Practical experience Skoda Superb: does it live up to its name?

You may have forgotten the first Superb, we don’t blame you. It was only from 2010, the second generation, that the model really stood out and sales figures took off. Particularly because from that moment on a station wagon was also available, although the sedan that could double as a hatchback was much more special. A feature that did not make it to the third generation and which you will unfortunately not read about in this article. If you want to know more about the history of the various contemporary Superbs, we at WC Duck can highly recommend this article. What we didn’t know then, but we do know now: the future of the Superb is assured – and it is more Passat than ever.

Space and ease of use

A topic that we can actually skip, because a Superb is downright spacious. “The space on board on both the back seat and in the trunk remains a feast,” writes the driver of a 2016 Superb hatchback. “Also the pockets, cup holders and compartments in the doors to store a bottle, you just have daily pleasure.” The space at the very back is also nice. “The trunk is gigantic, the rear seats fold in an instant, which works perfectly. Although a disadvantage also comes to light: “You are left with a considerable raised threshold between the end of the trunk and the back seat. Recently I wanted to take a box with me in the car, but it just couldn’t overcome that ‘threshold’ within 1 cm. Then it’s a beautiful sight to behold…” No, then it’s better to take some wood with you that still needs to be sawn. “Last week I just slid an MDF board measuring 1 by 2 meters into the back,” says another hatchback driver, who mentions another positive point. “The sofa simply folds flat by pulling a lever. Ideal!”

With a Superb Combi, the box and plate could probably both have survived, but this station wagon also suffers from ‘the threshold’. At least that is what the Combi driver experiences, who also associates space with cake, cheese, sausage and flags. “In terms of loading space, this car remains a great treat,” he writes, “a complete backline of the band fits in without drama. The only point of criticism is the enormous threshold between the trunk and the rear seats when they are folded down.” Another Combi driver doesn’t care about that. “During a visit to a furniture store, I bought a bookcase measuring 90 cm wide and 205 cm long. Take it straight away. Quite large, but after laying the back seat flat it fit nicely. The valve could even be closed.”

Passenger comfort

Those were some nice open doors, but they won’t be the last. “The front, the back and the trunk offer an almost unsocial amount of space,” said another hatchback driver. “The seating comfort on the back seat is almost S-class level.” Yes. And it is not the only director who thinks this way. “Front and rear seating space are like that of an executive car. A two-week holiday in England with 4 adults, 4 large suitcases and extra bags was no problem.” And no, this driver is also ‘just’ talking about a hatchback.

A Superb Combi rider takes a closer look at the seating position. “In the front you feel surprisingly close to the dashboard, but in terms of design this is not as deep as many fellow builders. Furthermore, the center tunnel is quite high, so perhaps that gives a more closed feeling. The co-passenger sits far enough away for comfortable seating and the armrest is more than wide enough for 2.” We also like the furniture of its Ambition Business version. “The driver’s seat can be electrically adjusted in all directions, including the angle of inclination. In combination with the nice and long seats, I was able to find a wonderful seating position: seat at its lowest, steering wheel far towards me, tilt the seat slightly for support in the knees and you drive relaxed (from experience) to Italy.” Another director endorses this. “The seats in the Ambition version are excellent, even on journeys of 1000+ kilometers.”

So many people, so many wishes, so Skoda does not always install the same seats. “Since I drive a relatively large number of kilometers, I find seating comfort very important, which is perfectly fine,” writes the rider about his Superb Style Business. “Sturdy, thick seats, which can be adjusted entirely to your wishes, provide good comfort for long journeys.” The driver of a Superb Sportline Business: “The sports seats have more lateral support, the Alcantara is stiff and keeps you well in place. I find them more comfortable than the comfort chairs from the Style Business.”

As said, so many people have so many wishes, because the next Superb 1.5 TSI driver will not be crazy about the sports seats either. “The seats are beautiful, somewhat narrow Alcantara sports seats. They offer a lot of lateral support, but are a bit short. They are reasonably adjustable (electric with memory, great!), but they should not be in the shade of VW’s ergo seats, let alone Volvo’s.” Another little word from another driver about the ease of use: “Skoda’s system simply works logically and simply. You don’t need a booklet or something to understand this.” He finds support from another director. “At Skoda the buttons are clear and are where they should be. It’s nice when everything is right in a car, and so it is here.”

