Test drive: Skoda Superb estate 1.6TDI CR 105 Elegance Greenline II 5-speed manual

We’ve only just climbed out of the Skoda Octavia Hatch SE 1.2 TSI 105PS – with a satisfied smile on the face – where the impressive petrol-turbo performer earned our highest TotallyMotor test drive review score to date,
of 92%.

Over 45mpg, comfy commuting, solid and safe engineering, and enough turbo-pep to raise a saucy grin; the £15k Octavia hatch did the keenly-priced-family-car business from every angle. And having just handed back the key to this Skoda Superb estate Greenline II; we’ve got to say that Skoda have gone and done it again.

Serious space, over 55mpg, wafting on-road performance, and a cosseting interior that wastes nothing on the frivolous but executes very well everything a driver and family needs. At £24,260, the Superb could well have entirely earned its rather boastful nametag. 



Test drive: Skoda Superb estate Greenline II

First impressions:
As our TotallyMotor test drive pics show, the Superb estate is one helluva a long, cool drink; especially seen here in its bright white overcoat. Of course, that length is all about the great-estate bodywork that’s built to swallow wardrobes, but thanks to a suspension lowering of 15mm – to reduce drag and help economy – the Superb estate actually looks pretty slippery ‘n’ slinky, in my opinion.

This range-topping Elegance trim – costing from £24,260 – benefits from some subtle dress-up chrome trim work – and those alloy-metallic full-length roof rails – as well as modern and rather mean-looking headlights (as is the fashion these days), and pleasantly dished and sculpted 16-inch, 7-spoke alloys wheels. 

It’s a quietly confident styling package that most friends and family – when questioned – agreed suited the brand’s intentions of solid-substance over look-at-me chic, while also exuding a air of graceful engineering - a look and feel that’s echoed by reassuring, deep “thunks” to door and boot closures. 

You’ll probably already know by now if Skoda styling is your bag or not, but for me having recent driven the Octavia , Fabia and Yeti; the long ‘n’ lean Superb estate was the most photogenic on location and classy-looking-on-the-drive of the Skoda test drive bunch.



Into the interior:
Let’s cut to the space-chase – the Superb estate is cavernous inside, and with various folding seat combinations, storage options dotted throughout and even a stretchy-fence-like shopping bags anti-slippage device; it can only be described as purely practical. And no matter how tall that bookcase looks when stood next to the Superb, give it a slide in back, as chances are it’ll disappear into the boot-space depths. 

Our most expensive Superb gets leather all around the more-than-fine-for-five interior space which, of course adds to the comfort of things. In-keeping with the Greenline II’s eco-focus these seats are more sofa than sporting; perfect for several comfortable hours behind the leather-trimmed steering wheel. Skoda have made good and sparing use of audio- and telephone-only controls on the steering wheel, and I found that my thumbs soon learnt how to use these controls without the slightest eyes-down assistance. 

The driver’s seat has plenty of adjustment in every direction; maximising the acres of space around it, and with the steering wheel enjoying enough slide and tilt, ergonomic relaxation is just a few electric slide and clicks away. And like the exterior, everything fits and touches where it should and even the stiffest of prods failed to reveal any weakness or sloppiness to switchgear, buttons and handles. 

Even with the driver’s seat adjusted to suit my near six and a half feet frame, a slide into the passenger seat behind revealed impressive leg, elbow and headroom for someone equally as tall. This is the car for you if you've sired yourself a half-basketball team! 



The drive:
So, we’ve got just over 100bhp to play with here; about all you can expect a 1.6-litre, frugal-focused diesel engine to muster, but thanks to modern turbocharging technology, it’s more about the mass-moving torque that gets the Superb smoothly from A to B, than a high-revving big horsepower blast. 

The engine’s power takes a little while to arrive from nowhere in the rev range and you’ll soon learn where and when the engine power sweet spot is to be found in each of the five forward gears. These gears are long – which makes for quiet, low-revs motorway cruising – but not too long as to overly restrict the engine. 

I didn’t try the Superb with a huge load – say three kids, a wife and plenty of luggage, but I did try it with a boot crammed full of furniture, and didn’t find any adverse effect on cruising performance. But, Greenline Skoda cars are all about mpg and not mph, and with the on-dash eco-display keeping my wallet happy to the tune of nearly 57mpg, the fun comes in eking out the miles. 

The Superb estate was very happy to waft along in any road conditions; be that a bumper-to-bumper commute – where the easy-action foot controls and well-weighted steering added zero extra chore to the tiresome traffic, or open road motorway cruising - where low wind and tyre noise added little more in the way of long distance driver wear and tear. The ride is also pliant and quiet to suit this gentle giant’s easygoing personality. But, if you must know, 62mph comes in 12.6secs and the top speed is 118mph.

All in all, this eco-tuned Skoda estate is a very pleasant place to be, and car to drive, and with headline eco-facts of (quoted) 64.2mpg, 114g/km of CO2 and minimal road tax, it’s less than fiery performance is entirely by the by. 



Ten second sum up:
Another confident car from Skoda that’s big on the practicalities like inner space for passengers and cargo; solidly built and engineered for a feeling of on-road security, but most impressively considering its £24k sticker price; understatedly stylish with a quietly confident flare. Add in some sensible 60mpg-driving and there’s a great deal to be happy about.



Prices and availability:
The Skoda Superb estate range starts at £18,780 OTR for the S trim 1.4 TSI 125PS 6-speed, rising to £30,775 for the Elegance trim 3.6 V6 260PS 6-speed DSG. Price as tested £24,260 for the Elegance trim 1.6 TDI CR 105PS Greenline II 5-speed. Available now. 

www.skoda.co.uk



Words & pics: Daniel Anslow

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