2009 Skoda Superb V6 FSI, 1.8 TSI And 2.0 TDI First Drive Review

"SUPERB..." now there’s a name inviting a smart come-back. It’s a bit like walking around with an “I’m terrific” badge on. Do it, and sooner or later you’ll come in for a bit of a punching.

Bringing things (and people) ‘down to size’ is something of an Aussie pastime. Kind of embedded into the national character.

So, on the face of it, Skoda is being a little brave in launching its new large car under the “Superb” moniker. If it is… superb, that is… it’s ok. But if it isn’t, there are too many ready-made glib car review headlines just waiting for an airing.

Skoda Australia is more than aware of this. As Karl Gehling, Skoda Australia’s General Manager Press and PR said, “The name leads with its chin.”

(The name, incidentally, has a history with Skoda that goes all the way back to its 1934-1949 ‘straight-eight’ engined Superb.)

Fortunately for Skoda, the 2009 Superb is a worthy contender – large, well kitted, beautifully finished, sharply priced and with enough clever ideas to set it apart in the larger passenger car segment.

If it gets half a chance, it could grab a decent slice of the limousine market previously held pretty tightly by the discontinued Fairlane and Holden’s Statesman. It certainly has the rear-legroom, the sumptuous appointments and the drive-trains to compete.

It has a ripper diesel, familiar to us for its service under a VW badge, the equally familiar narrow-block V6 (with Haldex-clutch all-wheel-drive) and an efficient 1.8 litre petrol turbo.

Speaking at the Australian launch, Skoda Australia head Matthew Wiesner said, “It’s a hell of a package. We’ve pretty much been the Octavia car company (in Australia) up until now; with the Superb we can broaden ourselves across other market segments.”

So, after a day in the saddle, how good is that package? Will it cut the mustard in a tough segment against some well-established badges?

Its pricing certainly strengthens the case. Starting at $42,990 for the TSI, $45,990 for the TDI and $56,990 for the V6 FSI 4WD, the Superb offers a lot of car for – comparatively - not a lot of dollars.

It comes in two levels of trim and appointments: the Ambition, and the heavily-specced Elegance (for $3000 more for TSI and TDI models).

Styling

With upright and slightly awkward lines, the Superb could never be described as exciting. But it has a stately air, and is not without appeal.

The strong grille, heavily creased bonnet and nicely-styled headlights and lower fog-lamps, work for the front. And the stretched profile also works ok, especially when sitting on the 18-inch rims.

In this view, side-on, it is all limousine: surprisingly big (although the wheelbase is relatively compact), with long rear doors, extended roof-line and deep boot overhang.

The lines however do not work so well around the boot and rear tail-lights.

While the boot is cavernous offering 565 litres of luggage space with rear seats in place (bigger even than the Statesman), and the TwinDoor rear hatch which gives the Superb both sedan and liftback versatility is brilliant industrial design, it’s a pity things are a little drab aesthetically around those rear quarters.

But few buyers in this segment will worry much about that. This is a segment that thrives on practicality.

These buyers need a big boot, ample shoulder-room and an acre of leg-room in the back seat – they also want first-class accommodation and a refined ride. The Superb has all of that covered.

More than that, it is generously appointed, whether as the ‘entry’ Ambition, or the ‘fully loaded’ Elegance.

The Interior

Open the door, and the Superb is a real surprise. The dash – soft feel and with a BMW-esque edge sweeping up over the instrument binnacle – is smart and very functional.

The trim, polished wood highlights and high-quality leather (in FSI and ‘Elegance’ models), set off a premium interior.

Things fall nicely to hand, it’s easy to get settled and comfortable (thanks to electric seats), it feels good at the wheel and the large screen in the elegantly-designed centre console provides touch-screen functionality for simplicity of use.

It’s clear, sensible, and even techno-dunces (like me) can work their way around it easily.

The seats front and back are nicely padded, well-bolstered and beautifully trimmed. And there is an astonishing amount of legroom in the back. Without having run a tape-measure over it, at a guess it’s a match for the Fairlane here.

This will be a real ace in the Superb’s deck when limo-drivers get a look at it.

Attention to premium detail extends to monogrammed carpets and, in the FSI V6, the inscribed 4X4 in the polished metal head of the DSG shift.

There are other natty features like coat-hooks on the B-pillars (and also on the above-door grab-handles), a switch to disable the movement sensors (so you can lock the car with a pet inside), and an umbrella holder in each of the rear doors… perfect for the umbrella supplied, but also (to these eyes) the right size for a bottle of premium vodka. (The choice, then, becomes yours…)

So, for even fussy eyes, there is little to fault in the Superb’s interior.