Skoda recently gave its Superb executive sedan a facelift and we pit it against its rival in the segment, the Toyota Camry, to see how much of a difference the makeover has made.
Performance and refinement
The Skoda Superb is powered by a 1.8-litre petrol motor, which makes 160bhp. The direct-injection motor is very refined and stays smooth all the way to its redline. Power delivery is crisp and there is loads of punch everytime you press the accelarator. Thanks to its eager engine, the Superb reaches the 100kph mark in 8.56 seconds, not bad for a car this size. Its seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is quick to shift and feels nice to use.
The Camry is powered by a 2.5-litre petrol motor that makes 178bhp. The motor is more vocal than the Superb’s but never feels strained. And, even though power delivery is gradual in comparison to the Superb, there is strong performance when you’re in the mood. In fact, it reaches the 100kph mark in 9.23 seconds. Its six-speed automatic gearbox works nicely, however, it doesn’t feel as quick as the Superb’s dual-clutch gearbox.
Ride and handling
This is where the Superb really stands out. The suspension is pliant and the Superb does an outstanding job in the ride and handling department. There is a mere hint of stiffness, which you can feel at lower speeds, however, it disappears as you go faster. The tyres provide good levels of grip around corners, giving you that extra bit of confidence. Overall, the Superb feels more sure-footed in comparison to the Camry and has a sportier edge to it.
The Toyota Camry does a fairly decent job in the ride and handling department too. The suspension works quietly and rolls over poor sections of the road quiet well. Unlike the Superb, the Camry has a very comfortable low-speed ride. Although it is pretty confident at high speeds, it just doesn’t feel as rock solid as the Superb. The Camry’s soft suspension setup also results in a fair bit of body-roll through corners.
