BUY, LEASE OR FINANCE A SKODA SUPERB FROM OSV: https://bit.ly/2wvXITE

This improved version of the third generation Skoda Superb seems a very complete product, looking sharp and tilting at some big names. It's well equipped too. Jonathan Crouch reports.

Market and Model

Prices for this revised model sit in the £25,000 to £41,000 bracket. There's a £1,320 premium to go from the hatch body style to the estate. UK range consists of six familiar trim grades; 'S', 'SE', 'SE Technology', 'SE L', 'SportLine Plus' and 'Laurin & Klement'. Plus DSG auto transmission is now standard across the line-up. As before, all models in the range feature high levels of standard equipment, with every variant including full-LED front and rear lights, along with seven airbags, a touchscreen infotainment system with DAB, voice control and Skoda's 'SmartLink+' set-up for 'Apple CarPlay'/'Android Auto' smartphone connectivity.

The most popular variants are the 'SE' models which come with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and electrically folding door mirrors with boarding spot lighting. In terms of driver assistance, 'SE' models come equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control, Light assistant and Driver fatigue sensor as standard. Business customers opting for the 'SE Technology' derivatives benefit from leather upholstery and heated front seats, Light Assist with high beam control, Blind Spot Detection and the brand's 'Amundsen' infotainment system with touchscreen display and integrated Wi-Fi. 'SE Technology' models are also equipped with Drive Mode selection allowing you to tweak throttle, steering and gearchange feel to suit the way you want to drive.

Cost of Ownership

Skoda has forged its modern-day reputation on building quality cars that aren't expensive to run. Here's another one. As before, there's an 'Energy Recovery' set-up to reclaim energy that would otherwise be lost under braking or during cruising. And the usual Start/stop system to cut the engine when you don't need it, stuck at the lights or waiting in traffic. Plus the driver can do his or her bit by keeping an eye on the gearshift indicator on the dash.

All these things of course aid the efficiency returns you'll get - which are very similar with the line-up's 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI diesel engines. The 1.6 TDI Hatch manages up to 50.4mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and up to 110g/km of NEDC-rated CO2; for the 2.0 TDI 190PS model, the figures are up to 48.7mpg and up to 117g/km of CO2. For the 2.0 TSI petrol Hatch, the figures are up to 38.2mpg and 139g/km. If you really want to drive down your running costs ,it's worth asking your dealer about the Superb iV plug-in hybrid model, powered by a 1.4 TSI petrol engine that delivers 156PS and is boosted by am 85kW electric motor. This offers CO2 emissions below 40g/km, along with an all-electric, zero-emission range of up to 34 miles thanks an integrated 13kWh battery.

Summary

The Skoda Superb looks the part, making it ever easier to convince those whose car views are at least a decade out of date that a Skoda deserves a place on your shortlist if you're in the market for a medium-ranger. Compared to a Mondeo or a Mazda6, a Superb represents a very different take on the theme. The Mazda is a pin-sharp drive, the Mondeo tries to blend size and sprightliness, but the Superb makes no real pretence at sportiness, instead offering a reassuring heft and vault-like build quality.

Above all, the Superb delivers space, and that's a quality you can never really have too much of in this corner of the market. Why? Because it's the one attribute where more mainstream marques can really land a telling blow on the premium badges. A BMW 3 Series or a Jaguar XE is never going to be able to offer as much space inside as a Skoda Superb. Cars like those are just not remotely viable if you need a lot of family interior room, so for those who need something cut from more generous cloth, give the Skoda the once over. It's slick, presentable and, yes, simply clever.

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