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If you plan to call a vehicle Superb, you better make damn sure it is. Skoda's mid-sized sedan and wagon has to endure not only a set-me-up-to-fail name but a battle with its stablemate in the Volkswagen Australia Group, namely the VW Passat.
That it has survived says a lot about the basic practicality of the car. That it sells at a rate of one to seven compared to the VW says a lot about the pricing and how the Czech-based brand is still perceived in Australia.
The newest edition is a 150-unit run of all-wheel-drive wagons packed to the sills with sensible gear and priced at $52,690.
A new Superb is due globally next year, so the Superb Outdoor is a tweaked version to put punters in showrooms between now and then. Plastic cladding around the base of the car and wheel arches visually distinguishes the Outdoor from the front-wheel-drive Elegance model on which it is based.
Inside there's a 6.5-inch touchscreen with satnav, heated seats and enough back seat legroom to cope with basketballers, let down by a lack of width to fit three adults across the rear.
Automated parking backed by front and rear sensors means the Superb's 4.84m length generally isn't an issue. The ginormous 603-litre boot devours shopping faster than a family of teenagers and there are solid snap-out hooks to stop those bags from spilling their entire contents around the cargo area.
The six-speed dual-clutch auto takes a moment to engage when the lights turn green but isn't lacking for go once it is underway.
The 2.0-litre turbodiesel thrives on the open road where it can cruise on low revs and uses very little fuel.
Cornering is composed though the steering could be more responsive — it's accurate but feedback is less than perfect — which is par for the course with large wagons. On dirt and sand the handling manners are just as assured and the AWD system will shunt up to 85 per cent of torque to any corner of the car should traction become an issue.
The Outdoor's claimed diesel use of 6.5 litres/100km isn't too far off the mark — Carsguide averaged eight litres flat. That puts it ahead of its primary competition in the Subaru Outback which uses 7.3L/100km. The Skoda likewise has its nose in front in outright acceleration.
As a value-for-money proposition the Superb ticks all the boxes except resale ... and a reversing camera.
Volkswagen treads a tightrope when pricing its Skoda derivatives to minimise crossover with the VW-branded models. Consequently the Superb Outdoor boasts bi-xenon headlamps with adaptive lighting, keyless entry, the Haldex AWD system and leather upholstery.
The absence of a reversing camera on a big wagon is inexcusable. Parking sensors are OK, visual input is better. As the baby brand, the engine is also slightly detuned compared to the same mill under the hood of VW and Audi vehicles.
A three-year warranty on the Skoda is backed by a six-year capped price servicing program. Services are yearly or every 15,000km and the cost over three years is $1394, which is above average. Skoda will also replace the pollen filter and brake fluid every two years at a cost of $54 and $125 respectively.
It's going to hurt when it comes time to sell — Glass's Guide gives the Superb Outdoor a residual value of just 40 per cent after three years. That has more to do with brand recognition than reliability, though, so plan on hanging on to the Skoda to get the best value out of it.
Unless you desperately want — and will use — the AWD layout, the comparably equipped front-wheel drive Superb Elegance is $6000 cheaper and brings marginally better fuel consumption and acceleration. It's the one I'd be talking to dealers about.
| Vehicle | Specs | Price* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 118 TSI Ambition | 1.8L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO | $12,540 – 16,720 | 2015 Skoda Superb 2015 118 TSI Ambition Pricing and Specs |
| 118 TSI Ambition | 1.8L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO | $13,420 – 17,710 | 2015 Skoda Superb 2015 118 TSI Ambition Pricing and Specs |
| 125 TDI Elegance | 2.0L, Diesel, 6 SP | $16,610 – 21,340 | 2015 Skoda Superb 2015 125 TDI Elegance Pricing and Specs |
| 118 TSI Elegance | 1.8L, PULP, 7 SP AUTO | $18,040 – 22,770 | 2015 Skoda Superb 2015 118 TSI Elegance Pricing and Specs |
$16,170
Lowest price, based on third party pricing data
