Skoda Superb Estate Review (2023)

Introduction

Skoda's ascendency over the past 25 years has been remarkable.

The Czech brand has transformed from a laughing stock to a genuine contender who can even hold a candle to the premium brands nowadays.

While 'badge snobbery' from fans of the German giants means some will need a lot of convincing to drive a Skoda, the Superb has been living up to its name for many years now – and it's been getting even better.

There’s a saloon version, of course, but the estate is arguably the pick of the range thanks to an excellent reputation for practicality – and this one is no different.

While the Octavia Estate is officially the flagship of Skoda’s cars, the Superb is hot on its heels and comes with various options in terms of trim levels and engines.

This latest car is a third-generation facelifted version, and it's without doubt the best one yet, though a replacement model is imminent.

Nevertheless, if you want a practical, economical executive estate car, you’re missing out on a surprising amount if you’re looking for one without giving the Superb some serious thought.

At a Glance

The first thing you’ll notice about the Superb Estate is that it’s long. Very long.

4.862-metres to be precise – and if you want some context around that, a Land Rover Discovery is only 9cm longer.

While the Superb isn’t the best looking in its class, it still appears mean and imposing, especially in the sportier trims, which feature a carved front end with an open-mouthed cut-out which spans the width of the car.

The space created by it is filled with a thin piece of silver trim, with LED lights on each side.

The headlights are thinner than they used to be, too, and sit next to the prominent grille, which arguably needs an update nowadays, but it's not an ugly look.

Around the side, a sharp indentation at the bottom of the doors gives it an athletic definition. At the same time, there's another groove just above the door handles, marked out by a substantial crease in the bodywork.

The rear divides the boot lid into three sections, each more indented than the last, while the word 'SKODA' is spelt in spaced-out capital letters above the number plate.

The taillights wrap around from the sides, tapering inwards to a point, while the look is completed with a modest roof spoiler and two chrome-wrapped tailpipes, one at each side.

It looks alluring, especially with larger alloys, and although the overall design needs the forthcoming refresh, it's still pleasing to the eye.

Key Features

As we said earlier, there's plenty of choice regarding trims and engines.

Entry-level SE gets 17-inch alloy wheels, a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding door mirrors, cruise control and body-coloured bumpers, plus leather gear lever and steering wheel.

SE Technology adds leather upholstery and heated front seats, Amundsen SatNav with an eight-inch touchscreen, privacy glass, driving modes and adaptive cruise control.

SE L is next up, with 18-inch alloys, full matrix LED headlights, dynamic indicators, keyless entry and start/stop, plus an electrically operated boot.

SportLine Plus gets 19-inch rims, exterior gloss black styling (which replaces much of the exterior chrome), carbon optic interior elements and a Columbus SatNav system with 3D maps housed in a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen.

The top-of-the-range version is known as L&K (short for Laurin and Klement) – named after a Czech bicycle company of the same name, which effectively started what later became Skoda.

While its alloys are downsized to 18-inches, you also get a Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display, dynamic chassis control and a rear-view camera.

In terms of engines, there are five to choose from, with the petrol badged as TSi and the diesel going by the TDi moniker.

SE and SE Technology get a choice of a 1.5-litre petrol or a 2.0-litre diesel, both of which produce 150PS.

SE L gets the same but has a 2.0-litre petrol making 190PS, or another 2.0-litre diesel uprated to 200PS.

SportLine Plus gets all of the above in addition to a 2.0-litre petrol producing 280PS with four-wheel drive.

Top-of-the-range L&K gets you a choice of the 190PS petrol and 200PS diesel, along with the four-wheel drive 280PS petrol.

No shortage of options, then.

All the Superb Estates come with a DSG dual-clutch automatic gearbox – a manual used to be available but has been discontinued.

Performance & Drive

The car we’re testing is the 2.0-litre petrol with 190PS in SE L trim.

That said, there's nothing wrong with the 150PS entry-level petrol, which gets from 0-62mph in a capable-if-not-especially-quick 9.3 seconds and feels more powerful than it is.

However, it needs to be worked pretty hard to get decent performance out of it, and, for that reason, we prefer the 190PS that we're testing out, as it achieves the same – and more – with comparatively less effort.

The 2.0-litre petrol we're testing gets from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds, reaching 144mph.

For us, it’s the pick of the range as, although there are more powerful and economical variants available, it’s the best combination of performance and price.

