What they said when the Skoda Superb was new… (Aug 19 2002)
NOTHING like leaving yourself open to criticism.
With a past as chequered as Skoda's it takes some bottle to christen your top model the Superb.
But then the Czech manufacturer can quite reasonably point to the history books which reveal that back in the 1930s, when Skoda was its country's leading company, the Superb was a car of some distinction.
Large, luxurious limousines and cabriolets were produced under the name Superb from 1934 to 1949 and were owned by wealthy entrepreneurs and royalty. The first ones, called Superb 640, had six cylinder engines with a displacement of 2.5 litres, producing 55bhp.
Fast forward to 2002 and the name is back, taking its place at the top of the Skoda tree ahead of budget priced family car the Octavia and Fabia supermini.
Built in the Czech Republic at Kvasiny, where £120m has been invested in a state of the art plant, the Superb comes with a choice of six engines - three of which are new to the brand – and a trio of trim grades.
So was this resurrecting of an historic name such a good idea?
Well here's the acid test. If all the badges were removed and you were asked to sit in the car, have a look around, feel the overall quality of seats, fit and fittings, take a test drive, then say what kind of car you think it is, chances are the answer would be Volkswagen Passat.
That's the quality we are talking about with this car, but then Skoda is owned by VW anyway. And though both are built on the same platform, the Superb is both bigger and cheaper than the Passat.
Understated elegance apart, the Skoda's strength lies in its space and practicality. Rear-seat legroom, for instance, is the largest in its class, the boot is huge and there are useful cubby holes throughout.
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While models like the test car with its lusty 2.5 litre, 155bhp turbodiesel engine are a real delight to drive, the entry level Classic 2.0 with its on-the-road price of £14,200 has to represent competitive value for money.
The Superb is extremely refined on the road, cruises effortlessly on the motorway and, considering its power, the V6 TDI will still return close to 40 miles per gallon. Standard spec on all versions includes front and side airbags, climate control with additional vents to the rear seats, alarm, deadlocks, remote central locking, four electric windows, tilt and rake-adjustable steering wheel, child safety lock for the rear doors and a CD player.
Skoda expects most of its sales to be in the company car market, which pitches it against the likes of the Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Vectra. At the very least, it's in their league.
Words: Mike Torpey
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