Skoda Superb: Used car test

This is him: The third generation of the Superb has a remarkable format. It stretches to 4.86 meters in length. New car buyers were able to choose between the sedan and the station wagon we drove, which is much more marketable used (Skoda writes it with C). The Superb’s spaciousness is not bought with a clunky look. The highlight is the generous amount of space, which is unrivalled in its class. With the passenger seat backrest folded down, the theoretically possible loading length is up to 3.10 metres. The 660 to 1950 litre combination loading volume is also sensational.

The Superb is at home on long journeys. The average mileage is correspondingly high.

Image: Christoph Börries

He has this: Everything you would expect from an upper class all-rounder. The Superb offers a wide range of VW Group engines, from economical diesels to powerful petrol engines. The common rail turbodiesels with a gentle 1.6 or better two litres of displacement are particularly readily available. They meet the Euro 6 emissions standard (from facelift Euro 6d Temp) and, in addition to being very smooth in everyday use, have astonishingly low consumption of between five and seven litres. The TSI petrol engines range from smooth to sporty. The 1.4 TSIs are slightly weak when starting and are quite thirsty at high speeds, as is typical for downsizing. The 2.0 TSI makes the Superb astonishingly fast and at most misses the sound of the six-cylinder engine that was still available in the predecessor. Just like the all-wheel drive version, it was 4×4 and the plug-in hybrid version introduced at the end of 2019, often configured particularly opulently.

The equipment variants are very varied. The basic Active version offers no notable extras apart from emergency braking assistant and fog lights. Even a cruise control costs extra, and a number of details were not available for the staid base model. The Ambition equipment line is more recommendable. Options such as the ergonomically optimized Ergo-Comfort driver’s seat and the Matrix LED light drive up the used price, but make driving more comfortable and safer. Despite the lavish body, the parking assistant and rear view camera cost extra.

The Superb’s functions are very well thought out. The choice of materials and finish are hardly worse than those of premium competitors.

Image: Christoph Börries

The Laurin & Klement and the more dynamic Sportline, on the other hand, are completely happy because they are largely fully equipped, with finer fabrics, leather seats, and chrome and decorative inlays. The optional adaptive DCC chassis and the modern infotainment solutions are also recommended. Unfortunately, they cost extra, but the lane keeping assistant (Lane Assist), lane change assistant (Blind Spot Detection), rear parking assistant and traffic jam assistant were good.

For the facelift in May 2019 and the 2021 model year, the Superb made progress in digitalization. Simply clever details include the umbrellas integrated in the doors or the flashlight in the trunk. Due to its excellent suitability for long distances, many examples were used by frequent drivers and as company cars, which favors extensive equipment but also quite high mileage.

This is how he drives: The Superb is known for its high level of driving comfort and solid roadholding. Both the front-wheel drive and the optional all-wheel drive models score points with their balanced chassis. The steering is precise, the tuning comfortable and the sound insulation with optional acoustic glass is excellent. The DCC chassis in particular offers a good balance between acceptable dynamics and gliding qualities. The optional adaptive cruise control works up to 210 km/h. The 2.0 TDI has a high towing capacity of two tons.

Others like to see the Superb from behind, the Czech car is often driven a lot and quickly.

Photo: Christoph Börries

This causes trouble: Skoda provided a modest two-year new car warranty (optionally extendable), a three-year paintwork warranty and twelve years of rust protection. The brakes on the rear axle wear out rapidly. Springs and chassis bearings suffer from the often high payload. The headlights often fog up. The DQ200 dual-clutch transmissions should get fresh oil every 60,000 kilometers, the larger DQ500 DSG needs a change every 120,000 kilometers at the latest.

As a comfortable, spacious car, the used Superb 3 is worth recommending. Be careful with unkempt ex-company cars, as stylish examples remain expensive second-hand.