Skoda Superb practical experience: This is what the owners think

Maybe you forgot the great first one, we don't blame you. Only from 2010, the second generation, did this model really stand out and sales numbers soared. Especially since from that moment a station wagon was also available, although a sedan that could double as a hatchback was even more special. A feature that did not reach the third generation, and which unfortunately you will not read about in this article. If you want to learn more about the history of various contemporary Superbs, we at WC Duck can highly recommend this article. What we didn't know then, but we know now: the Superb's future is assured – and it's more Passat than ever before.

Space and ease of use

A topic we can actually skip, because the Superb is quite broad. “The space on the back seat and in the trunk remains a feast,” the driver of a 2016 Superb hatchback wrote. “And the pockets, cup holders and compartments in the doors for bottle storage, you'll enjoy on a daily basis.” The space in the back is nice too. “The boot is huge, and the rear seats fold in an instant, which works perfectly. Although there was also a drawback: “It left a significantly raised threshold between the end of the boot and the back seat. Recently I wanted to take a box with me in the car, but it couldn't overcome that “threshold” of 1cm. So, it's a nice view…” No, it's better to take with you some wood that still needs sawing. “Last week, I inserted a 1 x 2 meter MDF board,” says another hatchback driver, pointing out another positive point At the back. “The sofa simply folds flat by pulling a lever. ideal!”

With the Superb Combi, the box and panel would probably survive, but this station wagon also suffers from the “threshold”. At least that's what the Kombi driver experiences, who also associates space with cakes, cheese, sausages and flags. “In terms of load space, this car remains great fun,” he writes, “The entire rear line of the squad fits without drama. The only point of criticism is the massive sill between the trunk and the rear seats when folded. Another Combi driver doesn’t care about that.” During my visit For a furniture store, I bought a bookcase 90cm wide and 205cm long. Take it immediately. Quite large, but after laying the back seat flat, it fits well. “It's even possible that the valve is closed.”

Passenger comfort

Those were some nice open doors, but they won't be the last. “The front, rear and trunk space provide an almost anti-social space,” said another hatchback driver. “Rear seat comfort is close to S-Class level.” Yes. He is not the only director who thinks this way. “Front and rear seating space is like that of an executive car. A two-week holiday in England with 4 adults, 4 large suitcases and extra suitcases was no problem.” And no, this driver is also “only” talking about a hatchback.

The Superb Combi rider takes a closer look at the seating position. “At the front, you feel surprisingly close to the dashboard, but in terms of design, that's not as deep as many of your fellow builders. On top of that, the central tunnel is quite high, so perhaps that gives a more enclosed feeling.” He sits The accompanying passenger is far enough back to sit comfortably and the armrest is more than wide enough for two. We also like the furniture of the Ambition Business edition. “The driver's seat can be electrically adjusted in all directions including the tilt angle. In combination with the nice and long seats, I was able to find a position Great seating: the seat is at its lowest, the steering wheel is facing away from me, the seat is tilted slightly to support the knees, and you can drive comfortably (from experience) to Italy.” Another manager agrees with this. “The seats in the Ambition version are excellent, even on trips longer than 1,000 kilometres.”

So many people, so many desires, so Skoda doesn't always install the same seats. “Since I drive a relatively high number of kilometres, I find seating comfort very important, which is quite a good thing,” the rider wrote for the Superb Style Business. “The thick, firm seats, which can be fully adjusted to your liking, provide good comfort for long journeys.” Superb Sportline Business driver: “The Sport seats have more lateral support, and the Alcantara is solid and keeps you in place. I find them more comfortable than the Style Business ergonomic chairs.

That said, a lot of people have a lot of wishes, because the driver of the next Superb 1.5 TSI won't be crazy about the sports seats either. “The seats are nice, the Alcantara sports seats are quite narrow. They provide a lot of lateral support, but are a bit short. They're reasonably adjustable (electric with memory, cool!), but they shouldn't be in the shadow of VW's seats, let alone Volvo's. Another little word from another driver about ease of use: “The Skoda system simply works logically and simply. You don't need a book or anything to understand this. It finds support from another outlet.” In the Skoda, the buttons are clear and are where they should be. It's nice when everything goes well in the car, and that's the case here.”

