Skoda Superb is a front-wheel or four-wheel drive five-door business-class liftback (but it is classified by some as a representative of the "D-segment") and, concurrently, the flagship of the model range of the Czech automaker, which combines respectable design, a high level of comfort and practicality and modern technical component ... The main target audience of the car are successful men in leadership positions and who like to spend time with their family, but it is also suitable for the role of "business transport in the corporate fleet" ...
In early March 2015, at the international exhibition of the automotive industry in Geneva, the Czech company Skoda held the world premiere of its flagship model - the next, third generation, five-door Superb liftback. However, a few weeks before this event, a preview of the novelty was organized in Prague for a relatively small circle of people, which included more than 500 journalists from all over the world and several hundred VIP guests.
The third "Superb" turned out to be completely different from its predecessor, and all because of the MQB platform, which made it possible to revise both the design and dimensions, and the engine line.
Four years after its debut, the liftback underwent a planned update, presenting itself in all its glory to the general public on May 23, 2019 at a special event in Bratislava. Restyling did not bring serious visual changes to the car (new bumpers, a wider radiator grille, fully LED optics and a new inscription with the brand name), and the interior got only a new decor and changed lighting, but at the same time the power range was slightly "shaken up" and added new options.
Exterior
The exterior of the "third" Skoda Superb is made in a balanced and expressive design, which draws its roots from the VisionC concept, which was presented in 2014. The front of the Czech liftback flaunts a powerful radiator grille encircled by faceted optics with Bohemian crystal trim and a sculpted aerodynamic bumper.
The graceful silhouette of the Skoda Superba conceals its true dimensions, adding lightness and dynamism to the almost five-meter car. The solidity of the appearance is given by expressive stampings, embossed wheel arches and gentle contours of the roof, smoothly flowing through the powerful rack into the tightened stern, which is crowned with wide lamps with LED filling and a developed bumper.
In terms of overall dimensions, the 3rd generation Superb can be classified as a business class, but the developers classify the liftback as an "overgrown" of the mid-size community: 4869 mm in length, 1864 mm in width and 1484 mm in height.
The wheelbase of the car is 2841 mm of the total length, and the amount of ground clearance depends on the type of drive: for front-wheel drive versions - 164 mm, for all-wheel drive - 6 mm more modest.
Interior
Like other Skodas, the Superb inside looks unpretentious, but strict and solid. The driver is directly in charge of a stylish multifunctional steering wheel with a 3-spoke design and laconic instrumentation with a pair of large dials and a color trip computer display. The "top" cars use a virtual instrument cluster (which, like other significant interior changes for the 2020 model year, are reflected in the photo below).
The massive front panel in the center smoothly "flows" into a modern and ergonomic console with an 8- or 9.2-inch screen of the multimedia complex with control buttons and "knobs" along the edges (on the available versions, a "two-din" radio tape recorder with a monochrome "stripe" is used). In the lower part of the dashboard, the air conditioning unit (conventional air conditioner or zone system) is "registered", and the auxiliary function keys are based on a wide tunnel between the seats on three sides of the gearshift lever.
The interior decoration of the Skoda Superb of the third generation is cut from high-quality finishing materials - soft and visually pleasant plastics (although in some places you can also find hard elements), good-quality fabric or genuine leather. Well, the flagship status of the model is backed up by a verified assembly.
At the disposal of the front riders "Superba" - comfortable seats with a dense profile and heating, and optionally also with electrical adjustments, ventilation and memory function. The rear sofa provides comfortable seating for passengers of all sizes and a class-leading legroom. However, its shape and high floor tunnel subtly hint that the third one will be superfluous.
The luggage compartment of the "third Superb" with its volume resembles the hold of a dry cargo ship - 625 liters in standard configuration with the possibility of increasing to 1760 liters. The back of the "gallery" is folded in several unequal parts, but an absolutely flat platform does not work out.
The niche under the raised floor is occupied by a reduced "spare wheel" and a set of tools.
Specifications
In the Russian market for the third-generation restyled liftback, a line of four power units has been announced - these are TSI in-line fours with turbocharging, a direct injection system, a 16-valve DOHC timing belt and phase shifters at the inlet and outlet:
- Basic versions are "armed" with a 1.4-liter engine that generates 150 horsepower at 5000-6000 rpm and 250 Nm of torque at 1500-3500 rpm.
- More efficient versions relies on a 2.0-liter engine, available in three boost options:
- 190 h.p. at 4200-6000 rpm and 320 Nm of peak thrust at 1450-4200 rpm;
- 220 h.p. at 4500-6200 rpm and 350 Nm of rotational potential at 1500-4000 rpm;
- 280 h.p. at 5600-6500 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at 1700-5600 rpm.
By default, the 150-horsepower car is equipped with a 6-speed "mechanics" and front-wheel drive transmission, and as an option - a 7-speed "robot" DSG with two clutches, which is mated with a 190-horsepower unit in the "base". The remaining two engines work together with a 6-band DSG robotic gearbox, but 220-horsepower - only with the front axle drive wheels, and the 280-horsepower - exclusively with an all-wheel drive system equipped with a Haldex multi-plate clutch of the fifth incarnation with XDS + technology, simulating differential locks through electronics.
From a standstill to 100 km / h, the five-door liftback “fires” after 6.0-8.9 seconds, accelerates to a maximum of 219-250 km / h, and in the combined mode “drinks” from 6.0 to 7.6 liters of fuel for every “hundred” of run, depending on modifications.
Design features
The 3rd generation model is based on the modular architecture of the MQB, or more precisely, on the MQB-B. The front of the car is equipped with independent MacPherson struts with lower triangular levers located transversely, and at the rear there is a "multi-link" with longitudinal and transverse levers. But if by default the five-door has passive shock absorbers, then in the "top" versions - adaptive, electronically controlled.
The rack-and-pinion steering mechanism is supplemented by an electromechanical control amplifier with adjustable effort, and the braking system is endowed with disc devices on all wheels (on the front - with ventilation). All modifications of the liftback "flaunt" ABS with EBD and electronic stability control.
Options and prices
In the fall of 2019, the restyled Skoda Superb of the third incarnation is offered on the Russian market only with a 190-horsepower engine (versions with other engines will appear in our country in 2020) in three trim levels to choose from - Ambition, Style and Laurin & Klement.
- For a car in the basic configuration, they ask for at least 2,097,000 rubles, and the list of its equipment includes: six airbags, ABS, ESP, 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a media center with an 8-inch screen, light and rain sensors, rear parking sensors, a collision warning system, LED headlights and lamps, ERA-GLONASS technology, an eight-speaker audio system and other equipment.
- For the execution of Style, you will have to pay from 2,353,000 rubles, and its features are: driver's knee airbag, front parking sensors, electric driver's seat, heated rear seats, cruise control, 17-inch wheels, electric fifth door, matrix headlights and some others "Chips".
- You can't buy a "top" modification cheaper than 2,680,000 rubles, but it can additionally boast: leather trim, electric front seats, adaptive shock absorbers, side airbags in the second row, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping system and premium Canton "music" with 11 columns.
