Skoda Superb Saloon 2002-2006

The Superb is probably one of the best cars you buy considering how low the price is. It has the aspirations of being a luxury limousine, but the price tag will surprise even the savviest car buyer. Initially, the name of Skoda Superb was used by large and expensive pre-war cars. When it was decided to resurrect the Superb 60 years later, the car had retained the size and stature of the original Superbs, but the price had dropped significantly.

Pros and Cons:

• Great value for money
  Spacious and comfortable

• Lack of a good and reliable petrol engine option

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Exterior and Interior

The Superb was built on a stretched platform of the Volkswagen Passat. The beauty of the Superb is that it’s more comfortable and cheaper than its German donor-car. The exterior design is quite conservative though and you would describe it as a typical Skoda. It’s probably the only luxury car on the market that doesn’t try to tout its ego. Many drivers that don’t want a flashy car go for the big Skoda because it’s so unpretentious.

The car was face-lifted in 2006 when it was "Skodified" to resemble the new corporate styling displayed on the Octavia and Roomster. It included a considerate restyling of the front end, direction indicators on the side mirrors and a new interior design.

The interior of the Superb is not as luxurious as in other luxury cars. It is slightly modest, but very good quality. The biggest selling point of the Skoda Superb is its superb space and comfort. You certainly won’t feel constrained in a Superb. Attention to details is amazing; the car comes with a full set of gadgets and creature comforts. It even has an umbrella incorporated in the rear door casing. There are some luxury limos that come with an umbrella, but the first name that springs to mind is the Rolls-Royce Phantom, this is a nice touch from a Skoda.

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Engines

The Skoda Superb is supplied with a range of well-optimised Volkswagen family engines: 1.8-litre 150bhp turbo, 2.0-litre 115bhp, 2.8-litre V6 193bhp petrol engines and the 1.9-litre 115 – 130bhp, 2.0-litre 140bhp, 2.5-litre V6 160bhp diesel units.

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Performance and Economy

Skoda’s flagship is obviously the most expensive vehicle in the Czech company’s range. Because of its low profile and unclear image, the cars depreciate quickly, thus they are relatively cheap in the used car market. However, they are not as cheap to run as other Skodas. The best fuel economy figure for a petrol engine powered Superb is 34mpg, from the 1.8-litre turbo version. The 2.0-litre engine can be ignored because it is less economical and provides less power than the smaller turbo engine.

If going for a 1.9-litre diesel, try to find the version with 130bhp. It gives the car "Superb" performance and may achieve over 45mpg. The 115bhp diesel version is not as enjoyable. The Superb is a big car and needs way over 100bhp in order for it to be appreciated.

The larger V6 engines provides improved performance, acceleration from zero to 60mph in less than 10 seconds and a decent top speed. Keeping in mind the power that the engines produce 29mpg for the petrol V6 and 36mpg for the diesel V6 is not a bad result.

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What it's like to Drive

It’s a big and heavy car bestowed with drive qualities comparable to more expensive executive class limos. The suspension is well balanced and provides excellent comfort. The Superb is born a cruiser, it wafts gracefully along the motorway and if it wasn’t for the wind noise, you’d have never guessed that you’re driving a cheap car. The feeling is not as refined in the city. The car is a bit cumbersome and heavy in city traffic and the suspension is not as smooth on bumpy roads.

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Faults and Repairs

Although for many executive customers, driving a diesel limo that was made by Skoda is a weird idea, if you appreciate a good balance between quality and price, you’ll enjoy the Superb. If buying a used model, it’s advisable to get over the prejudice and choose a diesel engine. The 2.0-litre petrol is an old engine with low power output while the 1.8-litre turbo is an unreliable unit. I guess the keyword is "turbo". Just like with Volvos and other petrol turbo engines, the turbine is prone to failures. It also suffers from misfiring, so unless you find a car with a really low mileage, the 1.8-litre unit is better avoided.

The 1.9-litre diesel engine is very popular and you can find the same unit on other Volkswagen-derived cars. It’s a well-built and reliable engine, as are other diesels that are supplied with the Skoda Superb.

Some electrical faults have been reported, but the main problem with the Superbs in the UK is that the majority of them have started their lives as taxis, hire cars or company cars. For this reason it is best to avoid Superbs with high mileage on the clock.

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