Skoda Superb – Car of the Year is thoroughly deserving of the accolade

By Gerry Murphy

Now in its third generation, the new Skoda Superb which recently was named Car of the Year by the Association of Professional Motoring Press (APMP) in Ireland and it is hard to argue with that decision. As a voting member of the jury, I also nominated it as my favourite car on my voting slip. It is a car that has become all grown-up at a price that makes it real value for money.

The first thing that people talk about is the space you get in the Superb and that is the unique selling point. This is a big car with a huge amount of room for passengers and their luggage. Add in excellent build quality and a great range of engines and you have an all-rounder that puts much more expensive and premium cars in their place. I have been driving the 2.0-litre 190bhp version and that is more power and clout than most drivers will need.

Skoda has taken all that was good about the predecessor and added new styling and a much improved interior that take the Superb to a new level. Parked side-by-side with the car that it replaces, you are instantly drawn to the sharper body lines to give it a incisive look and an all-round better appearance that would look splendid in every driveway. The attention to detail is spot on and the selection of classy wheel trims add to the overall image.

Inside, they have taken a leaf out of the Volkswagen design book. It is now an ultra modern cabin with all that you would expect from the family bloodline. Everything is placed with the driver in mind and that adds to the functionality and the ambience.

But, it is the space that excites more than anything. Just look at the rear leg room for conformation. Is there another car in the segment that matches it? Absolutely, not!

The boot space too is better than all comers. Through the giant, electric tailgate, there is nothing to match it. The boot capacity with the rear seats in place offers 625 litres, while when the seats are folded down it increases to a massive 1,760 litres.

On the road, the Superb is as solid as it looks. Traits from the parent company are all there with composure on all highways and sharp cornering through it precise steering giving you the confidence to tackle any journey.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.