The Skoda Superb comes with a choice of a petrol and diesel engine in India. The car we drove features the 1.8 litre TSI petrol motor that also does duty in the Octavia and the Audi A3. This engine is good for 180 horsepower and has 320 Nm when mated to the six speed manual gearbox and 250 Nm of torque with the 7 speed DSG automatic gearbox which is what we had on our test car. The 1.8 is a true petrol head’s delight. We loved it in the Octavia and we love it in the Superb too. The motor is very enthusiastic right from the word go. It is very free revving and has loads of power in the mid-range. There is no slight hint of turbo lag and once you are in the higher revs, it plasters a smile on your face. Gearshifts are super smooth and for having some manual fun, there are the paddle shifters that we mentioned before. In Sport mode, the tranny holds the revs longer in each gear. The Superb is also easy to drive around city traffic. With a light foot, the gears change quickly and before you know it, you are already chugging along nicely in 7th gear. The L&K also gets four driving modes that make changes to the engine, gearbox and steering. You can choose from Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual.
Ride quality is simply Superb (pun intended). The suspension has been tuned for our road conditions and the car simply gobbles up the undulations and potholes that are thrown at it. The higher profile tyres also help matters. Though the car is enthusiastic around corners, there is noticeable body roll due to the suspension set up. That said, the Superb is fun to throw around on twisty roads despite its size. It won’t complain at all. Just like any German car, it will happy eat up the kilometres all day long at triple digit speeds on the highway without blinking a headlamp.
The new Skoda Superb has received a 5 star rating in the NCAP rating so rest assured the car is loaded with safety tech. It features eight airbags (standard across all variants), ABS, Electronic Stability Control with Multi Collision Brake, Driver Fatigue Detection, Adaptive Frontlight System, Hill Hold Control, ASR, and more.
The new Skoda Superb builds on the image of its predecessor. It is a fantastic combination of luxury, comfort and performance. It also comes loaded with features and safety kit. You would be very happy in the back seat of the Superb and the same time excited to be at the wheel. This shows the dual personality of the car. Yes it does remind you of the Octavia, especially the dashboard that could have been a little different, but that isn’t a deal breaker. This whole package comes at a very competitive price and that itself is why buyers love the Superb so much. So, if everything above ticks your ‘What I want in my car’ boxes, look no further than the Skoda Superb.
2016 Skoda Superb photo gallery:
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