On the road with the wonderful

When it comes to driving, drivers are more honest. “Although I excused myself at first, the Superb emitted rather too quietly,” says the driver of the Superb Combi 1.6 TDI. “Sure, it's nice and comfortable and you don't have to hit bumps at 100km/h, but the fact that the car suddenly lifts up on a steep road surface and collapses onto the fenders at normal speed is really unacceptable.” Another 1.6 TDI driver can live with. “I really enjoy driving,” he writes. “The chassis is comfortable, some might call it soft, but since I see more highways than tough mountain roads every day, I think that's good.” “I like the comfort-oriented damping and it doesn't feel as heavy as some other drivers do,” says the hatchback owner.

Those who prefer a slightly stiffer chassis can opt for the Sportline. Many riders did this, but not everyone was satisfied. “This has nothing really to do with the sports suspension,” the driver writes about his Superb Combi 1.5 TSI. “Weak, heavy and seriously detracts from the sporty look of the rest of the car.” The driver of a hatchback with a sports suspension also thinks so. “The big question is of course: Is this sports suspension a bit sporty? Well, no. In fact, it's the same springs and dampers as the regular chassis, just the springs are a little shorter. So it's still swaying, but it's acceptable if you like comfort. It seems hard It is for us that the manufacturer makes the lowering using only springs, but whatever they do: the result does not seem to be satisfactory.

Does the Superb really never drive well? Good. Yes. So you just have to look at the list of options. “DCC suspension is a must,” wrote one rider who did just that. “There's a really big difference with the regular chassis. I've almost always used it in Sport mode, which makes the car pop tight without feeling uncomfortable. Even with 19-inch wheels.” This is also the experience of another driver who spent some extra money on this adaptive chassis. “The DCC sport mode did its job well; with 19-inch rims and 245 wide tyres, the car holds the road well and its steering is a bit sporty. Obviously it's not like a Ford or an Audi sports car, but it's very good.” Looking back “I always drive in Sport mode.” Well… always? “Except when my wife starts complaining, I put it down a notch.”

Maintenance, malfunctions and inconveniences

We recently saw in the Klokje Rond section that a Skoda Superb 1.6 TDI, although from the previous generation, can handle 500,000 km. Even with the original clutch and the original dual-mass flywheel, which is not available to every driver. It would be important for this five-tonne truck to be equipped with a manual transmission, because the next 1.6 TDI with a DSG automatic transmission didn't even get a tenth of that mileage. “At 45,000 kilometers, the result was successful,” the unfortunate driver wrote. “Both clutches were slipping when the engine was cold and the dual-mass flywheel was vibrating happily as well.” Experience does not stand alone. “In the lead-up to the 30,000 km service, I noticed that the gearbox was slipping more and more in third gear,” another driver writes, “and sometimes also in fifth gear.” After a few thousand kilometres, he reported the following: “The DSG unit has now been replaced. I delivered the car at 8am and was able to pick it up about 7 hours later. The transmission now works fine and the gearbox also appears to be programmed a little differently.” .

These drivers have no complaints about the engine itself, but not so with the more powerful 2.0 TDI. A few drivers find that their diesel fuel consumes a relatively large amount of oil. “The only noticeable point was at 16,000km when I had to top up the oil,” one wrote. “I immediately asked the Skoda dealer and it turned out that this type of engine block loves a sip of oil. To be on the safe side, I now check the oil level more frequently, because when the car indicates this, it is often already below the minimum. Another diesel driver also reported that oil consumption is increasing over time. “Oil consumption has now gone up to 3 liters per 30,000 kilometres, where previously I could fill the maintenance interval with 2 liters of extra oil.” Another complaint we often read is the noise from structure, which can sometimes be temporarily solved by lubricating the control arm rubber. Another striking thing: many drivers report that the chrome strips under the door are loosening and/or deforming, causing wind noise.

Skoda Superb with plug-in hybrid drive system.

Not all Skoda Superb cars are potential candidates for the Klokje Rond, but even beyond that they are not ideal. The most striking negative points relate to the soft chassis, which many drivers find soft. Selecting the adaptive suspension and putting it in Sport mode seems to be the solution. The Superb scores well for seating comfort and space, although we already know the latter. We are interested in whether the new Skoda Superb, which is actually a Volkswagen Passat, offers the required improvements.