Mind you, all the engines have their plus points, with the diesels offering superior fuel economy. They will be the best bet for people who want to tow trailers or small caravans or drive long distances regularly.

There's nothing wrong with the lower-powered diesel, and if your heart is set on a diesel, we'd recommend that over the higher-powered one unless you especially need the extra grunt.

While the 280PS petrol is a lot of fun, it's overkill for a car like this. And, if you’re in the leasing market for something thrilling, then you’d be better off spending a little extra and having a BMW 330e M Sport Touring.

In terms of ride comfort, it's very impressive, competing well with the best in class, especially on the smaller alloys, with larger 18-inch and 19-inch wheels making the ride a touch firmer.

It's worthy of note that the Sportline Plus trim has sports suspension. So, some ride comfort is sacrificed in the name of better stability around corners, while Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) comes as standard on the top-of-the-range L&K trim.

While these make a difference, all Superb Estate models are comfortable, and the car is built for softness rather than tearing around bends.

There is a bit of body roll around corners when they’re taken at speed. And, with or without the DCC, it won't hold a candle to the likes of a BMW M Sport Touring.

The steering wheel weights up nicely in the bends, but it lacks the feel that you need to have the confidence to throw it around a twisty backroad.

None of the Superb models, even the Sportline Plus with DCC and four-wheel drive, really transform the handling in a way that justifies the additional expense.

Overall, the Superb Estate does well, offering an absorbing ride with a few hints of playfulness, but handling enthusiasts are best off looking elsewhere.

Running Costs & Emissions

The 190PS 2.0-litre TSi petrol that we’ve been focusing on produces 39.0 to 40.9mpg depending on trim, emitting 157 to 164g/km of CO2.

That compares to around 41.1 to 44.0mpg (146 to 156g/km CO2) for the lower-powered 150PS 1.5-litre petrol.

As for the 2.0-litre diesels, the 150PS version manages 52.9 to 56.0mpg (132 to 140g/km CO2), compared with around 49.7 to 51.6mpg (143 to 149g/km CO2) for the 200PS variant.

That said, the latter’s figures drop to approximately 47.3mpg (156g/km CO2) if you choose it with four-wheel drive, which is available exclusively in SE L trim.

The top-of-the-range 2.0-litre petrol, which produces 280PS, returns in the region of 33.2 to 34.1mpg, emitting 188 to 193g/km of CO2.

All of the above is pretty impressive.

Company car users may disagree, though, as the lack of any hybrid options means the Superb Estate isn't as superb when it comes to Benefit In Kind tax.

Really, you need at least a plug-in hybrid, if not an all-electric car, to get the best savings from the Chancellor.

Skoda tends to be a reasonably reliable brand nowadays. But it still lags behind many of the Far East brands and, as a result, only comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.

Some counterparts offer higher or even unlimited mileage, though the warranty is extendable. But that isn’t something to worry about, seeing as you’ll be leasing this Skoda Superb.

Interior & Technology

The Superb’s interior looks reasonably upmarket, although it lacks the outright luxury of Audi and BMW, plus the ostentatiousness of modern-day Mercedes-Benzs.

However, it feels solidly well-built, with high-quality materials, which add to the car's credibility.

There are many soft-to-the-touch materials; even the dials and switches feel nice to press, while harder, cheaper materials are hidden away from view.

The seats look reassuringly cosseting to sit in, too, offering a decent amount of side support to hold you in the bends.

We would have liked a bit more silver in the cabin to break up the monotonous darkened colour scheme. But modest amounts of chrome surround the air vents and airbag cover on the steering wheel.

There is some piano black styling, too, including the classy-looking infotainment system. This system is positioned in the middle of the dashboard with a sophisticated surround which includes dials and touch-sensitive buttons.

The touchscreen in our test car is responsive, with a crisply clear display and an intuitive menu layout, with some options selectable from the steering wheel.

The Virtual Cockpit on the top-spec L&K model is notable, too, although disappointingly, it's not an optional extra on other trims in the range.

You can choose to display the SatNav map across the entire screen instead of the digital dials if you wish.

Overall, the interior is excellent and well thought out, though not entirely on the same level as its premium competitors.

Space & Practicality

Finding a comfy driving position is relatively easy in the Skoda Superb Estate, with all models getting height adjustment in the driver's seat, plus adjustable lumbar support.

