New Skoda Superb review, road test

The all-new third-gen Skoda Superb looks very promising. But is it as revolutionary as its predecessors?

Published on May 16, 2016 11:43:00 AM

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Were we to show you a photo each of the Superb and Octavia’s dashboards, there’s a high chance you wouldn’t be able to tell which belongs to which. Sure, the Superb’s dash is well laid-out, functional and user-friendly but it also seems designed to a template and this, to us, is a bit of a disappointment. With that out of the way, let’s get to what’s good about the cabin.

For one, quality is top-notch. There’s less chrome detailing than the last Superb and glossy black plastics have taken the place of the faux wood too. But in terms of look and feel, the Superb’s cabin is comparable to cars higher up the price ladder. Soft-touch plastics, felt- lined door pockets and robust-feeling switches, the Superb has it all. The L&K trim’s customisable ambient lighting only makes the cabin feel more special still.

It’s also a cabin you’ll be comfortable in for long. Incredibly, there’s even more space in the back than before so you can really stretch out. Should you need more kneeroom, the Superb gives you the option to slide the front passenger seat at the touch of a button from the rear. Skoda aptly calls this feature ‘Boss Button’.

The rear seat is sumptuous, well- cushioned and offers good all-round support. However, some might find the backrest a touch upright. The middle seat is also not very useable thanks to its hard cushioning and the high centre tunnel. Skoda should have also provided a dedicated air-con blower control at the rear as the AC takes time to cool that section of the cabin. In fact, in peak summer heat, we found the Superb’s AC struggling to lower cabin temperature quickly.

L&K trim cars get cooled front seats and the feature is a boon in hot and humid India. The powered front seats are broad, well- bolstered and offer a great range of adjustability. Finding a comfortable driving position is also easy but we wish the steering had electric adjust too.

Otherwise, the Superb comes rather well-loaded. Bi-xenon headlamps, a sunroof, leather seats, touchscreen infotainment system with voice commands, sunroof and roll-up sun visors for the rear windows and rear windscreen are all part of standard equipment. Top-spec L&K versions also get three-zone climate control and a sonorous 610W Canton system, with 12 speakers, that strikes all the right chords.

The Superb also scores for practicality with plenty of cubby holes and spaces for bottles, loose items and documents.