.2 seconds it doesn’t feel sluggish or strained.

It also sounds sweeter and smoother than the 148bhp 2.0 TDI diesel. That said, the diesel does give the Superb more low-down pulling power so it's a better choice if you'll be towing a caravan. Its muscular nature gives it an effortless feel that makes it well suited to long motorway journeys. 

For more power, there's the 261bhp 2.0 TSI petrol or the 190bhp 2.0 TDI. We’ve yet to try them but with standard four-wheel drive for extra grip and 0-62mph sprint times of 5.6 and 7.5 seconds respectively, we doubt either will feel like a slouch. Note that the two most powerful engines are only available with Laurin + Klement (L&K) trim.

All versions of the Superb come with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox (you can't have a manual gearbox). After a brief hesitation when pulling away, it changes through the gears smoothly as you accelerate. It does, though, take half a tick before it wakes up and drops a gear when you put your foot down for a burst of acceleration.

With the standard, passive suspension set-up, the Superb rides, well, superbly. All but the harshest impacts from potholes and drain covers are soaked up before passengers get the chance to feel them. That’s true even on the larger optional 19in alloy wheels, although there is a gentle fidget at higher motorway speeds. 

The soft ride comes at the cost of a bit of body lean when you drive the Superb hard on a country road. However, it’s far from wayward and you never get the feeling the car is unstable. Indeed, while you wouldn’t consider the Superb as fun as the BMW 3 Series, it’s still a satisfying car to thread between corners, with enough weight in the steering to provide confidence.

We’d like it to have more feel though – there’s precious little sensation of bite when you first turn in to a corner, and that prevents the Superb from being what you’d call fun to drive.

The optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) active suspension system improves things at both ends of the spectrum. In its softest setting, the Superb’s ride is even more plush than with the regular suspension, and in its firmest setting lean in corners is noticeably reduced.

DCC also allows you to switch to a Sports mode, which adds a little more weight to the steering. However, it doesn’t add any more feel or transform the Superb into an exciting car to drive. 

The Superb is generally a very quiet car to travel in. You’ll hear the odd whisper of wind noise from the top of the side windows, and the suspension can be heard hard at work over the white noise kicked up by the tyres. None of the noises are intrusive though. The diesel we've driven s a bit louder than the entry-level petrol, but only slightly.

"Given the Skoda Superb’s comfortable ride on standard suspension, I wouldn’t bother spending the extra on the optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC). It doesn’t improve comfort or sportiness enough to justify the extra cost." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

The Skoda Superb Hatchback gives you lots of steering-wheel and seat adjustment so it’s easy to find a good driving position.

Mid-range SE L models add 14-way electric adjustment for both front seats. Meanwhile, an extendable seat base, four-way adjustable lumbar support and standard-fit massage function should help you to maintain a comfortable posture on long journeys.

The Superb's large windows with fairly slim pillars allow decent all-round visibility. To further help with manoeuvring, every version comes with front and rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera. Bright LED headlights are standard, and SE L trim adds matrix LED headlights that shape their beam to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers.

The most prominent feature inside is the 13in infotainment touchscreen. It's positioned high on the dashboard so you don’t have to take your eyes far from the road to operate it.

What’s more, its icons are large and clear, and the ChatGPT-assisted voice control system (named Laura) doesn’t require you to remember specific commands. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone compatibility are standard.

Fittingly given Skoda’s reputation for common-sense design, there are simple rotary dials for the climate control temperature, and they double as the controls for the heated front seats (standard on all models). Fan speed is adjusted using a “smart dial”, which can be configured to control up to four functions, including map zoom and audio volume.

It’s disappointing that those dials are plastic with a touch of play when you operate them. While at first glance they look metal, they feel a little cheap in use.

That’s true of other parts of the Superb's interior too. The horizontal trim that splits up the dashboard has a lightweight, creaky feel that undermines the upmarket look. On the plus side, the materials used on the door panels and most of the dashboard feel pleasant to touch.

Every Superb has a 10.25in Virtual Cockpit digital driver’s display, which can be configured to prioritise various pre-set combinations of data. A colour head-up display is optional, and projects driving information including speed and sat-nav directions on to the windscreen.

"I think the buttons on the Skoda Superb's steering wheel are a great addition, making it easy to make changes on the move. They’re much better than the touch-sensitive ones you’ll find in some VW Group cars." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

You’ll struggle to find a more spacious executive car than the Skoda Superb Hatchback. In fact, even spending much more to secure an Audi A6, a BMW 5 Series or a Mercedes E-Class won’t buy you more passenger space.

