Skoda Combi review (22/08/2012)
It has been around since 2001 in various guises, but the current, second generation version has certainly been feted here since we first saw it in 2008, and that has also been the case with the estate ‘Combi’ version first seen at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Although essentially a ‘stretched’ VW Passat — at 2,761 mm, it is 52 mm longer than its Wolfsburg relative — Skoda has upped the ante in many ways for the Superb, not least with top drawer specifications and interiors which have ditched Skoda’s previously economic use of high grade materials and which give a hint of exclusivity which might shock even those familiar with the brand.
The nuts and bolts of this week’s tester are thus: it is the Combi Greenline version in Elegance trim and it is fitted with the 1.6 TDI, 77 kW (105 bhp) engine. Now it might seem that this engine might easily look weedy in the performance stakes, but it nevertheless provides a 12.6 second 0-100 kph time, a top speed of 190 kph and will still achieve a 4.4 l/100 km rate of consumption over the combined cycle. That’s a fairly impressive 63 mpg.
On the road the engine is not quite ‘brisk,’ but it is nevertheless very easy to live with. It pulls strongly through the rev range and once you keep it spinning in its sweet spot it will deliver reasonable punch.
It is its economic mien, however, that will find favour with many punters. The fact it provides such decent fuel economy, allied to the fact it only costs 160 a year to tax, will appeal to a lot of you out there.
In terms of handling, the Superb might not be razor sharp, but then that’s to miss the point a little. This is a car which is designed to provide a reasonably nimble but supple ride and that is exactly what it does. It handles bad roads with élan, has excellent grip and cossets driver and passengers unbelievably well.
And then, when you look down the very long list to standard kit on the car, it will, I have no doubt, seem like an altogether more appealing prospect than many of its rivals. The full leather interior, the excellent sat. nav. system, the park assist system (for parallel parking only), the automatic bi-xenon lights (with integrated telescopic headlamp washers), climatronic air con., rain sensing wipers, eight speaker sound system, cruise control, remote stereo controls and electrically dimming rear view mirror are, believe it or not, standard.
Throw in the ‘roominess’ factor which has already become legendary among Superb owners and aspirants and you have a package which is hard for any of its rivals to match.
I mean, when you have more rear legroom than an S-Class Merc, a rear cargo area into which one could easily fit a small caravan, it has to be said there are not many cars could match the Skoda.
In fact, what rivals does it have? Well, nominally the Superb is supposed to compete with such as Mondeo, Passat, i40, Optima and Insignia. In reality, however, it outdoes each and every one of these in core areas of practicality and comfort. Who else gives you a standard umbrella which is stored in the rear passenger door pocket and which has its own draining function? Only Rolls Royce, that’s who.
Just by-the-by, Skoda has announced a limited edition Superb. Skoda founders Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement established their factory close to Prague in 1895 and expanded rapidly becoming the largest manufacturer in the then Austro-Hungarian Empire by 1912.
The company is now honouring its founders by launching a special edition Superb L&K (Laurin & Klement). Powered by a 2.0TDI, 170 bhp Diesel engine, the limited edition Superb L&K is positioned above the Superb Elegance and shares the same standard equipment plus a host of
extras.
The Superb L&K has L&K design 18” Sirius alloy wheels and Laurin & Klement plaquette on the front fenders. The limited edition model also features equipment, such as SunSet extra tint glass and rear LED lights. The interior is dressed with elegant brown shade leather embossed with the founders L&K logo.
But coming back to the Superb Combi (which also now has an L&K derivative) and you’d have to say that the Superb will probably not convince those already driving premium brands to switch allegiances — Mercedes, Audi, Lexus and BMW owners will almost certainly not fancy a Skoda emblem on the front of their car.
However, for those to whom badge snobbery is an alien concept, and who want a car which is well built, economic to a fault, priced fantastically well and mind-bogglingly practical, this will definitely fit the bill.
But then, I’m sick of telling you all that, and if you don’t listen now, you probably never will.
