Strange as it might sound, the buyer of the Skoda Superb was probably the most clear thinking, sure-with-his-choice car customer. Small car buyers are usually first time buyers considering a plethora of options. So, that bunch being confused is understandable. But, not even super luxury car buyers could claim to be as convinced about their choice as the Superb’s buyer is.
The reason has not been just that that price segment has fewer competitors, but also because the Skoda Superb offers a unique proposition to the buyer. What the buyer was buying into was a reputed, premium European badge offering a car at the price point of a compact luxury sedan, but with the space, legroom and ride feel of a full-size saloon. So, what they were getting was the space of a Mercedes E-Class for nearly the price of a Toyota Camry. Yes, the Superb lacked a bit in terms of equipment inside the car, but it more than made up for it in space.
Even as the next generation Superb is getting readied for a possible global premiere in 2015, Skoda India has had to look at refreshing its flagship sedan to keep pace with the emerging competition in this price segment. So, in comes the face-lifted Superb. It will hit showrooms after being formally unveiled at the forthcoming Auto Expo in Delhi. We got to test drive it earlier and here is what we think it has to offer.
The big changes on the outside of the new Superb are all cosmetic, but together contribute a fair bit in altering the stance and road presence of this large sedan. Overall, the design changes both at the front and the rear of the new Superb focuses on making all the elements sharper, with more straight lines, compared to the current version’s curved edges.
At the front the change that catches the eye are the new bi-xenon headlamps with integrated LED daytime running lights. The two-layered, curved DRLs also enclose a strip of yellow LEDs that are the turn indicators. The headlamps also feature adptive cornering lights. These additions makes the new Superb look more like a member of the Rs 20 lakh plus club than ever before.
The bonnet grille has been changed to now resemble the new Skoda trademark ‘Butterfly Grille’, which we have already seen in the new Octavia. The Skoda logo now moves out of the grille and onto the bonnet slab. The 2014 Superb also gets new format fog lamps and a new front fender. A neat chrome strip that connects the fog lamps enhances the sense of width at the front.
From the side, the new Superb is identical to the current version. More changes at the rear work to alter the character of the Superb’s exterior design, though there may be a few who might still think that the outgoing model is more unique. But the 2014 Superb now gets a rear that features design elements which are simpler and more akin to Volkswagen Group design. The tail-lamps’ design with a cutaway corner now resemble that of the Audi A4. The combination has also changed to include LEDs.
The Skoda and Superb branding are now in the new font and have also moved to either side of the boot lid from the earlier central position. The rear now looks crisper with a sharp spoiler added to the notch-back lid.
Interiors The interior of the facelifted Superb remains nearly the same as in the outgoing model. The only change apparently is the replacement of the 4-spoke steering wheel with a 3-spoke, multi-function steering wheel. There is also a change in the music-system, which is now a Bluetooth-enabled Bolero audio system.
Depending on the trim level (Ambition or Elegance), the interior equipment, however, includes features like electrically adjustable Nappa leather seats, sunroof, eight airbags, dual-zone auto climate control and air-con vents on the B-pillar for rear occupants. But, even lower trim Ambition has a lot of small bits, like the rear privacy screen, that really add to the appeal of this car.
Performance The 2014 Superb remains the same under the skin and that includes what’s under the bonnet. So, the engines that are going to be unaltered and carried forward into the new, facelifted model are the 1,798cc TSI petrol and the 1,968cc TDI diesel engines only. The V6 is gone, along with the four-wheel drive option. But the decision to retain the two smaller, 4-cylinder engines in the same state of tune and to drop the V6 option must be due to a mix of customer feedback and demand patterns.
The same state of tune also means that the 1.8-litre petrol engine puts out 160PS of peak power and 250Nm of torque, while the 2-litre diesel mill manages the same 140PS of power and 320Nm of torque. The petrol is offered with either the 6-speed manual or the 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox and the diesel engine is offered only with the 6-speed DSG transmission.
Bottomline With the mechanicals being the same, the facelifted Skoda Superb drives very much like the outgoing version.
There is enough power on tap for most Indian roads and more. One advantage is that you don’t feel the car’s size when in the driver’s seat. The suspension is fairly pliant and our only complaint will be the 16-inch wheel size. Overall ride quality is focused on the rear seat occupant, who has enough legroom to sit stretched out.
The new, 2014 Superb was launched officially at the Auto Expo 2014 and is available at a price of Rs 18.87 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) in showrooms across India.