However tall you are, you'll be able to stretch out in comfort in the back of the Superb. In fact, it’s in rear leg room that the model really excels, and rear head room is much more generous than it is in an Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series.

Only a fifth passenger gets anything approaching a raw deal, because the firmly padded middle rear seat is set slightly higher than the other two, reducing head room. There’s also a bit of a floor hump for them to straddle.

With no middle rear passenger on board, you can fold down an extendable armrest that incorporates two cupholders and a holder for a phone or tablet for entertainment on the go.

The Superb could be used as a limousine, then, and even the chauffeur won’t feel like a second class citizen. There's more than enough room in the front to avoid claustrophobia, and there’s a decent distance between driver and front passenger.

There’s oodles of interior storage too, including door pockets (front and rear) that can each hold a 1.5-litre bottle. There's also a cavernous front centre storage compartment, made possible by Skoda’s decision to move the gear selector from the centre console to the steering column.

Perhaps most remarkable, though, is the Superb’s huge boot. At 645 litres, it’s 20 litres bigger than that of the previous Superb Hatchback. The Audi A4 boot – with 460 litres – doesn’t even compare, and the bigger, posher Audi A6 isn’t in the same league either, with 530 litres.

Okay, the Superb can’t carry big, boxy items like the Skoda Superb Estate can, but that model has only an extra 45 litres below the parcel shelf. With the shelf removed and the rear seat backs folded down (they split 60/40), there's space for seriously long and bulky loads. Our 6ft 5in tester was able to lie down in the boot with length to spare.

The only limitation is that there’s a bit of a drop down to the boot floor from the loading lip, and the folded rear seat backs form a sizeable step up to the extended load platform – there’s no option for an adjustable boot floor as there is in the estate car version.

"It’s hard to overstate how useful the Skoda Superb Hatchback’s vast boot is. In fact, I think most buyers could probably do without the estate." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Value for money continues to be a key draw for the Skoda Superb Hatchback. It substantially undercuts its premium executive car rivals, such as the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series. Plus, the hatchback costs less than the Skoda Superb Estate without being a great deal less practical.

Running costs should be equally palatable. The 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel officially returns up to 57.9mpg – the previous Superb, in estate form, was the most economical load-lugger we’ve ever put through our Real MPG test and this version is likely to do even better thanks to its improved aerodynamics. 

Meanwhile, the 148bhp 1.5 TSI petrol isn’t far behind, with 54.1mpg officially possible. Given its lower purchase price and the higher cost per litre of diesel, only high-mileage drivers will save money by opting for the diesel.

We don't yet know whether there will be a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Superb Hatchback so for now company car drivers seeking lower benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax will be better off with the PHEV Skoda Superb Estate or, say, a BMW 330e. (An electric car will be even cheaper for BIK tax.)

The latest Superb is too new for us to have any reliability data, but its predecessor proved significantly more dependable in diesel form than as a petrol.

Skoda as a brand finished 13th out of 31 manufacturers in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey. That places it behind BMW but ahead of Mercedes, Volkswagen and Audi. Every Skoda has a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. That’s a match for Audi but BMW and Mercedes give you unlimited mileage.

Euro NCAP has given the latest Superb five stars out of five for safety, with an excellent 93% rating in the adult occupant protection category and 87% for child occupant protection.

In terms of safety equipment, the model has up to 10 airbags fitted (eight of them as standard), driver assistance tech designed to prevent you from pulling out or reversing into the path of oncoming traffic, exit warning to stop you stepping out of the car into the path of a vehicle and Swerve Support, which automatically increases the steering angle to avoid a collision.

All versions of the Superb are well-equipped. Entry-level SE Technology trim has enough gadgets to satisfy most tastes, including keyless start, heated and massaging front seats, and a wireless phone-charging dock with in-built cooling to prevent your smartphone from overheating. You also get adaptive cruise control to make long trips less demanding.

Stepping up to SE L trim adds ventilation and electric adjustment to the front seats, as well as ambient lighting and bigger, 18in wheels.

Range-topping Laurin + Klement (L&K) trim mostly brings a plusher, more eye-catching interior, but also adds heated rear seats and a 15-speaker Canton stereo.

"I'm really impressed by how much standard kit the Skoda Superb gets, even putting the BMW 3 Series to shame. I especially like that massage seats are standard on all trim levels." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

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