First drive: 2024 Skoda Superb prototype review

The SUV inclination is snowballing astatine rather a rate, but arsenic a ample family car, the Skoda Superb Estate is inactive 1 of the best. It mightiness deficiency the ocular beingness of its Kodiaq stablemate, but it’s enormous, comfortable, good riding and competitively priced, and it offers a wide scope of engines that are inexpensive to run. So its fourth-generation successor volition person large shoes to capable erstwhile it arrives successful 2024.

The caller Superb hatch and property stock overmuch of their architecture with the jointly developed Volkswagen Passat. The styling is inactive astute but updated (such arsenic with slimmer headlights and tail-lights) to bring it successful enactment with the caller Kodiaq, launching astatine a akin time. The caller Superb Estate is 40mm longer and 5mm taller than its predecessor, with the immense footwear expanding from 660 to 690 litres – much than successful the Peugeot 508 SW and rugged-looking Citroën C5 X.

Prices, trim levels and specs volition beryllium confirmed successful November 2023, but determination volition beryllium a modular Superb, a sportier-looking Sportline mentation and the luxury-focused Laurin & Klement trim. The somewhat raised and much rugged-looking Scout property volition not beryllium offered successful the UK.

At launch, determination volition beryllium 3 petrol engines, 2 diesels and a plug-in hybrid, each fitted with an automatic gearbox arsenic standard. The entry-level 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol is the lone 1 with mild-hybrid tech. It’s creaseless and quiescent and has capable powerfulness if you don’t thin to transportation a car afloat of occupants. For much grunt, there’s a 2.0-litre petrol with 201bhp oregon four-wheel thrust and 261bhp. The astir almighty 190bhp diesel besides drives each 4 wheels, portion the 148bhp diesel feels much lively than the 1.5-litre petrol, with plentifulness of torque that surges you guardant effortlessly.

The plug-in hybrid makes a large leap successful artillery size and scope implicit the outgoing Superb. As before, a petrol motor combines with an electrical motor, but a 25.7kWh artillery (the outgoing iV’s is 12.7kWh) is bully for a 62-mile EV range. There’s the quality to complaint astatine 50kW, portion the slower, 11kW output volition complaint from 0-100% successful 2 and a fractional hours.

The latest mentation of adaptive suspension (now called Dynamic Chassis Control Pro) is disposable and stiffens oregon softens the thrust depending connected the selected thrust mode. On the prototypes we drove, we sampled lone the Normal setting, which does a bully occupation of ironing retired bumps. The suspension remains settled, portion assemblage power implicit undulating roads is good contained. Earlier models of the outgoing Superb struggled to woody with this, resulting successful a changeless (if slight) ‘floating’ sensation. Overall, this enactment makes the Superb a calming long-distance cruiser.

Other than a flimsy grumble from the diesel centrifugal connected start-up, small motor sound filters done to occupants. There’s a insignificant level of vibration done the floor, but roadworthy and upwind sound are good contained.

The Superb’s interior promises to beryllium the astir comfy mentation yet, with adjacent much abstraction and a massaging relation successful the front. Rear passengers get a fold-down centre armrest that tin present widen and descent forwards – useful erstwhile utilizing the integrated tablet holder.

The cogwheel selector is mounted connected the steering column, which frees up other retention abstraction successful the centre console. A 12.9in infotainment touchscreen volition diagnostic with user-friendly carnal rotary controls.

In short, Skoda hasn’t jeopardised what made the Superb specified a beardown household car. If the Kodiaq is excessively bulky for you, oregon you don’t request 7 seats, this car has a batch going for it.

Price Circa £35,000 (est) Engine 4 cyls successful line, 1498cc, turbocharged, petrol, positive 48V ISG Power 148bhp Torque 184lb ft (est) Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic, FWD Kerb weight 1500kg (est) 0-62mph 9.2sec (est) Top speed 133mph (est) Economy 45mpg (est) CO2 145g/km, 34% (est) Rivals Peugeot 508, Volkswagen Passat Estate