Skoda’s Superb at 25: What has changed over the years?
The Superb remains one of Skoda’s best-known models, but how has it evolved over nearly three decades? Pictures: PA
If there’s a car which has been instrumental in Skoda’s modern-day success, it’s the Superb. First introduced in 2001, the Superb was the car to show that this Czech brand could do upmarket luxury, and has gone on to become a byword for space and refinement.
In 2026, the Superb turns 2026 and we got the chance to drive through memory lane as we tried out each generation of Skoda’s familiar model.
We start just after the turn of the millennium, with the original Skoda Superb. As mentioned, this model was introduced in 2001, and it arrived with a real focus on comfort and spaciousness.
Based on a stretched version of the then-new Volkswagen Passat, it offered nearly limousine-like levels of rear-seat legroom, and was accompanied by a wider range of suitably smooth engines, including a 2.5-litre V6.
Today, the first-generation Superb feels wonderfully analogue. While the experience from behind the wheel is great, the best seat in the house has to be in the back of the car. It’s here where you can really stretch out and appreciate the refinement that this Superb has to offer.
It genuinely feels like a step above what you might expect a brand like Skoda could offer and is a great example of this brand punching above its weight at the time.
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You could argue that Skoda had an uphill struggle to introduce a second-generation Superb. The first car had been a huge success after all, so replacing it with something even better was tricky. But Skoda gave it a go in 2008, adding more space and a clever twin-opening boot which blended together elements of saloon and hatchback.
This second-generation car feels reassuringly familiar to drive. There’s a good chance that you’ve experienced one of these through its popular use as a taxi cab, but there’s little wonder why cabbies have loved this car.
It’s smooth, easy to drive and dials out nearly all of the road imperfections ahead of you. It’s even slicker than its smooth-riding predecessor, in fact, and manages to be just as practical.
The fit-and-finish is great, too, and even all these years later the 2008-year Superb that we’re behind the wheel of feels tight as a drum.
It’s in the Skoda Superb’s third generation which things really started to change. Introduced in 2015, this generation marked the Superb’s move upmarket and was one of the key drivers in this car’s popularity.
It was also the car which put itself on the map for its sheer space; available in both hatchback and estate layouts, this third-generation car trumped nearly all others in terms of boot space and rear-seat legroom.
To drive, this Superb feels incredibly familiar. As I’ve been testing cars for more than 10 years, the Superb has been a big part of my career and I’ve spent countless hours behind this car’s familiar wheel. It still feels beautifully well made, too, and still like a car that is competitive even today.
It also represents a big step forward in terms of driving dynamics; Skoda worked hard to make this generation of Superb better to drive and that’s evident in the way it goes around corners. It’s particularly noticeable when you compare it to the older generations of Superb, too.
And that brings us to the latest generation of Superb, and the one that you’ll find in dealerships right now. This version was launched in 2023 and did so with the same spacious credentials as the car which came before it, but a renewed focus on technology.
However, one of Skoda’s stand-out touches for the Superb was the ‘Smart Dials’; they’re clever digital dials which can be customised to control different elements such as fan speed or volume.
While a lot of manufacturers have gone screen-only in their cars, Skoda’s Smart Dials do help to give you better control, particularly when you’re driving.
Our car is also decked out in full Tour de France livery, reflecting its use as a support car for many teams in the famous cycling race.
The current generation of Superb will likely stay on sale for a number of years to come, though the brand’s Vision O concept – revealed at last year’s Munich Motor Show – has already hinted at the electric future that the Superb could be set to take on.
