Skoda Superb review – interior and tech
Bland design but high quality, low noise and well assembled. Huge space too, while various safety and infotainment features give it luxury car appeal
Ask us to describe the Superb’s interior design from memory and we’d struggle. But what the cabin lacks in architectural excitement it makes up for in quality of build, logical minor control placement and general comfort.
In effect, it feels like a larger, more sumptuous Octavia of the previous generation. Touchpoints such as the wheel, gear selector and seats are all neatly trimmed and pleasant to interact with, and everything else is clear, logical and solidly constructed.
The new Superb is based on an extended version of the VW Group’s MQB platform. The car is some 28mm longer, 47mm wider and 6mm taller than the old model, and benefits from the VW Group’s Dynamic Chassis Control technology – a first for Skoda.
Weight has also been saved – the new car is as much as 75kg lighter, with the lightest 1.5-litre model now weighing 1375kg. Some 23 kilos have been saved thanks to the extensive use of high-strength steel in the bodyshell – 46 per cent of the structure is made up of the stuff. Another key factor to note is the new car’s improved aerodynamic efficiency. Drag coefficient is rated at 0.275, which betters the likes of the Volkswagen CC and its 0.284, for example.
The Superb also benefits from a raft of safety tech, including auto-braking functions, tyre pressure monitoring systems and seven airbags. Adaptive cruise control is joined by lane assist, traffic jam assist and crew protect assist (this tightens belts and closes windows ahead of a collision), as well as Emergency Assist which can automatically bring the vehicle to a standstill if the driver is unable to.
