With its
limousine like interior legroom and a surprisingly affordable price tag,
the Superb is Skoda's latest success story in the luxury sedan
segement.
Skoda Superb
One of the rare cars that actually does justice to its name. The
Superb is indeed a superb offering from Skoda. We knew there was a whole
lot to expect when the car was unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show
in March last year, thrilled even knowing that the car would reach India
really soon. What has rolled out of the company's HQ in Mlada Boleslav
however is a car that promises to have a widespread impact on the global
sedan market, including India. And it is showing results already, what
with eight Car of the Year awards in Europe.
To look at from the outside, the Superb is quite frankly no less than
any of the German luxury cars. A liberal wheelbase and height coupled
with the trademark Skoda grille and nose crest imparts a sense of
massiveness and regality at the same time. The insides are as regal as
the outside as well. Brilliant quality apart, what lies inside is an
unimaginable amount of space, both in the driver's vicinity and at the
rear. And it doesn't stop there- the boot opens in two stages, in a
regular sedan fashion for the small stuff or in true liftback fashion,
where the entire rear glass rises in case you wished to put in a piano.
Engines offered are 2 petrols, the 1.8 TSI unit from the Laura and
the mental 3.6 litre 4x4 powerhouse for the enthusiasts. The familiar
2.0 TDI takes care of the diesel aficionados offering a fine balance
performance and economy. The Superb makes a case for the enthusiast and
the chauffer driven which is quite a rare occurrence. With a class
busting list of creature comforts like Touch-screen interface for the
multimedia system, steering mounted controls, powered seats, side A/C
vents, limousine like space and a surprising price tag, the Superb is a
definite Czech-made checkmate.
Quick Facts:
Engine: 1.8 litre,TSI,inline 4
Power: 160PS@ 4500rpm
Torque: 250Nm @ 1500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual/7-speed DSG
Engine: 2.0 litre,TDI,inline 4
Power: 142PS@ 4200rpm
Torque: 320Nm @ 1750rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Auto
Engine: 3.6 litre,V6,4x4
Power: 260PS@ 6000rpm
Torque: 350Nm@2500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed Auto
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 2761 mm
LxWxH: 4838 x 1817 x 1462 mm
Weight: 1567-1750 kg
Variants:
Skoda Superb 1.8 TSI MT: ` 18.39 lakh
Skoda Superb 2009 1.8 TSI AT: ` 19.93 lakh
Skoda Superb 2009 2.0 TDI CR: ` 22.66 lakh
Skoda Superb 2009 3.6 FSI 4x4: ` 26.49 lakh
Cheers:
1. Limousine like space on the inside makes it the ideal chauffer driven car.
2. A range of strong engines on the other hand make it a good choice for the enthusiast as well.
Sneers:
1. A few plastic bits on the car could be better.
2. The 3.6 4x4 is an absolute guzzler no matter how one drives it.
Honourable Mentions
Nissan Teana
If its luxury what you are looking at, look no further than the new
Nissan Teana. Literally a 5-star hotel on wheels, the Teana just
encompasses you in a luxurious shell. The silky smooth V6 with the CVT
gearbox in the meantime makes sure to provide a sublime driving
experience.
Volkswagen Passat
Solid, spacious and practical. These three words define the VW Passat
perfectly. The noisy Pumpe Dusse engines were recently replaced with
the brilliant CRDI units that also power the Skoda’s making the Passat
even more practical option.
Other Rivals
Honda Accord
The Accord is one of the oldest players in the segment and is also
one of Honda’s best sellers. Smooth engines, good space and an excellent
ride quality makes the big Honda a very viable option.
Toyota Camry
Toyota’s flagship sedan is a very good effort, however the car being a
CBU is fairly expensive than its nearest competitors. Excellent VVTi
engine makes the Camry a strong performer.
Hyundai Sonata Transform
The Hyundai Sonata took off brilliantly when it was launched. Its
successors however have failed to replicate the original’s success
story. The all-new model due to be out soon should change that.
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