On the road with the Superb

When it comes to driving, drivers are more outspoken. “Although I excused it in the beginning, the Superb is really a bit too softly sprung,” says the driver of a Superb Combi 1.6 TDI. “Sure, it’s nice and comfy and you don’t have to take speed bumps at 100 km/h, but the fact that the car suddenly gets high on a sloping road surface and collapses onto the bumpers at normal speed is really not okay.” Another 1.6 TDI driver can live with it. “I really enjoy driving,” he writes. “The chassis is comfortable, some would call it soft, but since I see more highway than challenging mountain roads every day, I think that’s fine.” The owner of a hatchback says: “I like the comfort-oriented damping and I don’t experience it as heaving, as some other drivers experience.”

Those who prefer a slightly stiffer chassis can opt for the Sportline. Several riders did that, but not everyone is satisfied. “This really has nothing to do with a sports suspension,” the driver writes about his Superb Combi 1.5 TSI. “Weak, heaving and seriously detracts from the sporty appearance of the rest of the car.” The driver of a hatchback with a sports suspension also thinks so. “The important question is of course: and, is that sports suspension a bit sporty? Well no. In fact, they are the same springs and dampers as on the regular chassis, only the springs are slightly shorter. So it still bobs, but it’s acceptable if you like comfort.” It seems harsh to us that a manufacturer would only lower with springs, but whatever they did: the result does not seem to be satisfactory.

Does a Superb really never drive well? Well. Yes. For that you just have to look at the options list. “DCC suspension is a must,” writes a rider who did so. “A really huge difference with the normal chassis. I have almost always had it in sport mode, which makes the car tightly sprung without being uncomfortable. Even with 19 inch wheels.” This is also the experience of another driver who spent some extra money on this adaptive chassis. “The DCC sports mode did its job well; With 19-inch rims and 245 wide tires, the car grips the road well and steers a bit sporty. Obviously not like a Ford or a sporty Audi, but quite fine,” he says. “Looking back, I always drive in sport mode.” Well… always? “Except when my wife starts complaining, then I put him down a bit.”

Maintenance, malfunctions and annoyances

We recently saw in the Klokje Rond section that a Skoda Superb 1.6 TDI, although from the previous generation, can handle 500,000 kilometers. Even with the original clutch and the original dual-mass flywheel, something that is not available to every driver. It will matter that this five-ton truck is equipped with a manual transmission, because the next 1.6 TDI with DSG automatic transmission did not even reach a tenth of this distance. “At 45,000 km it was a hit,” writes the unfortunate driver. “Both clutches were slipping when the engine was cold and the dual-mass flywheel was also rattling happily.” The experience does not stand alone. “In the run-up to the 30,000 km service, I noticed that the gearbox was slipping more and more often in 3rd gear,” writes another driver, “also occasionally in 5th.” A few thousand kilometers later he reports the following : “The DSG unit has now been replaced. Delivered the car at 8 am and I was able to pick it up about 7 hours later. Shifting now goes well and the gearbox also seems to be programmed slightly differently.”

These drivers have no complaints about the engine itself, but this is different with the stronger 2.0 TDI. A few drivers find that their diesel consumes a relatively large amount of oil. “The only notable point was at 16,000 km when I had to top up the oil,” writes one of them. “I immediately asked the Skoda dealer and it turned out that this type of engine block likes a sip of oil. To be on the safe side, I now check the oil level more often, because when the car indicates it, it is often already below the minimum.” Another diesel driver also reports that oil consumption increases over time. “Oil consumption has now increased to 3 liters per 30,000 km, where previously I could bridge the maintenance interval with 2 liters of extra oil.” Other complaints that we often read are noises from the chassis, which can sometimes be temporarily solved by greasing the control arm rubbers. Another striking thing: several drivers report that the chrome strips under the door are loosening and/or warping, which causes wind noise.

The Skoda Superb with the plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

Not every Skoda Superb is a potential candidate for Klokje Rond, but even beyond that it is not perfect. The most striking negative points relate to the soft chassis, which many drivers find soft. Choosing the adaptive suspension and putting it in sports mode seems to be the solution. The Superb scores well with seating comfort and space, although we actually knew the latter in advance. We are curious whether the new Skoda Superb, which is actually secretly a Volkswagen Passat, offers the desired improvements.