Our SE L test car has a memory function, meaning we can adjust our seat position electronically and then save it. It is helpful if multiple people drive the car – and the trim below, SE Technology, also gets the same as standard.

The seats are very comfortable, too, hugging you from all sides.

Visibility out of the front is excellent, as well, as Skoda has worked to keep the front windscreen pillars as slim as possible.

The pillars are thicker at the back, as they are in nearly all cars. But they're not huge, and the parking sensors help mitigate any problems, though a rear-view camera is an optional extra unless you're driving the top-of-the-range version.

In the front, there's a lot of space, so even larger, taller drivers won't feel hemmed in. Meanwhile, the rear is exceptionally roomy, meaning you'll need help finding a non-SUV that can better accommodate three adults in the back.

The boot space is 660 litres, expanding to a whopping 1,950 litres with the rear seats down, which fold away in a 60:40 split.

That’s not as convenient as the more versatile 40:20:40 split found in several of its premium rivals, but it’s not a deal breaker.

The boot floor has a bit of a lip, and, unfortunately, an adjustable boot floor is an optional extra, as is a lever that you can pull. This handle makes all the rear seats drop down, though individual levers are included as standard.

There's plenty of storage space inside the Superb Estate, too, including cupholders, large cubbies, decent-sized door bins and a large glove compartment (which is air-conditioned).

Skoda has its 'Simply Clever' banner, which means it includes features it's renowned for, including an ice scraper inside the fuel filler flap, and an umbrella slot in the doors.

Safety

Euro NCAP last tested the Skoda Superb Estate in 2015, when it earned a five-star rating.

However, this rating has expired, and the testing criteria have become more stringent since then.

Back then, it scored 86% for adult occupants, 86% for children and 76% for safety assists.

Those assists include seven airbags, automatic emergency braking, a post-collision braking system, stability control and driver attention monitoring.

Various safety technology is available as an optional extra, including adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera at entry-level, as SE trim doesn’t get those as standard.

Our SE L test car doesn't get anything added, but choosing this trim does unlock an optional extra pack, which includes lane assist and blind spot detection.

Additional airbags can also be bought as options.

Options

There are plenty of possible extras you can add in addition to the safety features we mentioned above.

A winter pack is offered, which adds heated seats to models that don’t include it as standard, along with a spare wheel.

Park assist, privacy glass, SatNav upgrades, a wireless charger and a panoramic sunroof are among the other add-ons that can be purchased.

There are many other accessories, too - such as boot nets, partition nets, additional Isofix anchor points, tow bars, sunblinds, floor mats and the variable boot floor we mentioned earlier.

Rival Cars

The Skoda Superb faces very tough competition from the likes of the comfortable, classy Volkswagen Passat Estate (below).

The Audi A4 Avant is the class leader regarding ride comfort, while the BMW 3 Series Touring is the one to go for if handling is a priority.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate sits neatly in between and is worth considering, too, especially given Mercedes has gorgeous-looking interiors nowadays.

Arguably, the Skoda Superb is the next size up, so you could look at the A6 Avant, 5 Series Touring and the Mercedes E-Class Estate, too, albeit for more money.

Volvo’s V60 is also worthy of a place on your car leasing shortlist.

Verdict & Next Steps

We said earlier that the Skoda Superb Estate lives up to its name, and it's never been more accurate.

It is enormous – so it's hugely practical – has a nice interior, comes very well-equipped as standard, even at entry-level, and it's got decent engines which are reasonably economical.

It could be better for driving enthusiasts, but if that doesn't matter, there's little reason not to consider it.

If your budget stretches to it, we'd recommend the SE L trim that we tested, given it adds quite a lot of extra kit, while we'd also go for our test car's engine, the 190PS petrol.

If your budget doesn't stretch, however, the entry-level trim and engine are still more than adequate – and the diesels are impressive, too.

One thing worth noting is that the brand-new fourth-generation Superb is just around the corner.

If money isn't an issue, you may want to wait for the expected improvements that the new one brings.

But, if the current version will do, then you could find yourself getting a good leasing deal as Skoda looks to get rid of its existing stock before its replacement arrives.

Where to next?

View latest Skoda Superb lease deals - from just £342 per month ex VAT**.

Call us on 0118 3048 688 or hit the green 'Enquire' button for more details.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the Skoda Superb Estate.

**Correct as of 08/04/2024. For Skoda Superb hatchback. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 24 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £3,081.87 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.